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Overhead view of a bowl of crispy Parmesan croutons, showcasing their golden-brown texture on a neutral background.
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4.65 from 17 votes

Healthy Homemade Croutons Recipe

You’ll love my Healthy Homemade Croutons recipe that is oven-baked and not fried. Once you know that how easy and simple it is to make these croutons at home, you’ll never go back to store-bought ones.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups rustic bread or baguette* crust removed and bread cut into ¾-inch cubes

Optional Seasonings:

  • crushed red pepper** Herbs de Provence, basil, thyme, rosemary, chili powder, onion powder. There are many options—have fun with this recipe.
  • 4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Place oven rack to middle position, and preheat to 375°F.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil with the minced garlic for 30 seconds.
    3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 cloves garlic
    Close-up of minced garlic being whisked into olive oil in a glass measuring cup.
  • Pour the olive oil/garlic mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a large bowl. Press the garlic with a rubber spatula or the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much garlic oil as possible. Reserve the garlic for another use.
    Minced garlic being strained from garlic-infused olive oil through a fine mesh sieve over a glass bowl.
  • Microwave the butter, in a small bowl, at 30% power for 20-40 seconds. The butter could bubble over, so watch closely in the last 10 seconds. Add it to the olive oil/garlic mixture and stir well.
    3 tablespoons unsalted butter
    Melted butter being poured from a small white bowl into a bowl of garlic-infused olive oil.
  • Add the salt, black pepper, and your favorite herbs/seasonings to the butter/oil mixture, then add the bread cubes. Toss until the cubes are evenly coated in the oil/butter mixture.
    kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, crushed red pepper**, 3 cups rustic bread or baguette*
    Cubed bread tossed with the seasoned garlic butter mixture in a glass mixing bowl with a white spatula.
  • Pour the croutons onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
    Seasoned bread cubes spread out evenly on a dark baking sheet before baking.
  • Remove from the oven***, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and toss until all croutons are covered. Allow to cool completely.
    4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
    Golden baked croutons on a dark baking sheet, coated with Parmesan cheese.

Video

Notes

*Use baguettes for the best flavors, crunch, and richness. Feel free to use any, whole wheat, rye, white bread, or sourdough.
**Try different seasonings like Italian seasoning, Cajun spice, Tajin salt, or taco seasoning. Dill, rosemary, and thyme are other herbs to use for making them in different flavors.
***You can make these in air fryer as well. Follow the recipe and instead of oven, bake in air fryer at 400°F for 3-5 minutes. Keep stirring the basket few times and don't forget to spray the basket with non stick cooking oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 20mg | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 0.6mg