Parmesan Crostini are little toasts seasoned with olive oil and Parmesan cheese that are ideal for hearty dips, spreads, soups, and stews.
Why You'll Love This Parmesan Crostini Recipe
- Reason 1: Only 4 Ingredients.
- Reason 2: Makes in 30 minutes.
- Reason 3: Tastes better than store-bought!
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What Is Crostini?
Crostini in Italian means "little crusts". They are small slices of bread brushed with olive oil and toasted. To toast them, you can bake them in the oven, pan-fry them, or grill them. Often they are seasoned with salt, other seasonings like black pepper, or aromatics like garlic.
They can be eaten alone or served with toppings like meats, cheeses, are condiments. Because they are thicker than potato chips they are ideal with hearty dips and spreads. They are also delicious with soups and stews!
About This Recipe
This is a very simple, straightforward recipe for small toasts that I love to use with a variety of dips and toppings that are too heavy for potato chips.
The key to making a delicious crostini is to use quality, tasty ingredients. A well-made baguette, fruity, extra virgin olive oil, salty parmesan cheese, and a light dusting of paprika is all you need.
You can adjust the thickness to your liking and slice the bread on the diagonal for larger two-bite toasts or cut straight rounds for smaller bites.
We love a light sprinkling of paprika for a boost of flavor and color, but you can also omit it.
These little toasts are fantastic with your favorite toppings. Consider egg salad, tuna salad, or chicken salad in addition to robust hot and cold dips. These little crostini are sturdy and bring the crunch when a pita chip or celery stick just won't do.
So, let's cook!
Ingredient Notes
Here's what you need:
- French Baguette - Any French Baguette will work. The length of the baguette with affect the number of slices of bread that can be cut. The baguettes at my local store are 20" which is shorter than an official French baguette.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Choose the very best-tasting olive oil you can afford.
- Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan cheese brings both flavor and saltiness, which is why I don't add additional salt.
- Sweet Paprika - (Optional) We love the extra boost of flavor from sweet paprika. It is optional and can be omitted if you don't have any on hand.
Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
How to Make Parmesan Crostini
Preheat Oven. Set rack in oven to the second shelf from the bottom and preheat oven to 350°/177°C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Slice the bread ½" thick and grate the parmesan cheese.
Brush Bread. Place the bread on the prepared baking sheet and brush each slice of bread with the olive oil. Sprinkle bread slices with the parmesan cheese and sweet paprika.
Bake. Bake the crostini for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
My Top Tips
♡ These can be baked lightly toasted, good for a soft bite, or fully toasted for a crisp bite.
♡ For a more toasty brown color, after baking turn off the oven and turn on the broil. Watch carefully so the toasts do not burn.
Make-Ahead & Storage
These Parmesan Crostini can be made up to two weeks ahead and stored at room temperature in a sealed, airtight container.
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📖 Recipe
Parmesan Crostini (Small Toasted Bread)
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Ingredients
- 1 French Baguette, Sliced ½"Thick
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, Finely Grated
- 1 Teaspoon Sweet Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Set rack in oven to the second shelf from the bottom and preheat oven to 350°/177°C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Slice the bread ½" thick and grate the parmesan cheese.
- Brush Bread. Place the bread on the prepared baking sheet and brush each slice of bread with the olive oil. Sprinkle bread slices with the parmesan cheese and sweet paprika.1 French Baguette, ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, 1 Teaspoon Sweet Paprika
- Bake. Bake the crostini for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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Jan Nunes says
We love having these on hand so we can enjoy them with a small cheese plate before dinner!