Don't throw out leftover bits of stale bread - make air fryer croutons! This simple and speedy recipe works great for many different types of bread, crisps up wonderfully, and truly tastes better than store-bought.
8ouncesbreadcut into 1-inch cubes (see notes on varieties)
5Tablespoonsolive oil
Kosher saltto taste
Ground black pepperto taste
Garlic powderto taste (optional)
Italian seasoningto taste (optional)
Instructions
Cut bread into cubes around one-inch in size (or a little bit less) then add them to a large mixing bowl.
Pour in the oil and add salt and pepper to taste, as well as any additional seasonings you'd like. Stir everything up well to thoroughly coat all of the bread cubes with the oil and spices.
Transfer bread cubes to an ungreased air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer with a little bit of space between each piece of bread.
Place the basket in the air fryer (do not pre-heat) and set it to 350°F (177°C). Air fry for 3 minutes, then take the basket out and shake up/turn over the croutons. Air fry again for 2-3 minutes, or until the croutons have crisped up fully and are golden-brown to your liking. Stay close by towards the end of the cook time to prevent them from burning.
Store croutons at room temperature once they have cooled completely in an air-tight container or sealable bag with as much excess air pressed out as possible.
Notes
Ingredient NotesBread: Crusty breads like baguettes, sourdough, French and Italian breads, as well as enriched breads like challah and brioche, sliced bread, and buns work well for croutons. Slightly stale bread is optimal as it's on its way already to drying out, but fresher bread will also work fine.Oil: Melted unsalted butter can be used in place of olive oil if you like.Seasonings: In addition to salt and pepper, other seasonings that are good to use are Italian seasoning, dried herbs like parsley, oregano, and basil, garlic or onion powder, or your favorite spice blend. Go easy when adding salt to taste as it's not hard to overdo it.Recipe Tips and Tricks
Consider doing a small test batch of croutons to work out the timing before cooking all of them. This way if they get too crispy, you won't waste them all.
If you're making multiple batches of air fryer croutons, keep in mind that the second batch and onward will likely cook more quickly than the first batch as the air fryer will have been pre-heated.
The croutons will crisp up a little bit more as they cool. If they've cooled and still have a slight chewiness in their centers, pop them back in the air fryer for another minute or so until they have crisped all the way through.
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.