Homemade Crispy Air Fryer Croutons

Why you will love this recipe

Croutons are a great way to add a crunchy texture to your salads or soups. Making them in the air fryer is quick, easy, and requires less oil than traditional methods, making them a healthier option. The high heat of the air fryer toasts the bread evenly, giving it a nice golden color and a crispy texture. The addition of garlic powder, and dried herbs, adds a subtle flavor that complements a variety of dishes.

Our Air-Fryer Croutons are:

• Vegan
• Easy to make
• Better than store-bought croutons
• A perfect addition to salads and soups
• Quick to prepare
• Family-friendly
• A great option to use your leftover bread

Ingredients

Fresh Bread or Stale Bread. You can use any type of crusty bread you like. Stale bread also works great for this recipe. We normally buy a loaf of sourdough bread from our local bakery and make sourdough croutons with it. But other types of breads will work too (whole wheat bread, white bread, white sandwich bread, french bread, or even hot dog buns). You can use your day-old bread to make croutons, actually, we recommend you to do that!

Olive oil. We use olive oil for this recipe as it adds a lovely Mediterranean flavor to your croutons. You can use another type of vegetable oil such as avocado oil, or coconut oil, or melted butter. You can use seasoned butter such as garlic butter to give your croutons a more intense flavor.

Garlic powder. This adds a nice touch to the croutons. You can also use other spices or flavors such as onion powder, sweet smoked paprika, or cumin.

Dried herbs. For our recipe, we add basil, oregano, and rosemary. Feel free to add your favorite herbs such as Italian seasoning, sage, mint, or parsley.

Salt and pepper. Season the croutons with salt and black pepper.

* You can add some Cajun seasoning to give these crunchy croutons a lovely kick.

Step-by-Step Cooking Method

1. Cut the bread slices using a serrated knife into cubes and in a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, olive oil, garlic powder, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Toss until the bread cubes are evenly coated with the oil and spices.
2. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F). Spread the cubed bread in the air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy. You may need more or less time depending on the type of bread you are using.
   
   Let the croutons cool so they can get that perfect crunch, and enjoy on top of your delicious recipes.

Air Fryer Croutons are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes:

• Salads: Add a crunchy element to your favorite salad. They pair well with Caesar salad, Greek salad, or any salad that could use a bit of crunch. We personally love adding some air-fried croutons to our Cauliflower Salad.
• Soups: Top your favorite creamy soups with these croutons. They’re especially good with tomato soup, vegetable soup, or hearty soups such as minestrone, or lentil soup.
• Casseroles: Sprinkle them on top of casseroles for a crispy topping. We tried before on this creamy cauliflower casserole, and it was a beautiful pairing. Try making smaller croutons if you want to add them on a casserole, as they will be nicer to serve.
• Snacks: Enjoy them as a snack on their own. They’re delicious and satisfying!

Store your Crispy Air Fryer Croutons

If you have some leftover croutons, store them in an airtight container in your pantry. They can be stored for 5-6 days.