Garlic herb croutons are the easiest way to use up that last bit of bread before it goes stale! You can use any lean bread you like (French bread, baguettes, white or whole wheat bread, etc) to make these croutons. I love using my garlic French bread, since it already has some garlic flavor baked in.
Quick Tips for Prepping Garlic Herb Croutons
If you’d rather watch these tips than read them, watch my video on making garlic herb croutons!
I chop my bread into 1/2″ cubes, but you are welcome to make the croutons whatever size you like. Keep in mind: The smaller they are, the quicker they bake, and vice versa.
The olive oil is what makes the herbs stick to the dry bread. Make sure the bread is thoroughly coated in oil and no longer dry before adding any spices. The bread shouldn’t be dripping with oil, but it should feel moistened again. Depending on the type of your bread, you may need more or less oil to thoroughly coat them.
Feel free to customize these croutons to your liking! Use this garlic herb crouton recipe as a base, and then develop it into whatever crouton flavors your family loves best.
Croutons are notorious for burning, so keep an eye on them after 10 minutes in the oven. (That’s usually when you can begin smelling the croutons from anywhere in your kitchen.)
Let the croutons cool completely before storing them in an air-tight container in your pantry. They should last for a number of weeks if the moisture has been properly baked out of them.
Dish Cleanup: Piece of Cake
I rank my recipe clean-ups on a scale of 1 to 5. 1 is only a handful of dishes, and 5 is everything including the kitchen sink.
This garlic herb crouton recipe is a 1. You can get away with just a teaspoon and measuring cup instead of a number of small bowls like me, making for only a few dishes and more time to spend enjoying your croutons!
Garlic Herb Croutons
These garlic herb croutons are crunchy, garlicky, and fresh while being completely customizable to your favorite salad.
Ingredients
- Half a loaf of French bread (I use my garlic French bread)
- ¼ to ½ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2-3 teaspoons of your favorite hard Italian cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Cut the bread into cubes about ½" in size and place in a large bowl. Drizzle in ¼ cup olive oil, and toss to coat. If the pieces look equally coated, move onto the next step. If some pieces look dry, drizzle in more olive oil a tablespoon at a time, tossing to coat.
- Sprinkle in the onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, thyme, salt, and cheese, if using. Toss to coat.
- Spread the pieces in an even layer on the baking sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and the oil on the croutons is sizzling. Croutons can burn quickly, so keep an eye on the croutons after 10 minutes.
Notes
Store in an air-tight container in the pantry.
This recipe is easily customizable by adding your favorite herb or hard cheese to the list. Try adding rosemary and Pecorino Romano for a delightful twist!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 ounceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 77Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 296mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
The nutrition facts are estimated and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
Thanks for trying out this garlic herb crouton recipe! I’d love to see how they turn out: Take a photo and tag me on Instagram @floralapronblog to share with me, or use #floralapronbakes.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
If you enjoyed this, you’ll love the garlic French bread I used to make these croutons in my home!
If you’re looking for a meal to go with your garlic herb crouton-topped salad, here are a couple:
Want something for dessert? Look no further than my dessert recipes!
Happy baking!