Homemade Crispy Italian Seasoned Croutons Recipe
This homemade croutons recipe transforms a crusty loaf of bread into golden, crispy, and flavorful croutons using a simple seasoning blend of olive oil, butter, Italian herbs, and garlic. Perfect for salads, soups, or snacking, these croutons bake to a perfect crunch and can be customized with Parmesan cheese for an extra savory touch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Croutons
- 12-ounce (340g) loaf of crusty bread
- 1/3 cup (80ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (191°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to ensure the croutons bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Prepare Bread: Tear or slice the crusty bread into small, bite-sized cubes, approximately 6 to 8 cups in volume. Place the cubes in a large mixing bowl.
- Make Seasoning Mixture: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the olive oil, unsalted butter, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Heat until the butter melts and the mixture is well combined, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Coat Bread Cubes: Pour the warm seasoning mixture over the bread cubes. If using, add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Toss thoroughly to coat every piece evenly with the flavorful mixture.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Spread the coated bread cubes in a single, even layer on the prepared baking sheet to promote even baking and crispiness.
- Bake and Stir: Bake the bread cubes for 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and stir the croutons to ensure even cooking. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes until they are golden brown and crisp.
- Cool: Remove the croutons from the oven and place the baking sheet on a cooling rack. Let the croutons cool for 30 minutes so they can continue to crisp up.
- Store: Store any leftover croutons lightly covered at room temperature for up to 1 day, or tightly covered for up to 10 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use day-old or slightly stale bread for best texture in croutons.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the seasoning mixture.
- Croutons can be customized with your favorite herbs and spices.
- Ensure even coating of seasoning to avoid soggy pieces.
- Store cooled croutons properly to keep them crispy.
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