If you’ve never made croutons from scratch before, this is the recipe to start with. It’s so easy and the result is honestly better than anything you can buy at the store.
All you need is some crusty bread, olive oil, and a handful of basic seasonings you probably already have in your kitchen. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.
The air fryer does all the heavy lifting here. It gives the bread cubes an even, golden crunch in just a few minutes.
I love adding these to Caesar salads, tomato soup, or really any dish that could use a little extra crunch. They make a big difference.
Here’s how to make a batch of these air fryer croutons at home.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Unbelievably Crunchy – These croutons come out golden and crunchy all the way through with no soggy centers at all.
Only 5 Simple Ingredients – You probably already have bread and olive oil and basic spices sitting in your kitchen right now.
Way Better Than Store-Bought – Once you taste these fresh and flavorful croutons you will never go back to the stale boxed kind.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Crusty Bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 thick slices)
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
How To Make
Step 1
Cut the bread into even 3/4-inch cubes. Day-old bread that is slightly stale works best, but fresh bread will also produce great results.
Step 2
Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper over the top. Toss everything together until every piece is evenly coated.
Step 3
Preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F. Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
Step 4
Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes to ensure even browning. The croutons are done when they are golden on the outside and crunchy all the way through. Immediately transfer to a bowl and toss with the grated parmesan cheese while still warm.
Step 5
Let the croutons cool completely before using or storing. They will crisp up even more as they cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Tips
Use Bread That’s a Little Dry
Day-old bread that’s slightly stale is the best option here. It has less moisture, which means it crisps up faster and more evenly in the air fryer without turning chewy in the middle.
If your bread is fresh, cut it into cubes and leave them spread out on a cutting board for about 30 minutes before seasoning. That little bit of drying out makes a big difference in how crunchy the final croutons turn out.
Keep the Cubes the Same Size
Take your time cutting the bread into even cubes. If some pieces are tiny and others are big, the small ones will burn while the big ones are still soft in the center.
You don’t need to be perfect about it, but try to keep them all close to that 3/4-inch size. A sharp serrated knife works best for this since it grips the crust without smashing the bread flat.
Toss the Seasoning Before the Oil
Here’s a small change that helps a lot. Instead of adding the oil first, try sprinkling the dry seasonings over the bread cubes and tossing them around, then drizzle the oil and toss again.
When you add oil first, the bread soaks it up immediately and the seasonings can clump together in spots. Dusting the dry seasoning first helps it spread more evenly across every cube.
You’ll notice way more consistent flavor in every bite this way.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Bread
- Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
- Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
- Air Fryer Texas Toast
- Air Fryer Tuscan White Bean Bruschetta
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any type of bread for air fryer croutons?
You can use most types of bread, but crusty varieties like French bread, sourdough, or ciabatta work best because they hold their shape and get extra crunchy in the air fryer. Softer breads like sandwich bread or brioche can work too, but they tend to be more delicate and may crumble a bit.
If you have stale bread that has been sitting out for a day or two, that is actually ideal. The drier texture helps the cubes crisp up faster and more evenly without getting too dry on the outside before the inside catches up.
Air Fryer Croutons
- air fryer
- 4 cups Crusty Bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 thick slices)
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- Cut the bread into even 3/4-inch cubes. Day-old bread that is slightly stale works best, but fresh bread will also produce great results.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper over the top. Toss everything together until every piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F. Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes to ensure even browning. The croutons are done when they are golden on the outside and crunchy all the way through. Immediately transfer to a bowl and toss with the grated parmesan cheese while still warm.
- Let the croutons cool completely before using or storing. They will crisp up even more as they cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.