Crispy, crunchy, savory Garlic Parmesan Croutons have 4 ingredients and made in 20 minutes. They are a delicious topping for soups and salads.
These cheesy croutons, with a hint of garlic, will be your new favorite soup and salad topping. Easy to make with simple ingredients that are generally on hand, you might never buy another bag of store croutons again!
What Are Croutons?
A crouton is a cube or torn piece of bread that has been fried in oil and/or butter. Making croutons is a great way to use up bread that is slightly stale or might become stale.
They can be plain or seasoned, small or large, and oven-baked or pan-fried.
Any type of bread can be used to make croutons by adjusting the amount of oil, seasoning, and cooking time.
Why This Recipe Works
This is one of those recipes, like jams, jellies, and pickles, that extends the shelf life of an ingredient, in this case, bread.
If you have ever decided not to purchase or make a loaf of artisanal bread because you wouldn't be able to eat it all, homemade croutons will give that bread an extended life of 4 to 5 days.
Plus, the combination of garlic and parmesan as a seasoning in these croutons is a perfect pairing. There is no need to add additional salt as the Parmesan cheese is already salty.
And... even better yet, they are great to have on hand for every season, as they can be used to top and enhance so many different dishes.
So, let's cook!
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Ingredient Notes
Here's what you need for these Garlic Parmesan Croutons:
- Parmesan Cheese - Any good parmesan cheese will work well.
- Garlic Powder - Using garlic powder will let the croutons toast up nice and golden without burning.
- Bread - Use a dense and hearty rustic bread like sourdough, Italian, or French Bread. It can be fresh bread or stale, as long as it can be cut into cubes. Using day-old bread is perfectly fine and will allow you to use it up rather than throwing it out.
- Olive Oil - A fruity cold pressed olive oil will add additional flavor to the croutons.
Optional Garnish:
Fresh Parsley - Finely Chopped...or any other fresh herbs you like, such as Chives, Rosemary, Oregano, or Thyme.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
Preheat and Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and line a rimmed baking sheet or pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
Make the Seasoning Mix. Mix the parmesan cheese and the garlic powder in a small bowl and set aside.
Cut the Bread. Cut the bread into ½" cubes. You can leave the crust on, or cut it off.
Oil the Bread Cubes. Place the cubed bread in a large bowl. Using a teaspoon or small plastic bottle, drizzle the cubed bread with half of the olive oil. Turn the cubes with a large spoon and drizzle them with the remaining olive oil.
Add the Seasoning. Sprinkle the cubes with the garlic cheese mixture. Using a large spoon turn and toss the bread cubes until they are evenly coated.
Spread in Pan. Spread and separate the cubes onto the prepared pan in a single layer.
Bake. Bake the croutons for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Stir them midway through baking to help brown them on all sides. Remove from the oven and use them immediately or cool and store them in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
If desired, sprinkle them with a very small amount of finely chopped parsley or your favorite herbs.
My Top Tips
♡ Keep a close eye on the croutons after they have baked for 8 minutes and have been turned to make sure they don't burn.
♡ Start a zippered plastic "crouton bag" of leftover heels and bits of bread that you cut or tear into bite-sized pieces and store in the refrigerator or freezer. When you have enough you can make a batch of croutons.
Ways to Use Garlic Parmesan Croutons
- Salads - These croutons will elevate any salad, especially a Caesar and Green Goddess Salad.
- Soups - Some soups are just better with a few added like potato, tomato, and vegetable.
- Stews & Chili - You might not even realize that croutons go really well in stews made with chicken and a good hearty chili, but they do!
- Casseroles - I love topping my casseroles with whole or crushed croutons and they are also delicious on mac and cheese.
- Crushed - Simply use a food processor, rolling pin, or kitchen mallet to crush croutons into seasoned breadcrumbs as a coating or topping for baked chicken or fish.
Recipe FAQs
You can make croutons in advance of using them. Actually, making croutons is an excellent way to use leftover bread before it becomes too stale to cut.
Place leftover croutons in an airtight container with a lid or a sealable plastic bag. I prefer a zippered plastic bag because I can press most of the air out of it before sealing it.
Croutons don't need to be reheated. But if you want them warm, you can place them in a brown paper bag, dampen the outside of the bag with water, and bake them in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes to warm them. Placing them in a dampened paper bag is a great trick to warm and steam them without burning them.
♡ Did you love this Garlic Parmesan Croutons recipe? Please leave a star rating and a comment below!
📖 Recipe
Garlic Parmesan Croutons
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Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 Cups Cubed Bread, Rustic Bread like Sour Dough, Italian, or French Bread
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Optional Garnish:
- Finely Chopped Parsley, or Any Other Fresh Herbs, like Chives, Rosemary, Oregano, or Thyme
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and line a rimmed baking sheet or pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Make the Seasoning Mix. Mix the parmesan cheese and the garlic powder in a small bowl and set aside.2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese, ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Cut the Bread. Cut the bread into ½" cubes.
- Oil the Bread Cubes. Place the cubed bread in a large bowl. Using a teaspoon or small plastic bottle, drizzle the cubed bread with half of the olive oil. Turn the cubes with a large spoon and drizzle them with the remaining olive oil.2 Cups Cubed Bread, 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- Add the Seasoning. Sprinkle the cubes with the garlic cheese mixture. Using a large spoon turn and toss the bread cubes until they are evenly coated.
- Spread in Pan. Spread and separate the cubes onto the prepared pan in a single layer.
- Bake. Bake the croutons for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Stir them midway through baking to help brown them on all sides. Remove from the oven and use them immediately or cool and store them in a sealed container for up to 5 days. If desired, sprinkle them with a very small amount of finely chopped parsley.Finely Chopped Parsley
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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