Name: Air Fryer Croutons
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces sourdough bread, cut into cubes (about 1/2 of a standard 1 pound loaf); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasonings; pinch cayenne (optional)

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Air Fryer Croutons are hands down one of my favorite air fryer recipes. They’re crispy, crunchy, and fluffy on the inside.

It’s easy to get hung up on all the foods you can’t eat when following a clean eating diet. But it’s even better to notice all of the amazingly delicious things you can eat!

And these homemade air fryer croutons are top on the I’m-so-excited-to-eat-this list! They are WAY better than storebought and super easy to make. Especially with your air fryer.

Just a few basic, simple ingredients will yield amazing results. And you won’t have the preservatives and additives that are often found in store-bought croutons.

Plus you can flavor them any way you want! Want a kick of garlic? That’s easy. Or go for an Italian blend for a more savory finish. In the mood for a little kick? Cayenne to the rescue. The sky’s the limit with these air fryer croutons.

I use them as flavorful salad toppers or a nice crunchy add to my favorite soups (this zucchini soup is the bomb!).

And they can be made in less than 10 minutes! Not kidding! So let’s get going, shall we?

What Bread Are Croutons Made Of?

Sourdough bread is by far my favorite bread to use when making crunchy croutons. But any hearty, dense loaf can be used as well.

Sourdough bread on cutting board vertical

Sourdough is great because it holds up to the crisping of the outside but it stays fluffy on the inside. And I love that tang that only comes from sourdough.

But Italian or French would also work. They’ll just be a little lighter texture. This recipe uses about a half a loaf, so just use whatever type of leftover bread you have.

Ingredients Used In This Recipe

Sourdough bread – half of a typical 1 pound loaf (see full recipe below)
Olive oil – avocado oil will also work
Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
Italian seasonings – for a more herby taste

How to Make Air Fryer Croutons

Cut the bread into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces and put into a large bowl (see full recipe below).
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil onto the bread cubes and toss well to combine.
Sprinkle with seasonings of choice and toss well.
Put seasoned cubes into the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 5 minutes, shaking halfway through the cooking time.
When the croutons are golden brown, remove them from the air fryer and spread them out on a tray to cool.

cooked air fryer croutons in air fryer basket

How Long Do Homemade Croutons Last?

These croutons won’t last long! That’s ’cause they’re darned addicting and you won’t have to worry about how to store them because they’ll all be eaten!

But just in case you need to store them, allow the croutons to cool to room temperature then put them into an open container (not covered!) I like to use an open paper bag for this. They will last 2-3 days on your countertop.

If you live where it’s quite humid, you should put them in an airtight container. You can toss them back into the air fryer for a minute if you need to crisp them back up.

How Do You Make Croutons Into Breadcrumbs?

Making croutons into breadcrumbs is easy peasy. Just toss them into a food processor or blender and pulse a few times until they turn into crumbs. It won’t take much.

But as I mentioned above, you’re not likely to have any left over to make breadcrumbs because they’ll be consumed almost as quickly as they come out! You might want to make a double batch like I do.

So if you’re trying to make some healthier choices, these are a great place to start. And be sure to check out my Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat and Avoid if you’re going the anti-inflammatory route!

Tools Used in This Recipe