These crispy croutons are made in the air fryer for an easy, delicious way to repurpose leftover bread. These croutons are a tasty topping for soups and salads!

Air Fryer Croutons

I love having homemade croutons to add to a bowl of soup or a tossed salad and it’s a great way to use up leftover stale bread. Once a baguette has gotten a bit too crusty to enjoy with olive oil, l cut it into cubes and turn it into croutons! Normally I make croutons in the oven but I realized my air fryer would be even faster. Now, this is my go-to method for homemade croutons.

How to Make Croutons in an Air Fryer

  • Air Fryer Croutons
    Toss the bread in olive oil and seasoning.
  • Air Fryer Croutons
    Place the bread in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Air Fryer Croutons
    Air fry for 3 minutes or until golden brown.

Ways to Use Croutons

Try using your homemade croutons on top of this Vegan Chopped Salad or as the base for this Avocado Panzanella Salad. These croutons are also a delicious topping for this Creamy Tomato Soup or my Lemon Chickpea Soup.

Substitutions and Variations

  • For cheesy croutons, sprinkle a tablespoon of shredded Parmesan cheese on top just before air frying.
  • Add a pinch of Italian seasoning to boost the savory flavor. It’s perfect on a Caesar salad!
  • A sprinkle of za’atar seasoning creates a uniquely delicious crouton that really shines on top of salad!
  • For a really unique twist, you can use cinnamon and sugar to create sweet croutons. These can be really fun on top of an ice cream sundae or sprinkled on top of a bowl of oatmeal!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use whole wheat bread? Yes! This method works well with whole wheat bread, sourdough bread, or any leftover bread.
  • Can I make these in the oven? Yep. Follow the steps for my homemade Whole Wheat Croutons.
  • Can I make gluten-free croutons? Yes, you can use gluten-free bread or try my Polenta Croutons for a uniquely delicious twist.

How to Store Croutons

I recommend storing these in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll typically last 1-2 days, but it depends on the type of bread you’re using. Some bread may become too crunchy after a couple of days.

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air fryer croutons

Air Fryer Croutons

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 8 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These crispy croutons are made in the air fryer for an easy, delicious way to repurpose leftover bread. These croutons are a tasty topping for soups and salads!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4oz baguette cut into 1″ pieces (about 2 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees.
  2. Drizzle the bread with olive oil, then toss with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  3. Add the bread to the air fryer and arrange it in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  4. Air fryer for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

Keywords: air fryer croutons