I had planned to post a new version of my homemade hamburger helper style meals, but after I posted the above picture on Facebook Sunday, I knew homemade croutons needed to come first.
Several of you had never made them. Others had made them, but wanted to know how I made them. So, today I am sharing the recipe with you.
Although, this is not really a recipe. It is more of a basic technique than a recipe. And it is one you can really change up. We like ours pretty plain. Bread, oil, salt, and pepper. Yes, you can add seasoning or things like Parmesan cheese to them, but we like the salad to have the flavor and the crouton be the extra part, so we keep it simple.
If you normally buy your croutons from a box or bag at the store, you really need to try making your own. I mean seriously don’t those croutons look good. Homemade are so much better. They are fresh and full of flavor and everything a crouton should be.
Salad and salad dressing recipe coming soon.
And if you like homemade recipes be sure to check out all the recipes in my homemade series.
Homemade Croutons
Skip the store bought croutons and make them at home.
Ingredients
- 7 or 8 slices of bread, cut into 1/2 cubes, about 4 cups- A basic white, french style, or baguette type bread works best
- 2 1/2 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper or to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl toss bread cubes with oil and salt and pepper until bread is well coated.
- Spread on a cookie sheet or shallow pan.
- Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes, stirring twice during cooking. You are basically toasting these, so check them a few times while baking to be sure they do not get overdone.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 293mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Nutritional values are approximate and aren't always accurate.
We LOVE homemade croutons! I am just usually too lazy to make them! I know… I know… LOL! I like tossing with herbs and seasonings to get different flavors. My family loves it when I make the garlic and herb ones or garlic and cheese. We’re pretty much a “ranch dressing family” here, so those flavors compliment nicely. They really do taste better than store bought! And probably much better for you, esp. if you use homemade bread. MMMMMMM….. I might just have to go make some for dinner tonight!
I guess I’ve been too lazy to make these. Thought about it, but being GF means there is no choice. I will have to give it a try. How long do they last in a sealed container?
With gluten free bread I have found they don’t last as long. I would say about 5 days in a sealed bag or container. I don’t usually make a huge batch unless it is summer and we are eating a lot of salad. I don’t always serve salad with croutons, but since going gf sometimes I just really miss that crunch on salad and making them is really the only way to get them.
I love to make homemade croutons! I like to substitute melted butter for the oil and mix in a little worcestershire sauce to taste. Yummy!