Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

Home Recipes by Type Salads

3030 Minutes or LessVGVegetarian

4.52

/5

15 minutes mins

95 Comments

Jump to Recipe

By: Rachel GurkPosted: 02/12/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Caesar Croutons are the crowning jewel on a classic Caesar Salad and once you make this homemade version, you’ll find yourself wondering why you ever bought croutons from the store. There is no comparison and they’ll quickly take your Caesar Salad game to the next level.

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (1)

Homemade croutons for life! When I first posted the recipe for the besthomemade croutons, I had no idea how popular it would become. I absolutely love reading your comments about how making homemade croutons for the first time was a game-changer for you. Here are some of my favorite comments:

  • “JUST made three batches (out of one loaf) an hour before church. My house smells good, it was SO easy – and I’m so glad I found you. Thank you for the detailed images and simple recipe.” – Juanita
  • “Oh my gosh! Why have I bought croutons my whole life?!? This is so easy and so good! I will never serve bagged croutons again!” -Christina
  • “Pretty much the perfect crouton. I don’t think I can ever buy them from the store again!” -Elise
  • “These were unbelievably good. So easy to make.” -Niva
  • “This recipe is simple yet perfect! I used both sourdough and three cheese semolina bread. I left the pieces a bit larger for dipping into a cheese spread. Delicious! ” -Meghan

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

Since you all love these so much (for good reason!), I’ve gone a little crouton crazy. I compiled a complete guide on how to make croutons, complete with all sorts of variations and ideas for you. There are even a couple of different cooking methods and a video to help you visualize the process! I also developed a copycat recipe for Ruby Tuesday croutons, because I haven’t been to Ruby Tuesday’s in years and years but I still remember those delicious little cubes of bread.

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

Since we’re riding the crouton train, I thought Caesar croutons also deserved their own feature here. A Caesar salad is not a Caesar salad without the croutons, am I right? So you can either eat those crumbly dry croutons you buy at the store or you can bite into a perfectly crispy chewy crouton that will elevate your salad to a whole new level. There is truly nothing like it for sale at the store, but the good news is that these croutons are super simple to make and they’ll finish baking basically in the time it takes to make the actual salad.

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (4)

About these Caesar Croutons:

Like all the other croutons, Caesar croutons are also a great way to use up leftover or stale bread if that exists in your house. These garlic Parmesan croutons are flaked with herbs and have so much flavor for the perfect Caesar salad. I opt for garlic powder for a more mild flavor but if you’re a huge garlic fan, feel free to mince a couple of cloves and go garlic crazy!

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (5)

Tip: The more stale and dry your bread cubes are, the faster these will brown! If your bread is dry, make sure to keep a close eye on it to keep it from burning. If your bread is quite fresh, plan on slightly increasing baking time.

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (6)

Want to use these croutons but switch it up from the usual chopped romaine? I can’t wait to try this Brussels Sprouts Caesar Saladfrom A Mindfull Mom, Grilled Caesar Salad from The Little Kitchen, and Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad from Nutmeg Nanny.

PS: Try homemade Caesar Dressing– it’s a healthier version and it’s fantastic!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (7)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Caesar Croutons

4.52 from 107 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

4 cups

Print Rate Recipe

Caesar Croutons are the crowning jewel on a classic Caesar Salad and once you make this homemade version, you'll find yourself wondering why you ever bought croutons from the store. There is no comparison and they'll quickly take your Caesar Salad game to the next level.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 4 heaping cups cubed white bread (I like to use a French baguette)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  • In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, thyme.

  • Add bread cubes and toss to coat all bread cubes with olive oil mixture.

  • Spread the bread cubes into an even layer on a sheet pan. Don’t crowd the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp, stirring once to ensure even toasting. If you’re using super fresh bread, they’ll take a little longer to become golden brown. If the bread is stale and dry, it may brown faster, so keep an eye on it!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/2 cup croutons, Calories: 139kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 190mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Verdict: When I tested this recipe, I actually only ate two of these because I was technically doing a Whole30. It was SO hard not to eat more – homemade croutons are one of my favorite things and these were some of the best I’ve had!
Husband’s take:Luckily Ben came to the rescue and took a bag of these to work with him. I think he snacked on them without putting them on a salad – they’re that good!
Changes I would make:None at all!
Difficulty: So easy, you guys! This recipe will change the way you think about croutons!

You May Also Like...

  • Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients!

  • Ruby Tuesday Croutons Copycat - Pumpernickel Croutons

  • Panzanella Salad Recipe - perfect summer salad!

  • Homemade Onion Soup Mix Recipe

Previous PostChocolate Tart Recipe – NO BAKE – 4 Ingredients!
Next Post Sheet Pan Fajitas – Easy Recipe for Chicken Fajitas!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. KL says

    Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (15)
    Husband said favorite croutons ever and they were a hit! Thanks for an awesome recipe.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      So glad to hear it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply

  2. Karen says

    Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (16)
    What about storage? Can you make these a day before needing them? Or must use right away?

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      They should be okay for a few days in an airtight container.

      Reply

  3. Vicky says

    Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (17)
    Easy, awesome, I used a mix of breads including rye and and I used my air fryer.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m glad you liked them!

      Reply

  4. Barb says

    Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (18)
    There were a hit will all my dinner guests! Excellent!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m so happy to hear that!

      Reply

Older Comments

Caesar Croutons - EASY recipe! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

What are Caesar salad croutons made of? ›

Homemade Croutons:
  • ½ (1 pound) loaf sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes.
  • ¼ cup olive oil.
  • ¼ cup butter, melted.
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed.
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Jul 6, 2023

What can I put in my Caesar salad instead of croutons? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives to Croutons
  1. Roasted chickpeas. These offer a satisfying crunch and can be seasoned in various ways to mimic the flavor profile of croutons. ...
  2. Chopped nuts. ...
  3. Whole grain pita chips. ...
  4. Seeded crackers. ...
  5. Parmesan crisps. ...
  6. Toasted quinoa. ...
  7. Roasted pumpkin seeds. ...
  8. Sunflower seeds.

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? ›

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? It could be that you stored your croutons before they were fully cooled. Warm croutons trap moisture, and the croutons can become soggy if they're stored airtight too soon. This can also cause them to go stale too quickly.

How do you soften croutons for salad? ›

Here are some ways to do this:
  1. Use your hands: If the croutons are large and hard, try breaking them up into smaller pieces with your hands. ...
  2. Crush them with a utensil: If you don't want to use your hands, try using the back of a spoon or a fork to crush the croutons into smaller pieces. ...
  3. Soak them: If the croutons ar.
Feb 28, 2019

How do you keep homemade croutons crispy? ›

Store the homemade croutons at room temperature for up to 1 week. Put the croutons in your pantry and that's it. Most croutons will be crunchy and crisp for up to a week, but the sooner you use them, the better. Croutons won't become moldy, but they will become soft or chewy once they're old.

What are the ingredients in no name Caesar croutons? ›

Ingredients: White Bread (soy, Wheat), Seasoning {cheese Powder(cheddar, Romano, Parmesan And Blue Cheeses, Modified Milk Ingredients,maltodextrin, Skim Milk Powder, Citric Acid), Garlic Powder, Sodiumdiacetate, Lactose, Salt, Malic Acid, Sugar, Hydrolyzed Soy And Cornprotein,dehydrated Parsley, Natural Flavour}.

What croutons do Olive Garden use? ›

These croutons are prepared using Olive Garden's own recipe, and are the same ones you will find in our restaurants. Our croutons are made with Romano cheese, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs and spices, and baked to a delicious golden brown.

How do you keep a Caesar salad crispy? ›

5 genius ways to keep your salads from getting soggy
  1. Avoid adding salt too soon. ...
  2. Leave it undressed. ...
  3. Remove excess moisture from high-water-content fruits and vegetables. ...
  4. Let your hot ingredients cool completely before adding them to the mix. ...
  5. The order in which you build a salad is key.
Apr 19, 2023

How long will homemade croutons last? ›

How long do croutons last? The expected shelf-life for homemade croutons is about two weeks. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure your croutons are completely dehydrated during the bake and let cool completely at room temperature before storing them away in an airtight container.

How do you store homemade croutons so they don't get soggy? ›

You don't want any added moisture in the storage container. Once cooled, store the croutons in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry place. To soak up any excess moisture, you can add a paper towel to the bottom of the container. Stored at room temperature, the homemade croutons will last up to 3 days.

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

Crowding the pan.

Pile the bread cubes on top of each other and they won't have enough space to crisp up and brown. Instead, make sure they're in a even layer.

Why do croutons not go bad? ›

Croutons don't expire in the sense that they become dangerous to eat. There simply isn't enough moisture in them to feed an spoilage bacteria and other such organisms.

How to make croutons Delia? ›

Method. Just place the cubes of bread in a bowl, together with the oil, and stir them around so that they get an even coating. Then arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake them on a high shelf in the oven for 10 minutes or until they are crisp and golden.

What are croutons made of? ›

Croutons are made from toasted or fried bread, including white, wholemeal, sourdough and granary. Use them for a crunchy texture in salads, soups and more. Any kind of piece of bread that has been toasted or fried to crunchy crispness counts as a crouton.

What are Olive Garden croutons made of? ›

Our croutons are made with romano cheese, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs & spices, and baked to a delicious golden brown. Try all of Olive Garden's signature ingredients.

What's the difference between croutons and breadcrumbs? ›

I treat both croutons and breadcrumbs essentially the same way: croutons are larger pieces of toasted bread with herbs, butter, and olive oil, while breadcrumbs are those same croutons rolled out and crushed (or processed in a food processor) until fine pieces remain.

What was the original Caesar salad made of? ›

The seven ingredients of the original Caesar salad: whole leaves of romaine lettuce, a raw egg yolk, Italian olive oil, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice and a toasted round of baguette. Photo by Bill St. John, for UCHealth.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated:

Views: 6108

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.