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Homemade Croutons – 4 ingredients! {baked} – VIDEO

4.48
/5
15 mins
244 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 03/28/2016Updated: 06/14/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Homemade croutons are so easy to make – these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible. #homemade #croutons #wholegrain #baked
Homemade croutons are so easy to make - these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible. Get the salad topping recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Homemade croutons are so easy to make – these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible.

Homemade croutons are so easy to make - these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible. Get the salad topping recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Once you go to a homemade crouton, there’s no going back. They are a major game-changer and your salads, soups and stews will never be the same. In a very, very good way.

As with all most of my recipes, I focus on trying to make things a little healthier, a little better for you, and a little easier. It doesn’t get much easier than these croutons.

All you need to do is cut the bread into cubes, toss it with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt, spread them on a baking sheet and bake.

They only take 10 minutes to bake (but if you have really fresh bread, they’ll take longer to get golden brown).

The hardest part, BY FAR, is not eating them all off the baking sheet while they’re still warm. They are an absolutely irresistible combination of chewy and crispy and make for an amazing salad topping or a soup topper.

I’ve been loving them on top of squash soup and I have an Italian sausage stew recipe that is divine with these homemade croutons. They star in this traditional panzanella salad and springtime asparagus panzanella salad.

Homemade croutons are so easy to make - these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible. Get the salad topping recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Let’s review:

  1. FOUR ingredient croutons.
  2. Baked, not fried croutons.
  3. Whole grain croutons.
  4. Crunchy, chewy, and irresistible croutons.
  5. Croutons in less than 15 minutes, start to finish.

And most importantly of all, these homemade croutons taste WAY better than store bought croutons. There is no comparison. NONE. Really, none.

Tip: I often get asked how to make croutons on the stove. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and toss the croutons around in the hot pan until they are golden brown. You can prepare the croutons exactly the same way if you’re going to make them on the stovetop, and you don’t have to increase the oil unless you want to. I prefer the oven method because it’s slightly more hands-off and frees me up to do other things.

 

Used in this recipe:

  • bread knife
  • baking sheet
  • olive oil
  • garlic powder
  • sea salt

 

Looking for more delicious salad toppings? Try:

 

  • homemade reduced-fat ranch dressing
  • fresh raspberry vinaigrette dressing recipe
  • vanilla bean candied walnuts
  • savory granola (not sweet, and super crunchy with pepitas, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds)
  • pepitas (eight recipes!)
  • sweet and tangy honey mustard vinaigrette
  • olive oil roasted almonds
  • seasoned oyster crackers
  • pickled red onions

PS: Can’t get enough croutons? Read my comprehensive guide on how to make croutons! Make sure to also try my Ruby Tuesday croutons – they’re the perfect copycat recipe!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Homemade croutons are so easy to make - these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible. Get the salad topping recipe on RachelCooks.com!
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Four Ingredient Homemade Croutons - {baked & whole grain}

4.48 from 296 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
4 cups
Print Rate Recipe
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Homemade croutons are so easy to make – these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible.

Ingredients

  • 4 heaping cups cubed bread (I used a multigrain baguette)
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • In a large bowl, combine the bread, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle olive oil over bread while stirring. Stir well until bread is coated by all ingredients and olive oil is absorbed.
  • Spread the bread cubes into an even layer on a sheet pan. Don’t crowd the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. If you're using super fresh bread, they'll take a little longer to become golden brown. If the bread is stale and dry, it may brown faster, so keep an eye on it!

Notes

  • Serving size: 1/4 cup croutons.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 cup, Calories: 66kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 82mg, Sugar: 1g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It
Verdict: These baked croutons are SO addicting. I love them–they are the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy.
Husband’s take: He loves these!
Changes I would make: None are necessary but it will be fun to play with some different seasonings on these homemade croutons, or trying different types of bread. I want to try making homemade garlic croutons with leftover garlic bread.
Difficulty: SO easy.
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  1. Nico says

    February 14, 2023 at 5:48 pm

    Just popped them in, I added a dash of butter.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      February 14, 2023 at 10:31 pm

      I hope you love them!

      Reply
  2. Trish says

    January 26, 2023 at 1:45 pm

    I just popped these in the oven! Can’t wait to try them. So easy!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 26, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      I hope you love them!

      Reply
  3. Su says

    January 19, 2023 at 10:11 pm

    5 stars
    Easy and much better than store bought

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 23, 2023 at 9:08 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. Su says

    January 19, 2023 at 10:11 pm

    4 stars
    Easy and flavorful

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 23, 2023 at 9:08 am

      Thank you! Appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  5. Chris says

    July 31, 2022 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    perfect! and yes no going back to store bought now☺️

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 1, 2022 at 8:41 am

      Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  6. chris says

    June 19, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    5 stars
    10/10

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      June 20, 2022 at 11:58 am

      Thanks Chris!

      Reply
  7. Curt says

    April 21, 2022 at 8:40 am

    5 stars
    Super simple. Super tasty!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      April 25, 2022 at 9:36 am

      So glad you liked them! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  8. Yukia says

    April 20, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    Sweetheart, OMG!!!! This recipe has rekindled my love for croutons…and now I can make some that are better for me! I’m in LOVE! I’ll never buy croutons again! Your recipe was simple, easy to follow, and totally customizable. I made a grilled salmon Caesar salad and I was able to use a “healthier for me” bread option for my croutons and it was absolutely amazing! I got the crispy but chewy texture that I wanted, as well as a seasoning of my choice. Thank you, thank you, thank you! P.S. I didn’t get to upload a photo because they were gone in seconds!!! :)

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      April 25, 2022 at 9:36 am

      Your comment brought a smile to my face! I’m so happy you liked them, and thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  9. andrea says

    February 18, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    5 stars
    My husband loves it and I made it for my family they wanted the recipe. Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      February 19, 2022 at 8:47 am

      So glad they were a hit!

      Reply
  10. Baxter, Helen says

    February 2, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    Phenomenal! We love them! I also add garlic powder, parsley flakes and Kraft Parmesan cheese.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      February 4, 2022 at 9:34 am

      So glad you liked them!

      Reply
  11. Henna says

    January 28, 2022 at 2:28 pm

    Perfect! Made the best French onion soup with these. Also added salt after baking and flax seeds.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 31, 2022 at 1:04 pm

      So glad you liked them! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  12. Phyllis Proctor says

    January 20, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    5 stars
    Made your croutons for my husbands salad and they were great!! I used some potato rolls that I had. I will make again.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 23, 2022 at 9:41 pm

      So glad to hear it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  13. Diane says

    January 9, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    I cant say ive ever had a “tangy” crouton lol, herby, garlicky but not tangy. Am curious to know what the recipe is for this crouton!

    Reply
  14. Dianne Bond says

    December 18, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    They are okay.
    Not tangy enough.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 21, 2021 at 3:17 pm

      Tangy in what way? I don’t think of croutons as tangy typically. Are you looking for a little more flavor or garlic?

      Reply
    • Cartanner says

      December 22, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      Maybe make them with sourdough bread for a tangy taste?

      Reply
      • Rachel Gurk says

        December 23, 2021 at 11:24 am

        That’s a great idea!

        Reply
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