Serve these on top of Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad and Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup.
Using an air fryer to make croutons keeps this simple. No preheating or big sheet pan, and you’re not heating the whole kitchen. Hot air moves around the bread so each piece browns all over. You can open the basket, give it a quick shake, and see exactly where you’re at. It’s fast, uses less oil, and works well for small batches when you only need enough for one salad or a couple bowls of soup.
When you’ve got extra bread and need a quick topping, these come together fast and turn out the same each time. They cool crisp and stay that way; if they soften in the container, a short reheat in the air fryer brings them back. Make a small batch for tonight’s salad or a bigger batch for the week. They’re easy to keep on hand for lunches or for topping soup without last-minute prep.
Use whatever bread you have — sandwich, sourdough bread, buns, or a baguette. Day-old bread is drier, so it browns faster, gets crisp without soggy centers, and takes on seasoning well. Fresh works too; it may need a touch more time. Cut the cubes close in size so they brown evenly. Smaller pieces cook faster and get crunchier; bigger pieces keep a softer center.
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish.
- Great way to use up stale bread instead of throwing it out.
- Made with pantry staples — nothing fancy or hard to find.
- The air fryer makes them crisp without needing much oil.
- Perfect for topping salads, soups, or snacking.
➡️ Ingredients you’ll need
⏲ How to make these easy air fryer croutons recipe
👉 Easy ingredient swaps
- Bread: Any type works — white, sourdough, Italian, whole wheat, or even multigrain.
- Cheese: Try grated Romano or Asiago instead of Parmesan.
✨ Variations
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of chili flakes or cayenne.
- Herb Lovers: Mix in dried basil or oregano for extra flavor.
- Cheesy Snack: Toss the cooled croutons in a bit more grated cheese right before serving.
〰️ How to serve
- Salads — Simple green salad, chicken caesar pasta salad, copycat Olive Garden salad.
- Snacks — These are surprisingly easy to munch on!
💬 FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes. Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They’ll stay crisp if fully cooled before sealing.
Can I use fresh bread instead of stale?
Yes, but the texture will be slightly softer. If using fresh bread, you can add an extra minute or two in the air fryer for more crunch.
How do I re-crisp leftover croutons?
Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 1-2 minutes to bring back the crunch.
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Air Fryer Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 slices storebought bread, white, sourdough, or Italian (stale bread works best)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- ¼ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning or parsley (optional)
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350 °F.
- Slice Bread: Slice 4 slices storebought bread into ½-inch cubes.
- Season: In a large mixing bowl, toss the bread cubes with 2 Tablespoons olive oil or melted butter, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional). Mix until evenly coated.
- Add Cheese and Herbs: Sprinkle ¼ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese and ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning or parsley (optional) over the bread and toss again.
- Air Fry: Spread the bread cubes in a single layer in air fryrer basket. Cook for 4-6 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden brown and crisp.
- Cool Then Serve: Let croutons cool slightly, then serve as desired.
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