These Air fryer croutons are a quick and easy way to add crunchy texture to salads and soups. In just 12 minutes, you can make homemade croutons in the air fryer with olive oil, bread, and spices. They turn out deliciously crunchy, golden, and flavorful.
Jump to:
About Homemade Air Fryer Croutons
Have you tried making homemade croutons in the air fryer yet? They are a game changer! They taste much better than store-bought croutons and are quick and easy to make.
To make air fryer croutons, toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, herbs, and cheese (optional), then air fry them for just a few minutes to golden perfection. It’s that easy!
What I like about this recipe is its great way to use up any day-old bread or stale bread and make it into golden crunchy deliciousness. In addition, to being a no-waste recipe making croutons at home allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavors to your liking.
These air fryer croutons can be used in many ways, You can add them to salads, like the Vegetarian Caesar Salad recipe, or your favorite soups. These are delicious to munch on their own too as a crunchy snack.
Recipe Ingredients
Bread: is the key ingredient for this recipe. You can use any bread you have on hand, such as sourdough bread, baguette, French bread, or whole wheat bread. You can also use gluten-free bread. A day-old or stale bread works even better for making crunchy croutons.
Olive Oil: I have used extra virgin olive oil. Oil helps the bread cubes crisp up in the air fryer and adds a golden color. It also provides a rich, flavorful base for the seasonings to adhere to. You can use other oils such as avocado oil or melted butter for a richer flavor.
Spices and Herbs: I prefer keeping it simple with garlic powder, salt pepper, and dried parsley. You can experiment with other flavorings too! I sometimes add onion powder for more flavor or paprika, and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Add more herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano, or Italian seasoning, to add aromatic flavors to the croutons.
Please refer to the recipe card for exact measurements of ingredients.
How to make Air Fryer Croutons (Stepwise Photos)
1 and 2 – Preheat the air fryer to 370°F. Cut the bread of your choice into bite-sized cubes. You can keep or remove the bread edges, it’s your choice.
3 and 4 – In a large mixing bowl, add olive oil, garlic powder, dried parsley (or oregano), salt, black pepper and finely grated parmesan cheese. Mix well.
5 and 6 – Add the bread cubes to the olive oil and spices and mix until the bread cubes are well coated.
7 – Add the seasoned bread cubes to the air fryer basket. Spread them out in an even layer without overlapping.
8 – Air fry for 3 minutes. Then open and shake the air fryer basket to toss the croutons around. Cook for another 3-4 minutes depending on how golden you would like them to be
Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool slightly and they’re ready!
Recipe Tips
Cut the bread into even-sized cubes to ensure they cook uniformly. Any type of bread, such as sourdough, baguette, French bread, or whole wheat bread, works well.
Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking. Cook in batches if making a large quantity.
Shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
Cooking time can vary based on your air fryer model and type of bread so keep a close eye on the croutons since they can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly.
Let the air fryer croutons cool completely before serving to maintain their crispiness.
Experiment with different seasonings and flavors. For a spicy kick, add chili flakes. For an Italian twist, use Italian seasoning or dried oregano and basil.
Homemade croutons in the oven: Spread seasoned croutons in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 10-15 mins or until golden brown stirring once or twice during baking to ensure even browning.
What to Serve Air Fryer Croutons with
Salads: Toss croutons with Caesar Salad or your favorite salad for the perfect crunchy bite.
Soups: Top your favorite soups or creamy tomato soup with croutons for a deliciously crunchy texture and flavor.
Pasta Dishes: Sprinkle croutons over baked pasta dishes for added crunch.
Appetizers and Snacks: Serve croutons with dips like hummus or creamy avocado dip for an irresistible snack.
Storage Instructions
To store any leftover croutons, allow them to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container or a ziplock bag at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week. You can briefly reheat in the air fryer to regain their crispiness (if needed).
Dont forget to store those bread crumbs from the bottom of the air fryer. They are great on salads!
Frequently Asked Questions
Croutons may not be crispy due to too much moisture, overcrowding, insufficient cooking time, or inadequate drying and cooling.
Let croutons cool completely, store them in an airtight container to protect them from moisture, and then store the container in a cool, dry place. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven for a few minutes before serving (if needed).
While oil helps achieve a crispy texture and for the seasoning to stick to the bread, you can make croutons without it. Use a light spray of cooking oil or omit it entirely.
Ideally, any type of bread, fresh or stale can be used to make homemade croutons and is a personal preference. You can even make croutons from sandwich bread but for the best croutons, go for a crusty loaf of bread with great flavor. Here are some popular choices of bread to make croutons: French Baguette or French bread, sourdough bread, Ciabatta, Rye Bread, and whole wheat bread.
More Air Fryer Recipes
I hope you enjoy this Air Fryer Croutons recipe !! If you try this recipe, please rate it by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️! You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!
Recipe Card
Air Fryer Croutons
These Air fryer croutons are a quick and easy way to add crunchy texture to salads and soups. In just 12 minutes, you can make homemade croutons in the air fryer with olive oil, bread, and spices. They turn out deliciously crunchy, golden, and flavorful.
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
-
Preheat the air fryer to 370°F. Cut the bread of your choice into bite-sized cubes. You can keep or remove the edges, it’s your choice.
-
In a large mixing bowl, add olive oil, garlic powder, dried parsley (or oregano), salt, black pepper and finely grated parmesan cheese. Mix well.
-
Add the bread cubes to the olive oil and spices and mix until the bread cubes are well coated.
-
Add the seasoned bread cubes to the air fryer basket. Spread them out in an even layer without overlapping.
-
Air fry for 3 minutes. Then open and shake the air fryer basket to toss the croutons around. Cook for another 3-4 minutes depending on how golden you would like them to be
-
Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool slightly which will make them more crunchy and air fryer croutons are ready! Serve with your favorite salad or soup. Enjoy!
Notes
Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking. Cook in batches if you are making a large quantity.
Shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
Cooking time can vary based on your air fryer model and type of bread so keep a close eye on the croutons since they can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly.
Cool the air fryer croutons completely before serving to maintain their crispiness.
Experiment with different seasonings and flavors. For a spicy kick, add chili flakes. For an Italian twist, use Italian seasoning or dried oregano and basil.
Nutrition
Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg
Leave a Reply