Why You’ll Love These Homemade Croutons
- Crispy But Won’t Crack a Tooth—No more sad, dry store-bought croutons. These homemade croutons are golden and crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside.
- Quick & Easy—Crispy, golden croutons in less than 10 minutes? Yes, please. These stovetop croutons are weeknight-friendly and require exactly zero oven time.
- Versatile—Toss them in salads, add them to wraps, sprinkle them in soups, or snack on them straight out of the pan—no judgment here!
These are not your typical, tooth-breaking store-bought croutons. No, no—these homemade croutons are golden and crispy on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle, and coated in salty Parmesan cheese. And the best part? They cook up in just 3-4 minutes right on your stovetop. Toss them into chicken Caesar wraps, sprinkle over salads, or float them in soups. Honestly, though? Forget the salads and soups—you’ll be eating these straight out of the pan.
Homemade Croutons Ingredients
Bread: A soft loaf of fresh French bread is my preferred choice for these croutons, but you could also use leftover no-knead bread or a crustier bread like sourdough (but expect slightly crunchier croutons).
Butter and Oil: Melted butter and some avocado oil create a base to fry the croutons. If you don’t have avocado oil, sub in your own favorite neutral oil, or use olive oil (technically not neutral but will work with these).
Seasonings: Granulated garlic and some White Pizza Mojo Seasoning (shop on Amazon) add salty, savory, garlicky flavor to each crouton. I love using White Pizza Mojo in garlic butter for cheesy garlic bread, white pizza, and more. While I highly recommend it, you can add a bit more granulated garlic and some extra Parmesan in its place.
Parmesan: Good old Kraft Parmesan works perfectly here, but feel free to use your own favorite packaged parm—or freshly grate your own.
How to Make Stovetop Croutons Step By Step
1. Melt the butter.
Add the avocado oil and butter to a medium skillet. Heat on medium-low until the butter is completely melted, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the seasonings.
Sprinkle the granulated garlic and White Pizza Mojo seasoning over the oil and butter. Stir.
3. Add the bread.
Add the cubed French bread to the pan and toss it in the seasoned butter mixture with a spatula or spoon until all sides are coated well. If needed, add an extra splash of avocado oil or tablespoon of butter to ensure the bread is completely coated. Arrange the croutons in a single layer on the bottom of the pan.
4. Cook the croutons.
Cook the croutons on medium-low heat, tossing intermittently to allow all sides to brown evenly. The key here is to strike a balance between leaving the croutons alone—so they have enough time to brown—and tossing them so all sides get a chance to crisp up. About halfway through cooking, add 2 tbsp of Parmesan cheese and toss well to coat.
Once the croutons have browned to your liking—typically around the 4-minute mark for me—add the rest of the Parmesan cheese and toss the croutons in it. Then, immediately turn the heat off and pour the croutons into a bowl.
How to Serve These Homemade Croutons
- Toss in salads.
- Add to wraps—like chicken Caesar wraps.
- Add to soups.
- Snack on them all alone!
How to Store Leftover Croutons
I think these croutons are at their best when served straight out of the pan. Leftover croutons can be stored in a zipper bag or airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days. For the best texture, store croutons separately from any salad or dressing—otherwise, they’ll lose their crispness and turn soggy quite quickly.
Read on for the full recipe for these easy homemade croutons!
Once you’ve given them a try, leave a rating and review down below to let me know how you liked them.
Easy Homemade Croutons (Stovetop)
Equipment (Shop on Amazon)
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed French bread approx. ¾-1" cubes
- 6 tbsp salted butter
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ¼-½ tsp White Pizza Mojo Seasoning
Instructions
- Add the butter and avocado oil to a medium skillet. Heat on medium-low for 1-2 minutes to allow the butter to melt.6 tbsp salted butter, 2 tbsp avocado oil
- Sprinkle the granulated garlic and White Pizza Mojo Seasoning over the butter and oil. Stir.½ tsp granulated garlic, ¼-½ tsp White Pizza Mojo Seasoning
- Pour in the cubed French bread. Then, use a spatula to toss the bread in the oil and butter mixture until all sides have been coated. If necessary, add another small splash of avocado oil or bit of butter to ensure all sides of the bread are coated well. Arrange the croutons in a single layer on the bottom of the pan.4 cups cubed French bread
- Cook the croutons on medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, or until they have browned to your liking. Toss the croutons occasionally to allow all the sides to brown. About halfway through cooking, sprinkle in half the Parmesan cheese and stir. Once the croutons have browned to your liking, add the other half of the Parmesan and stir well. Immediately turn off the heat and pour the croutons into a bowl.¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- Serve the croutons right away on salads, in wraps, or in soups. Store any leftover croutons in an airtight bag or container on the counter.
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