This air fryer crouton recipe makes the tastiest croutons! Perfectly crisp on the outside with just enough give on the inside. They will add crunch and flavor to your favorite soups and salads in only 10 minutes.

Homemade air fryer croutons are a great way to use up yesterday's bread in a delicious way.
I have to admit that before I discovered that I can make croutons in my air fryer, oftentimes left-over bread would end up on our compost heap. Not anymore: Stale bread makes the best croutons!
The air fryer makes the process super easy and quick. And they come out great every time.
They're delicious on top of your favorite salad or with soup, like my cream of broccoli soup. Yum!
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Ingredients
- day-old bread: any type of bread will do here. You'll need about 4-5 slices of sandwich bread or half a loaf of sourdough or no knead bread
- olive oil or avocado oil
- balsamic vinegar (for a little tang)
- italian seasoning
- nutritional yeast (optional)
- salt and pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Cut bread into equal sized pieces (about 1 Inch cubes) and add to a large bowl.
Whisk together vinegar and olive oi
Drizzle oil/ vinegar mixture evenly on bread and toss with spatula.
Sprinkle with italian seasoning, nutritional yeast (if using), salt and pepper. Mix well.
Set air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes and let it preheat.
When prompted to add food, add bread to air fryer basket in a single layer and close basket.
After 3 minutes check bread and give the basket a good shake.
Croutons are done when they're golden and slightly browned on the edges.
Substitutions
There are many ways in which you can customize this recipe to your liking.
- Bread - you can use any type of bread: sandwich bread, left-over baguette, hamburger buns, whole wheat bread, sourdough, gluten-free, etc. May favorite is homemade no knead bread (so easy, yet so good)
- Seasoning - you could add onion powder, garlic powder, any kind of dried herb, fresh rosemary, parmesan cheese (if you're not vegan), crushed red pepper... you name it.
Variations
Croutons that store well for a long time
I like my croutons to still be a tiny bit soft in the middle and I love that extra tangy flavor I get from the balsamic vinegar. BUT both these things mean that there's still moisture left in the bread or in this case even added through the vinegar.
Remaining moisture means that the croutons won't store well (3-4 days) and will probably be a little soggy and in need of a little re-frying or baking.
To me that's totally worth it, I love the texture and taste when they're fresh
If you're looking for a recipe that will give you croutons that will store well for weeks, I recommend you:
- Omit the balsamic vinegar (you don't want extra moisture).
- Cut off the crust or use sandwich bread.
- Store in an airtight bag and remove as much air from it as possible.
- Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or freeze.
- If the croutons come out soggy, toss them back into the air fryer to crisp up for a few minutes
Equipment
For this recipe I used the Instant Vortex Duo Air Fryer (affiliate link). Using an air fryer will allow you to use less oil and get a crispier result.
If you don't have an air fryer, I have instructions for you in the recipe card on how to make these croutons in the oven.
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or freeze for longer shelf life. I like to crisp them up in the air fryer for a few minutes before eating.
Air Fryer Crouton Recipe (Vegan)
Quick and easy air fryer crouton recipe! These croutons are super tasty and have the best texture.
Instructions
- Cut bread into 1 Inch cubes.
- Whisk together olive oil and balsamic vinegar
- In a large bowl drizzle oil/vinegar mixture on bread, making sure that you cover it as evenly as possible. Toss until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle italian seasoning, nutritional yeast and salt on top of bread and toss.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- When prompted add bread to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, checking the croutons after 3 minutes and giving the basket a good shake.
Notes
To make croutons in the oven:
- Cube and season bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 10 minutes
- Flip croutons halfway through cooking time
- Check if they're getting too brown for the last few minutes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 463mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 4g
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