Air Fryer Croutons are cubed pieces of leftover bread transformed in the air fryer into delicious golden brown nuggets of goodness in about 10 minutes! They're crispy, savory, and seasoned to perfection! So simple and absolutely delicious!
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Let's be real. Is it even a salad if there aren't any croutons? I think not! These air fryer croutons are so good, you'll never buy them from the store again.
You'll love this recipe because homemade air fryer croutons are so easy, there's minimal ingredients, and just a quick trip in the air fryer to cook them!
We love them on salads, atop of soups, and even as a crunchy snacks. They're so good!
Buy Now → Ingredients
What do you need to make air fryer croutons? Not much at all. You'll need some stale or day-old bread, butter, and some all-purpose seasoning. That's it.
You can use whatever bread you have on hand that needs to be used. I prefer butter, but avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil will also work. And, for the seasoning, use your favorite blend or simple kosher salt with some garlic or onion powder.
You can't mess this up. Promise.
Substitutions and Variations
For the most part, I use my Dutch Oven No Knead Bread leftovers for these air fryer croutons. It's the bread I have most often and it's perfect for this recipe. However, leftover sandwich bread or even cubed sour cream biscuits or beer bread would be so good! As long as the bread you use is dried out and stale, you'll be in business!
The all-purpose seasoning blend I use for this recipe is my own. I highly suggest you try it. We use it on everything. That also means I am very familiar with the salt content. If you use another type of seasoning, be mindful. If you use the same amount as written in the recipe card below, it can be too salty.
Customize the flavors. If you have a favorite seasoned salt, use that! Italian seasoning, cajun spice blends, and even Old Bay would be super tasty. You do you, boo! And, if you find a fantastic combination, let me know. I love to hear about your experiments!
Butter is better. I said it. You can use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil as your fat, but in my humble opinion, butter is the superior answer to the question. It just tastes better.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure the bread you're using is stale. You don't want to use fresh, moist bread because it just doesn't crisp up as well.
Add the seasoning to the melted butter before tossing with the bread cubes. It helps distribute the fat and flavors much easier.
Toss the croutons during the cooking process. Every five minutes or so, toss the croutons in the air fryer basket or gently with some tongs. This will ensure even cooking and crispy perfection.
Arrange the croutons in a single layer. Also, allow a little space in between each cube of bread. Do not overlap or overcrowd the air fryer basket. This helps to ensure even crispness of the croutons. You don't want some parts to be crisp and some to be soft.
Cut the croutons to the same size. This will also help to ensure even cooking.
Air Fryer Croutons Recipe
Equipment
- spatula or tongs
Ingredients
- 4-5 cups stale bread of choice cut into bite-sized cubes
- 5 tablespoon salted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°.
- Toss the bread pieces with the melted butter and seasoning blend until well coated.
- Arrange the pieces onto a single layer in the air fryer. Do not overlap or overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Cook the croutons until golden brown and crispy. About 8-12 minutes, tossing halfway through.
- Let the croutons cool, serve as desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my air fryer croutons crispy?
There are a couple reasons this may have happened. First, your bread may not have been stale or dry enough. If the bread you are using is fresh and moist, it just don't crisp as well.
Second, they may just need a little time in the air fryer. If your croutons are not golden brown and crisp, simply give them a few more minutes of cook time. Everyone's air fryer cooks just a little differently.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Dairy-free?
All you need to do to make this air fryer croutons recipe gluten-free is use your favorite GF bread. Make sure it's fairly stale and carry on with the recipe as written.
For dairy-free options, simply use avocado oil or extra virgin oil in place of the butter. You can also use your favorite DF or plant-based butter.
Can I make these croutons in the oven?
Absolutely! I would suggest baking them in a preheated 425° F oven for about 15 minutes or until the croutons are nice and crisp. Toss a few times during baking to get an even cook.
Do I have to use stale bread for croutons?
The end result will be better if you do. Moisture is not your friend for this recipe. By using stale or dried out bread, the moisture content is lower thus giving you a better, crisp crouton. If you use fresh bread, you'll run the risk of having a crisp outside and soft inside. Just not what we want for a crouton.
What can I do with leftover croutons?
Make breadcrumbs! Should you have any leftovers, you can pulse them in the food processor and make amazing breadcrumbs.
Serving Ideas
These air fryer croutons are so good you can eat them on their own as a little crunchy snick snack. However, they're more classically used as a topping for salads or soups.
Try them atop my simple green salad or my wedge salad. They're incredible on both.
And, if you like a little crunch for your soups, these little beauties are so good as a garnish for my tomato basil soup or creamy vegetable soup!
Storage Instructions
Store the air fryer croutons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I just do not think they do well stored at room temp. They don't stay as crispy.
You can also freeze the croutons in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Air Fryer Croutons recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or TikTok! I love seeing all of your masterpieces!
If you guys make this Air Fryer Croutons, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a star rating in the recipe card! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments! And, as always, be kind. I’m only human.
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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