Sourdough Croutons

Sourdough croutons make the easiest crunchy addition to your favorite salad or soup! Turn your leftover sourdough bread into gourmet croutons in under 20 minutes using this simple recipe.

Do you ever wonder what to do with sourdough bread that’s a few days old and a bit crusty? After all, it sure seems like a waste to toss it if you went to all the work of baking it right? That’s where this recipe comes in.

Sourdough croutons are super easy (they take only a few ingredients and max 25 minutes to make) and taste absolutely delicious. Seriously, you might want to just eat the croutons by themselves (not speaking from experience at all) without even adding them to a soup or salad, they’re that yummy. Just give it a try the next time you have leftover sourdough on hand – you’ll be hooked!

What can I do with old sourdough bread?

There are lots of ways to use up old sourdough bread so you don’t have to throw it away! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sourdough Bruschetta – It makes such a bright summery appetizer!
• Sourdough Ricotta Toast – It’s easy to make and mix up the toppings.
• Sourdough Bread Pudding – Perfect for a sweet, cozy treat.
• Sourdough Ribollita – This soup is so flavorful and filling, especially with sourdough.
• Sourdough Croutons – Of course, had to include these. 🙂
• Sourdough Breadcrumbs – You can use them for meatballs, fried chicken, Mac ‘n’ cheese, whatever you like!
• Sourdough Grilled Cheese – There’s nothing like melted cheese on crusty sourdough.

How do you store Sourdough Croutons?

Sourdough Croutons are best when you store them in an air-tight container or a zip-lock bag. They don’t need to be refrigerated, so you can keep them in the pantry until you’re ready to use them. They will taste the freshest if you use them within a week of making them (although my guess is that they’ll be gone long before then. :))

Why are my homemade croutons so hard?

If you bake the croutons until they get crispy in the oven, they will become too hard. This is because the croutons will continue to cook a little bit even after you take them out of the oven. In this recipe, you only bake the croutons for 10 minutes, until they’re golden brown. This short time ensures that the croutons will not get overly hard.

Ways to use Sourdough Croutons

Sourdough Croutons will add extra flair to any salad or soup! Here are a few of my favorites:

• Peach and Burrata Salad
• Hearts of Palm Salad
• Curried Carrot Soup
• Creamy Chickpea Chicken Soup
• Sausage White Bean Soup

Tips for making Sourdough Croutons

• Feel free to experiment with different types of sourdough bread in this recipe! Overnight bread, garlic bread, sandwich bread, or whole wheat bread would all be great options.
• Make sure to spread the croutons out on the baking tray so that they get crispy. If they’re too close together, they’ll get soggy.
• Store the croutons in an air-tight container or zip-lock bag at room temperature for up to a week. Just wait until they are completely cool before you put them in a container so they don’t get soggy later.

Tools you will need

To make sourdough croutons, you’ll need a bread knife, cutting board, bowl, and baking tray lined with foil or parchment paper.

Ingredients you will need

All you need are 4 ingredients!

• 1/2 of a Sourdough Baguette – You could also use overnight sourdough bread, sourdough garlic bread, or sourdough sandwich bread if you prefer!
• 1 tbsp olive oil – You could alternatively use melted butter if you want.
• 1 tsp salt
• pepper to taste

How to make Sourdough Croutons

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I like to use the convection setting to ensure even browning.

Cut the sourdough baguette into slices, then cut each slice into bite sized pieces. It should make about 4 cups total.

Toss the croutons with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Spread the croutons evenly on a baking tray lined with foil or parchment paper.

Bake the croutons for 10 minutes, until they turn golden brown.

Mix it up!

Want to make your croutons extra special? Try adding different seasonings to your croutons before baking them:

• Italian – Basil, oregano, paprika, and garlic salt
• Spicy – Chili powder and cumin
• Cheesy – Grated parmesan and garlic salt
• Everything Bagel – The Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning is amazing!

Let me know your favorite crouton seasoning in the comments section at the end of the post!

Looking for more quick recipes?

If so, make sure to check out the Kitchen Counter for inspiration! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Zucchini Bites
• Mini Ricotta Toasts
• Sourdough Cheese Crackers
• Sourdough Discard Crackers
• Carrot Hummus
• 15-Minute Banana Bites

If you make these this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.