Crunchy Sourdough Croutons [3 ingredients]

Making sourdough croutons is a great way to use up stale sourdough bread, or even those loaves that don't bake up quite right.

Sourdough croutons are super easy to make and can be used in soups, salads - or even as a snack or gifted to a friend or neighbor in a pretty jar. I love to blitz them and use them as a crunchy coating on chicken. YUM!

You can add herbs or spices if you like or just keep them plain and simple.

Croutons are just bread that has been cubed and then rebaked or fried until crispy. Technically you can use any bread to make croutons, whether it's stale or fresh ... but it really is the perfect way to avoid wastage by using old or stale sourdough bread. Sourdough crostini is another way to use up leftover sourdough bread.

I love making croutons with leftover Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread and Sourdough Dill Pickle Rye Bread - they are extra tasty!

Why You'll Love Sourdough Croutons!

These croutons are oh so easy to make - you'll wonder why you never made them before!

Here's why you're going to love making your own crunchy sourdough croutons:

• Use up stale or leftover sourdough bread - leftover baguettes are perfect!
• Quick and easy to throw together
• Add oil and flavors of your choice - no artificial flavors or preservatives
• Turn failed sourdough loaves into croutons with no waste!

How To Make Sourdough Croutons [step by step]

1. Preheat your oven to 350F/180C.
   
2. Cut the slices of sourdough bread into cubes (around ¾ to 1 inch). Make sure some have the crust on and others don't for a more rustic feel to your sourdough croutons.
   
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place your cubed sourdough bread onto the tray. Pour the olive oil over the cubed sourdough bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper (add as much or as little as you'd like).If you'd like to add other seasonings like rosemary, Italian herbs, garlic powder etc, add this to the pan now. Generally 1 teaspoon is plenty.
   
4. Gently toss the bread around with your hands to ensure each cube is coated with olive oil.
   
5. Place the tray of croutons in to the oven to bake at 350F/180C for around 30 minutes. I like to take them out after 15 minutes and toss them around to ensure they are baking evenly.
   
6. Once they are golden and crunchy, remove them from the oven and allow to cool before using them or placing in to a glass jar to store them.

Storage + Shelf Life

Croutons are made with leftover or stale bread, but that doesn't mean they will have a short shelf life. When stored correctly, these croutons should last around 2 weeks.

I find they are best stored in a glass jar in the pantry. Plastic containers make them go soft. But if they do go a little soft, you can just pop them in the oven again for a few minutes to crisp up.

You could also freeze sourdough croutons, however you would need to crisp them up in the oven after defrosting.

Can I Make Sourdough Croutons in an Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Sourdough croutons work really well in an air fryer because the dry heat makes them crisp up really well!

You would basically follow the same instructions as the oven and just air fry until they are golden and crispy.

An air fryer is a great way to crisp up croutons that have gone a little soft too!

How To Use Sourdough Croutons

You can literally add croutons to anything you like! Here's some of the ways we use them in my house:

• Add them to our favorite soups just before serving
  
• My kids literally eat bowls of these as a snack
  
• Use them to create a crunchy topping to your favorite casserole - simply add them on top and sprinkle with your favorite melty cheese and then pop in the oven.
  
• Grind them up in a food processor to make crunchy seasoned breadcrumbs - perfect for breading chicken.
  
• Add them to a salad - they add so much flavor and interest.