Homemade sourdough croutons are a great way to add crunch to your favorite salads and soups. They only take a few minutes to make in the air fryer and are the perfect way to use leftover bread before it gets stale.
The Secret to Making Crunchy Sourdough Croutons in Your Own Kitchen
The first time I perfected making homemade croutons in my air fryer was when I was developing recipes for my most recent cookbook, and I haven’t bought croutons since.
Store bought croutons are good, but sometimes they can be more hard then they are crispy and the seasoning can be powdery and overpowering.
These homemade sourdough croutons have none of that.
They’re light and crisp, with the delicious seasoning baked right on. They’re honestly the best croutons I’ve ever tasted!
It only takes a few minutes to transform sourdough bread into flavorful croutons. Use them on salads, add a little crunch to your favorite soups, smash them into breadcrumbs or just eat them by the handful as a snack.
They’re so easy to make, and they’re absolutely delicious!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
- Crispy: These homemade sourdough croutons are crispier than store-bought croutons, with a more delicate, fresh flavor that I can’t get enough of.
- Economical: They’re also a great way to use up leftover bread before it goes bad. I live in a two person household and we have a hard time finishing a full loaf before it starts to get stale. Using some to make air fryer croutons is a great way to extend the life of the bread and prevent food waste, which is great for both the planet and your wallet.
- Special Diet Friendly: These sourdough croutons made with olive oil are naturally vegan and dairy free.
Ingredients you’ll need to make air fryer croutons
Sourdough bread. I love the complex, tangy flavor of sourdough bread for my favorite grilled cheese sandwiches, and that flavor transitions beautifully to croutons. You can use homemade sourdough or a store-bought loaf.
Olive oil. Olive oil gives these croutons a robust, buttery flavor while keeping them dairy-free.
Poultry Seasoning. I’m obsessed with using Penzey’s poultry seasoning on these. It’s a mixture of sage, bell pepper, lemon peel, thyme , and other traditional herbs that’s deeply savory and flavorful but with a neutral enough profile that you can use the croutons in a million different ways.
Kosher salt. The poultry seasoning I use is salt-free, so it’s important to add salt for the perfect balance of flavors.
How to make them
Slice the bread into cubes and add them to a large mixing bowl
Toss the bread cubes in olive oil and seasonings. Don’t just drizzle or sprinkle them, you really want to get in there and make sure every bit of bread has been coated.
Air fry until crispy and crunchy. Let cool completely.
Store in an air tight container until ready to use.
Pro Tips and Ingredient Variations
- Use a serrated knife in a sawing motion to cut the bread into cubes. This prevents the bread from getting squishes and gives the croutons are rougher texture that’s perfect for grabbing onto seasonings.
- Shake the air fryer basket two or three times during the cooking process to ensure the croutons are evenly toasted. This is especially important if your basket is on the fuller side.
- Swap avocado oil or melted butter in for the olive oil.
- No poultry seasoning? I highly recommend buying some but you can use your favorite seasonings blend. Try using Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder. seasoned salt, or Italian seasoning or parsley flakes. You’ll need a total of 1 Tablespoon of dreidd spices in total.
- No sourdough? Instead of sourdough bread cubes, try white bread or Italian bread. I also really love pumpernickel croutons, but they have a much more robust flavor that isn’t as versatile. The only thing I tend to stay away from is whole wheat bread, which I find takes on a butter flavor when used for croutons.
Commonly asked questions
I don’t have an air fryer. Can I make these in the oven?
Yes, spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 375ºF for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
How do I know when they’re done?
First off, they’ll suddenly start to smell amazing.
Give the air fryer basket a good shake – they should sound dry and rattly. Visually, they’ll be a light golden brown, with a darker brown toward the edges.
Can I use gluten-free bread?
Yes, gluten free bread sourdough bread works well for this crouton recipe. You don’t need to make any adjustments, but note the the croutons might not brown as much, so be sure to go by texture as opposed to color to determine when they’re done. They should be uniformly crunchy throughout.
How should I store them?
Let the croutons cool completely, then store at room temperature in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to two weeks.
It’s important to make sure they’re cooled completely before sealing them up, otherwise the steam can add moisture to the container and make the croutons soggy.
What if my bread has already started to get stale?
As long as your bread is just a little dry and hasn’t turned completely stale, you can still make these. They might be ready a few minutes sooner since they drying process has already started, so check for doneness after 5 minutes.
How should I use these sourdough croutons?
I love using fresh croutons on a simple side salad with healthy Caesar dressing, balsamic dressing or homemade pesto vinaigrette.
You can also use them to add texture to creamy soups, like tomato soup or cauliflower soup, or instead of baguette for French onion soup.
You can also use them to make stuffing, smash them with a rolling pin or pulverize in a food processor to make homemade bread crumbs, or sprinkle them over the top of a casserole.
Can I double or triple this recipe?
Yes, but keep in mind that it may effect the cooking time. If you’re air fryer basket is very full, the croutons might take a few minutes longer to fully crisp.
More air fryer recipes you’ll love
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- How to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer
- How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Garlicky Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
- Spicy Air Fryer Steak Fingers with Dill Pickle Dip
- Air Fryer Empanadas
More pantry staple recipes
- How to Make Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Easy Homemade Ketchup
- Homemade Beer-Caraway Mustard
- Maple Vinaigrette
- Dilly Beans
- Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Air Fryer Sourdough Croutons
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough sandwich bread
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370ºF.
- Cut the sourdough bread into 1-inch cubes using a serrated knife.
- Place the bread cubes into a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil, poultry seasoning, and salt. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to thoroughly mix the bread cubes and seasoning- they bread should take on a uniform golden hue from the oil.
- Transfer the seasoned bread cubes to your air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and golden brown.
- To store: Let cool completely, then store croutons in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
I made these this evening and they are so much better than store bought. Next time I’m going to do butter and garlic. Thanks for the recipe.