Air Fryer Croutons
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Make crisp, crunchy Air Fryer Croutons in just 10 minutes! These garlicky air fried croutons are perfect for topping salads or enjoying as a snack.
The Best Way to Transform Leftover Bread
The air fryer continues to earn its spot on my kitchen counter, making itself indispensable for everything from Air Fryer Chicken Thighs to Air Fryer Donuts.
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It’s latest feat? These Air Fryer Croutons. In the time it takes to preheat the oven, the air fryer can transform a stale loaf of bread into craveably crunchy, garlicky croutons.
These are a MUST paired with this creamy Caesar dressing, but they’re also a welcome addition to That Good Salad and Easy Garden Salad.
Why Air Fried Croutons are the Way to Go:
- These homemade croutons are crazy fast. Just 2-3 minutes to prep everything and 6 minutes in the air fryer!
- You can control the seasoning. Add herbs, salt, pepper, or cheese to make these just the way you like.
- You can control the crunch. I personally hate a super crunchy crouton that’s impossible to stab with a fork and scrapes the roof of your mouth. If that’s your thing, add an extra minute or two to the air frying time and you’ll be golden! If you like your croutons to have a little softness and chewiness on the inside, shave a minute off the cook time.
Make the croutons when you’re first prepping dinner, and you’ll have a dynamite snack to keep the hangries away. But be warned, if your family loves these as much as mine do, there might not be any left for the salad!
Ingredients in Air Fried Croutons
- 5 cups cubed bread (from about 1/2 a loaf)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
How to Make Croutons in the Air Fryer
- Toss the cubed bread with the olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Air fry at 390 degrees for 3 minutes. Shake the basket, tossing the croutons. Air fry another 3-4 minutes or until crispy. Burn your hands eating them straight out of the air fryer because they’re so good. Just kidding, I’ve definitely never done that.
Tips and FAQs for Air Fryer Garlic Croutons
- Use a garlic press– it’s difficult to get a super fine mince with a chef’s knife, and I prefer not to have noticeable hunks of garlic on the croutons. Using a garlic press ensures the garlic is very finely minced and evenly coats all of the bread.
- I use this Ninja Air Fryer, and it works great!
- This super affordable bread knife is perfect for cutting the bread without tearing it.
What kind of bread is best for croutons?
Sourdough bread is my favorite for croutons, but other great options are French, country style or Italian.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
For some recipes, preheating can be helpful, and many machines recommend it. However, I rarely remember to preheat mine, and it always works fine. (Shhhh….don’t tell anyone). For these, no preheating is needed, and they’ll still be done in 6-7 minutes!
Can I bake these in the oven?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can learn how to make homemade croutons in the oven here!
How long do homemade croutons keep?
Store any leftover croutons in an airtight baggie, and they’ll stay nice and crisp for another week!
Add Some Flavor with Variations on Homemade Croutons
- Enjoy a little heat? Add a few dashes of red pepper flakes.
- Substitute melted butter for olive oil for ultra buttery croutons.
- Add dried basil, oregano, or rosemary for an herby flavor.
- Use homemade ranch seasoning to make ranch croutons.
- Try this Parmesan Garlic Popcorn Seasoning for a cheesy variation.
- Try different shapes- a classic cube shape is fine, but I also like using thin sliced bread to create little toasts or sticks for salads.
More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Southwest Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryer Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 – 5 cups cubed bread (such as Sourdough or Italian)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves finely minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Toss the cubed bread with the olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.Â
- Air fry at 390 degrees for 3 minutes. Shake the basket, tossing the croutons. Air fry another 3-4 minutes or until crispy.
Notes
- This amount of time yielded croutons that were crisp, but not rock hard. If you like them very crispy, add another minute. If you prefer them to be a little chewy in the center still, fry for 1-2 minutes less.
- The croutons will keep in an airtight container for a week+.
- See full post for variations on seasonings.