Parmesan Garlic Sourdough Croutons
These easy homemade croutons are full of flavor thanks to stale sourdough bread, zesty olive oil, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Throw them together quickly and enjoy them all week on soups, salads, or as a snack.
Got sourdough?
Toast. Sandwiches. French toast! Bread pudding. Breadcrumbs. I could ramble off an amazing number of things you can create with a less-than-fresh loaf of sourdough bread. But I think none can compare to the beautiful, versatile crouton. Current obsession: these Parmesan Garlic Sourdough Croutons.
Croutons are not just for salad my friends. When your little toasty bread cubes are as delicious as these, you’ll want to show them off on top of soups, toss them with your roasted vegetables, or eat them plain just like a snack. Seriously, I’d take a handful of these cheesy guys over chips any day.
Stale bread is ideal
Sourdough bread that’s a few days old is the perfect texture for this recipe. Drier bread can absorb more oil, which crisps not only the outside but the inside of the piece of bread, too. If you have a loaf of bread that’s going stale but you’re not ready to make croutons just yet, do what I do and cut it into cubes and throw it into the freezer in an airtight container. You can then defrost the bread and make croutons any day of the week! You may recall my recipe for Herb Seasoned Sourdough Breadcrumbs, which is another favorite around here. I think you could absolutely make this recipe as breadcrumbs, or the other recipe as croutons. The basic idea is very much the same: stale bread plus oil and seasonings and a little oven love.
Want to learn how to make your own sourdough bread? Check out my Beginner’s Sourdough Recipe and Guide.
Maximizing flavor
I suggest using a high quality olive oil and parmesan cheese. The flavors are simple and the quantities are small, so you can pack a lot of really delicious flavor onto the blank canvas bread. Once you start making homemade croutons, I have a feeling you’ll never buy them again. You won’t find yourself throwing away stale bread, either. It’s a win-win!
Make sure you follow along @breadandbasil on Instagram to see my latest sourdough creations!
Parmesan Garlic Sourdough Croutons Recipe
Makes 3 cups
Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 30-40 minutes
Ingredients
3 cups cubed sourdough bread (a few days old preferred)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Toss cubed bread, olive oil, salt, and garlic powder until bread is fully and evenly coated.
Spread bread evenly baking sheet and bake until croutons are golden brown, stirring halfway through, about 30 minutes. This can vary based on the staleness of your bread so keep an eye on them.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle parmesan evenly over croutons, stirring to coat. Return pan to oven and bake until parmesan is lightly brown, another 5 or so minutes.
Cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to a week.
