Homemade Sourdough Croutons are delicious in soups, salads, and on snack boards. They’re an economic way to use leftover Sourdough Bread. They’re easy to make with just five basic ingredients, and add that little bit of special to your favorite recipes like Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad. In this recipe, I’m sharing how to make seasoned croutons from Sourdough Bread in the oven (plus a breadcrumb bonus)! This recipe is vegetarian or vegan.
Crunchy Croutons from Sourdough Bread
If you’re into making Rustic Sourdough Bread, you’re going to love using leftover bread to make these tasty croutons. Homemade sourdough bread croutons add that little extra something special to salads and soups. They’re crunchy, lightly garlicky and because these croutons are made with sourdough bread, their flavor is never bland. In this recipe, you’ll discover how simple it is to whip up this crouton recipe in the oven and how to make croutons that are either lightly crunchy or boldly crunchy (this is the window of crunchy!).
This Sourdough Croutons Recipe Is:
- Crunchy
- Garlicky
- Easy to Make
- Only 5 Ingredients
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sourdough Bread: You’ll need about 1/2 of a two pound loaf. You can make sourdough croutons from homemade sourdough bread, like from Seeded Multigrain Sourdough Bread, or from store bought sourdough. Leftover sourdough bread or day old bread is best.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use a good quality olive oil. I use California Olive Ranch.
- Garlic Granules: To season the croutons, garlic is always a yes! If needed, you can sub garlic powder reducing it to half the amount called for in the recipe.
- Dried Herbs and/or Fresh Parsley: Dried herbs will be mixed with the garlic, salt and oil. You can use Italian seasoning or a mix of other dried herbs such as oregano, basil, thyme and/or rosemary. Fresh herbs are optional, and can be sprinkled on the croutons after they come out of the oven.
- Salt: Just a bit to add depth and flavor.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional): for a fresh cheesy boost of flavor after the croutons come out of the oven.
What is the Best Bread for Croutons?
Sourdough, of course! You can use just about any sourdough bread, but I like crusty boules best. Sourdough sandwich breads like this Maple Oat Sourdough Loaf are a little too soft for crunchy croutons. So, go for a crusty loaf for best texture like this Everyday Sourdough Bread or a sourdough loaf from your local bakery.
Be sure you’re working with at least one day old bread for this baked croutons recipe.
How to Make Croutons from Sourdough Bread
For this homemade sourdough crouton recipe, you can either tear the bread into craggy chunks, or slice them for a more uniform appearance. Just make sure the pieces are about the same size so that they bake evenly. Making croutons in the oven couldn’t be easier! Here’s how do it (see recipe card for details):
- First, slice or tear your sourdough bread into uniform sized bread cubes.
- Second, mix the olive oil, garlic granules, dried herbs and salt. On a baking sheet pan (parchment lined or unlined), pour half the oil mixture over the sourdough bread cubes, stir, then pour the remaining oil mixture over the bread cubes. Toss throughly so that all the pieces are coated.
- Next, bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for between 15-25 minutes, until golden or to the desired level crunchiness.
- Last, share warm or at room temperature. Cool completely before storing.
If you’d like to add a salty cheesy finish, sprinkle a few tablespoons of Parmesan cheese over the croutons after they come out of the oven.
How to Store
Room Temperature: Allow the croutons to cool completely on the sheet pan, then transfer to a lidded container or storage bag. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week (without added Parmesan).
Freezer: Sourdough croutons freeze really well, up to two weeks. Thaw at room temperature, and gently warm in a 350 degree oven for about five minutes, just to refresh them.
What to Serve Your Sourdough Croutons With
- With Salad: So good in salads, use sourdough croutons when you want a little extra crunch and flavor:
- They’re tasty on this Vegan Caesar Salad with Kale
- Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad
- Grilled Sourdough Crouton Panzanella Salad
- With Soups: For crunch and texture, these crunchy sourdough croutons can be used as a garnish on soups.
- Creamy soups like Tuscan Tomato Soup, Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup, or Curried French Lentil Soup.
- Chunky soups like this Ribollita, Lemon-Garlic Fennel Soup or White Bean Cabbage Potato Soup.
- On Snack Boards: I love chunky sourdough croutons on a snack board. They make a flavorful and crunchy vehicle for dips like:
Expert Tips
- The Window of Crunchy: Homemade Sourdough Croutons can go from crunchyish to really crunchy depending on how long they’re in the oven. I call this the “window of crunchy” which is 15-25 minutes. Bake less for a softish crunch, bake for the full time for major crunch!
- More Garlic Please: I love these croutons with just a bit of garlicky flavor, but you can add a bit more, 1/8 teaspoon, to create a bolder garlic flavor.
- More Crunch? For an added bit of crunch and to up the protein on soup or salads, try my Crunchy Garlic Chickpea Croutons.
- Seasoned Breadcrumbs: Simply whirl the baked croutons in a food processor fitted with an S blade for about 10 seconds or until desired crumb size. These seasoned breadcrumbs will store at room temperature for up to a week, and in the freezer for months.
More Sourdough Recipes to Try
- Sourdough Pita Bread
- Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits
- Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls
- Cranberry Orange Sourdough Bread
Easy Homemade Sourdough Croutons
Ingredients
- 6 cups (310 grams) Diced Sourdough Bread Cubes torn or sliced into about 1/2 inch pieces (you'll need just under 1/2 of a two pound crusty loaf)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Granules or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoon Dried Italian Herbs *see note
Optional Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- Set an oven rack to the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celsius). For this recipe, you can line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or bake the croutons directly on a sheet pan, without parchment. Transfer the bread cubes to the sheet pan.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the olive oil, garlic, salt and dried herbs.
- Drizzle half the oil mixture over the croutons. Use your hands or spatula to toss the bread cubes, squeezing the bread gently as you go to allow the oil mixture to infuse the bread. Drizzle the remaining oil mixture over the cubes and mix again until all the bread cubes have been touched by the oil mix.
- Arrange the bread cubes in an even layer, then bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Stir, and rotate the pan, testing a crouton for desired crunchy. Bake 5 minutes more for more crunch (20 minutes total – this is my crunch happy place) or 8-10 minutes more (23-25 minutes total) for major crunch!
- Once out of the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (optional) and enjoy within a few hours. Share croutons warm or cool completely then sprinkle optional fresh herbs over the croutons. The croutons will get crunchier as they cool.
- To Store: Room Temperature: Allow the croutons to cool completely on the sheet pan, then transfer to a lidded container or storage bag. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week (if using Parmesan, consume the croutons within a few hours, otherwise freeze them).Freezer: Sourdough croutons freeze really well, up to two weeks. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour.
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