Once you try these Air Fryer Croutons, you may never buy packaged croutons again. These homemade croutons are tossed with olive oil and seasoned with garlic, onion, and oregano for a savory, balanced bite. The air fryer crisps them up quickly, producing golden, crunchy pieces that are far superior to many store-bought options.
Use these croutons to top soups like Frozen Pea Soup or Vegan Potato Leek Soup, or scatter them over salads such as Pea Pesto Spinach Salad or a Vegan Caesar Salad for added texture and flavor.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Better than store-bought: Homemade croutons have fresher flavor and you control the salt and seasonings, avoiding the overly hard, overly salty pieces often found in packages.
- Quick: This recipe is straightforward and ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish.
- No waste: Use up leftover bread — day-old or fresh — and turn it into a delicious topping instead of discarding it.
- Versatile: Croutons work on salads, soups, in stuffing, or simply as a crunchy snack.
Ingredients (and substitutes)
You only need a few pantry staples — 5 main ingredients plus salt and pepper — to make flavorful croutons in the air fryer.
- Bread: Use almost any bread: sourdough, baguette, or white sandwich bread all work well. Fresh bread is fine — you don’t need stale bread unless you prefer it.
- Olive oil: Olive oil helps the croutons brown evenly and adds flavor. Swap melted butter for a richer result, or use half oil and half butter to combine the benefits of both.
- Dried oregano: Oregano gives a classic herb note. If you don’t have it, Italian seasoning is a great substitute.
- Garlic and onion powder: These two powders add savory depth. If you’re missing one, increase the other to taste.
See the recipe card below for exact quantities and full instructions.
Want more recipes that use bread? Try Smashed Chickpea Sandwiches, Vegan French Toast Casserole, or Mushrooms on Toast.
How to make (step-by-step photos)
These croutons are easy to make and take only about 10 minutes. Here’s the simple process:
Refer to the recipe card below for full measurements and timings.
Tips
- Release oregano’s aroma: Rub dried oregano between your fingers before using to boost its flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd: Arrange the bread in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If pieces overlap, they won’t crisp evenly—work in batches if necessary.
- Remove slightly early: Croutons continue to firm up as they cool, so pull them out just before they seem fully hard to avoid over-baking.
- Oven option: If you don’t have an air fryer, bake at a low temperature in the oven (see recipe notes) — it takes a bit longer but yields the same tasty result.
Best bread for croutons
Summary: Any bread will work, and each type yields slightly different texture and flavor. Use your favorite loaf — fresh or day-old — based on the result you prefer.
We tested sourdough, baguette, and white sandwich bread. Each produces great croutons with distinct characteristics:
Sourdough bread
Gourmet flavor and rustic texture.
- Great flavor: Sourdough’s tang and depth translate into rich, savory croutons.
- Rustic look: An open crumb creates varied shapes and sizes, giving an artisanal appearance.
- Texture variety: Some pieces include more crust and are crunchier, while inner pieces are lighter and airier.
Baguette
Crunchy pieces with attractive crusty edges.
- Convenient: Leftover baguette slices are ideal for making croutons.
- Good flavor: Many baguettes share similar dough characteristics to sourdough, delivering pleasing taste.
- Crunchier consistency: A higher crust-to-crumb ratio yields uniformly crisp pieces.
White Sandwich Bread
Classic croutons that resemble many packaged varieties.
- Thickness is fixed: Pre-sliced sandwich bread limits crouton size, but produces consistent pieces.
- Familiar look: Tight crumb and softer crust make these croutons resemble many store-bought versions.
- Slight sweetness: A subtle sweet note from the bread can come through in the finished croutons.
Day old vs. fresh bread
Both day-old and fresh bread work. Day-old is firmer and easier to cut, while fresh bread contains more moisture and may need an extra minute in the air fryer. Avoid using moldy bread.
Other salad toppings:
- Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Tofu
- Chili Lime Pepitas
- Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
- Quick Pickled Onions (No Cook)
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📖 Recipe
Best Air Fryer Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed bread (cut into ¾-inch/2 cm cubes)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
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Season: Place 4 cups cubed bread in a large bowl. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper over the bread and toss until evenly coated.
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Bake: Preheat an air fryer to 325°F (163°C). Spread the seasoned bread in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, shaking or stirring halfway through, until pieces are golden-brown and crisp. Croutons will firm up further as they cool.
Notes
- Bread: Use sourdough, baguette, white sandwich bread, or your favorite loaf. Day-old bread will be slightly easier to cube but fresh bread works well too. Choose gluten-free bread if needed.
- Oil: Melted butter can replace olive oil, or use a 50/50 mix for extra richness.
- Air fryer size: Use one batch for a 6-quart basket. If your air fryer is smaller or you increase the recipe, bake in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Oven method: To bake in the oven, preheat to 325°F (163°C) and bake the seasoned bread for about 12 to 16 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Watch closely and remove when golden and crisp.
- Storage: Store leftover croutons in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days.