Air fryer croutons are the best of both worlds: crispy on the outside, yet slightly soft on the inside. Seasoned with a simple blend of spices, they are ready in under 10 minutes!
When it comes to salads, I'm all about the vinaigrettes and tasty add-ins. And who can resist homemade croutons? They taste so much better than store bought and are surprisingly quick to make, especially when the air fryer is involved.
These croutons should come with a warning: dangerous- these are highly addictive! Add them to a kale caesar salad, or jazz up a strawberry spinach salad. They are so good in pretty much any salad!
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Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
- they have the best texture: soft on the inside, yet crisp and browned on the outside
- the blend of spices is simple yet delivers big on flavor
- the air fryer has these cooked through in 5 minutes or less, and requires less oil than a pan
Recipe video
See exactly how to make air fryer croutons by watching the video below! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Ingredients you'll need
- bread- I love the flavor of sourdough bread, but you could use any sturdy loaf: french bread, challah or baguette would all work well. Day-old bread is easier to cut, but don't use completely stale bread- you want that soft texture on the inside!
- olive oil- we need half the volume of oil to make these air fryer croutons compared to conventional stove top or oven recipes; you could swap for avocado oil if you'd like
- seasonings- we are using onion powder, garlic powder and salt on these croutons. Using powdered ingredients instead of fresh helps to disperse the flavors over the surface of the bread. You could certainly get creative here.
Step by step directions
1. Prepare bread- Cut your bread into 1 to 1 ½ inch cubes. Day old bread is easier to cut, if you have fresh bread, you may want to tear it using your hands. You'll need 4 cups of bread cubes for this recipe, which is roughly half of a boule of sourdough.
2. Season bread cubes- Toss the bread cubes in olive oil until evenly coated, then add the garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Toss well.
3. Cook- Pre-heat your air fryer at 400°F/200°C for at least 5 minutes. Add the bread cubes to the basket or tray, and cook for 3-5 minutes*, shaking occasionally. Depending on how closely together your breadcrumbs are positioned, you may need to cook for up to 7-8 minutes.
*if you are using an air fryer oven, place the croutons on the lowest tray.
4. Serve- Croutons are ready when they are golden brown all over (as shown above). Cool slightly before adding to your salad.
Air fryer models that work
This recipe was tested in two different air fryer models:
- Cosori XL air fryer- this large basket-style air fryer cooked the croutons through in 4-8 minutes (depended on how big the batch size was)
- Instant Pot Vortex air fryer oven- placed on the lowest tray, the croutons cooked through in 3-4 minutes
The biggest determinant in cook time was how many croutons were in the basket/on the tray. Keep an eye on them, shaking/turning as needed and using your judgment as to when it's time for them to come out- when they are evenly golden on all surfaces.
FAQ
I personally recommend sourdough as it adds depth of flavor to your croutons! You may use any crusty loaf such as french bread, challah or a baguette.
Well...they are made from bread and oil, so I do put them in the 'in moderation' category. These air fryer croutons require half the amount of oil as oven baked or pan-fried croutons, so they are slightly healthier.
Many commercially available croutons contain dairy products and are not vegan. These air fryer croutons are made with bread, olive oil and spices, so they are vegan.
Storage
Homemade croutons store well, but will not last as long as store bought croutons. Cool completely before storing.
- Store in an open container (uncovered) at room temperature for up to 2 weeks; if you live in a humid environment, you will want to store in a bag or air tight container.
- It may be possible to freeze them, though I have not tried. If you find them soggy upon thawing, toss them back in the air fryer to crisp up!
Use your croutons up in
- kale caesar salad
- cobb salad
- broccoli cheese soup
- butternut squash soup
- cauliflower gratin
- chicken and cauliflower casserole
More salad recipes
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Air Fryer Croutons (BEST texture!)
Ingredients
- 4 cups sourdough bread cut in 1-1 ½ inches; see note 1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil note 2
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Prepare bread- Cut your bread into 1 to 1 ½ inch cubes. Day old bread is easier to cut, if you have fresh bread, you may want to tear it using your hands. You'll need 4 cups of bread cubes for this recipe, which is roughly half of a boule of sourdough.
- Season bread cubes- Toss the bread cubes in olive oil until evenly coated, then add the garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Toss well.
- Cook- Pre-heat your air fryer at 400°F/200°C for at least 5 minutes. Add the bread cubes to the basket or tray, and cook for 3-5 minutes*, shaking occasionally. Depending on how closely together your breadcrumbs are positioned, you may need to cook for up to 7-8 minutes.*if you are using an air fryer oven, place the croutons on the lowest tray.
- Serve- Croutons are ready when they are golden brown all over (as shown above). Cool slightly before adding to your salad.
Tips:
- Store in an open container (uncovered) at room temperature for up to 2 weeks; if you live in a humid environment, you will want to store in a bag or air tight container.
- It may be possible to freeze them, though I have not tried. If you find them soggy upon thawing, toss them back in the air fryer to crisp up!
Video
Nutrition Information
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Cynthia says
Excellent and easy!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Cynthia, so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing a review!
Becky says
Perfect recipe for some fast and easy croutons! Thank you!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Becky, so glad you enjoyed! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a rating and review!