Crispy Garlic Parmesan Croutons
Servings: 4 cups
These Crispy Garlic Parmesan Croutons are the easiest way to take a salad, soup or pasta from ordinary to something you actually look forward to eating. Torn sourdough is tossed in garlic butter, baked until golden and crispy, then finished with parmesan while still hot. They take about 20 minutes and work in the oven or air fryer.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
- 4 slices crusty bread (sourdough or similar) torn into chunks (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan see note 2
Instructions
Prepare the croutons – oven method
- Preheat – Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) (180°C/350°F fan-forced).
- Coat the bread – In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, garlic and salt. Add the torn bread and toss well to coat.
- Bake – Spread onto a baking tray lined with baking (parchment) paper and bake for 10–15 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Sprinkle with the parmesan while hot. Set aside to cool.
Prepare the croutons – air fryer method
- Preheat – Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F).
- Coat the bread – Toss the bread with butter, olive oil, garlic and salt as above.
- Air fry – Cook in the air fryer basket for 6–8 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp. (Work in batches if needed.) Sprinkle with parmesan while hot. Set aside.
Notes
Note 1 – Bread Sourdough gives the best results because it holds its shape and gets really crispy. But any crusty bread will work – try ciabatta, a rustic loaf or even a day-old baguette. If using softer bread, tear it into slightly larger pieces so they don’t break down too much in the butter. Tear the bread into rough, uneven chunks rather than cutting it. The jagged edges get extra crispy and hold onto more of the garlic butter.
Note 2 – Vegan version You can omit the parmesan and still get a delicious result. If you also swap the butter for 4 tablespoons of olive oil, this also makes them dairy-free and vegan.
Make Ahead The croutons can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Reheat in the oven at 180°C (350°F) (160°C/325°F fan-forced) or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 3–4 minutes to crisp back up before serving.
Leftovers Store leftover croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They will soften slightly over time, but 3–4 minutes in the oven at 180°C (350°F) (160°C/325°F fan-forced) or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) will crisp them right back up. Not suitable for freezing.
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