Crunchy, savory and super simple to make, these homemade gluten-free croutons are a great way to use up leftover bagels or stale bread, but if you’re in the mood for croutons fresh bread totally works, too.
They’re SO DELICIOUS over salads that are drizzled with creamy ranch, homemade Thousand Island, traditional Caesar salad dressing, or this dairy-free Caesar. And of course, they add a pop of flavor to soups like French onion, broccoli cheese, and the beloved classic, tomato soup.
How To Make Gluten-Free Croutons
Here’s my super-simple method:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375F, then grab a big loaf of bread (fresh or stale) and cut each slice into 3/4 inch cubes until you have about five cups.
Step 2: Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt over the bread cubes and toss everything together. Add olive oil or melted butter and toss again until the bread cubes are well-coated.
Step 3: Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Make sure there’s a little room between each one. Bake for 10-20 minutes, or possibly a bit longer if you’re using very fresh bread.
Step 4. Remove the croutons from the oven and allow them to cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container.
2 Quick Tips
- If you are working with fresh bread but love extra crispy croutons, cut the loaf into bread cubes and then let them sit on the counter for a day. They’ll dry out much faster that way.
- Feel free to use a different spice mix in place of the Italian seasoning – both cajun seasoning and lemon pepper seasoning would be good options.
Gluten-Free Croutons Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups gluten-free bread cubes, cut into 3/4 inch pieces (I used my artisan bread recipe, so the nutritional calculation is based on that)
- 1-2 tsp Italian seasoning (I use my homemade version)
- 1-2 tsp garlic powder
- ½-¾ tsp sea salt
- ⅓ cup olive oil or melted butter (or a mix of both)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the bread into ¾-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp salt over the bread. Toss to combine.
- Drizzle the olive oil/melted butter (or both) over the bread cubes and toss again until they are all well-coated. Taste and add additional 1/4 tsp salt if needed.
- Spread the bread cubes onto the baking sheet. Make sure they're in a single layer with a little space between each cube.
- Bake for 10 to 20 minutes, or until the croutons are lightly golden brown. Fresh bread will take longer, but I recommend starting to check around the 10-minute mark.
- Something to keep in mind is that the part of the crouton that is touching the baking sheet will be darker golden brown than the tops, so you might want to lift one up with some tongs to see how deep the color is.
- Remove the croutons from your oven and allow them to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
More Gluten-Free Recipes To Try
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie – Pot pie fresh out of the oven is the ultimate comfort food. Here’s how to make a gluten-free version with a buttery crust and creamy filling.
Easy Gluten Free Stuffing – Savory sage & sweet apples make this gluten-free stuffing recipe a delicious alternative to traditional bread-based dishes.
