Easy Homemade Croutons (Garlic & Parmesan)
User Reviews
5
Easy Homemade Croutons (Garlic & Parmesan)
Description
Easy Homemade Croutons (Garlic & Parmesan) are prepared from crusty bread cut into cubes, tossed with olive oil and a blend of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. The croutons are then sprinkled with finely grated Parmesan, which melts slightly during baking. Once baked at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, the cubes develop a crisp exterior while maintaining some chewiness inside. The Parmesan adds a savory depth without overwhelming the garlic and herbs.
This recipe enhances salads and soups by providing a crunchy contrast and subtle cheesy, herby flavors. Using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic simplifies the process, but fresh garlic can be substituted if preferred. Storing croutons in an airtight container keeps them crisp for later use.
The method involves tossing the bread evenly with ingredients before spreading the croutons on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup. Leftover crumbs from baking can also be saved and added to salads for extra flavor and texture.
The recipe serves about six people when used as a salad or soup topping, though portions vary.Bread type can be any crusty variety such as baguette.The recipe can be doubled by proportionally increasing the ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 generous cups bread cut into croutons, try a baguette or any good crusty bread
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and move the rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with tin foil for easy clean-up.
- Cut your bread into croutons and add them to the baking sheet. Pour the olive oil over the bread, and then sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper as evenly as you can over the bread. Use your hands to toss until everything is as well combined as you can get it.
- Spread the croutons out in an even layer that's clustered fairly close together (but not stacked), and then sprinkle the parmesan cheese over top. This ensures that as much cheese as possible will be stuck to the croutons.
- Bake the croutons for 10-15 minutes. I find that 15 minutes works well for fresh bread.
- Let the croutons cool for a few minutes, then add them to your salad/soup or store in an airtight container. Don't discard the bits that fell off the croutons while baking - I like to add those to salads too because they have tons of flavor.
Notes
- Freshly minced garlic can replace garlic powder; 2-3 cloves is recommended.
- This volume of croutons usually serves about six people, suitable for a large salad or a couple of smaller ones.
- The recipe scales easily by doubling the ingredient amounts.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 125 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 125kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 4mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 159mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 12mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 43IU | 1% |
| Calcium | 73mg | 7% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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