Air Fryer Croutons (Parmesan Croutons)
Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Betty Davies
It’s so quick and easy to make up a batch of crispy croutons in your air fryer. Seasoned with parmesan cheese and black pepper, they are perfect for topping salads and soups, and are ready to serve in minutes. Make up a big batch to enjoy throughout the week.
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Homemade croutons are such an easy way to add flavor and texture to soups and salads, and when cooked in the air fryer, they come out perfectly crispy and they are a breeze to make.
Whether you want to cook up a big batch of these parmesan croutons, or just a few to add to a meal, this technique makes it so quick and easy.
Be sure to try my Garlic Butter Croutons and Pizza Dough Garlic Balls too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Quick and easy: These croutons are simple to prep, and they cook in less than 10 minutes.
- Simple ingredients: You only need 4 ingredients to make this recipe, and you’re likely to have them on hand already.
- Make ahead: Once cooked, these have a great shelf life, so you can grab them to effortlessly add to dishes.
- So crispy: It’s so simple to air fry these croutons to exactly your tastes, make them as crispy as you like, or with a little softness to the middle if you prefer.
Ingredients
- Bread: Sourdough bread is cut into 1 inch cubes before being mixed with the oil and seasonings and air fried.
- Oil: Any high heat neutral oil will work well in this recipe. Avocado, canola and vegetable all work well.
- Black pepper: I like to add a little cracked black pepper for extra flavor.
- Parmesan: Use freshly grated parm rather than pre-grated. It has a much stronger flavor and pre-grated can be quite dry and result in a grainy texture.
How to make air fryer croutons
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Mix the bread cubes with the rest of the ingredients (photo 1).
- Place in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
- Cook til golden brown, stirring occasionally (photo 3).
Recipe Variations
These air fryer croutons are so easy to adapt to your tastes by using different seasonings. Garlic powder, paprika and dried herbs all work great. Make this recipe vegetarian by using a rennet free parm.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best croutons are made with a fairly thick and dense bread. Sourdough works great, and French bread does a great job too. If you can, use slightly stale bread rather than fresh for the best results. It’s a great way to use up bread that is past it’s best, so that nothing goes to waste.
I actually found that you don’t have to cook these in a single layer, which means that you can cook a fairly big batch at once. Just give them a stir around 3 minutes, and then every couple of minutes til they are cooked to your liking. If you cook them in a single layer, they will cook slightly quicker, so keep your eye on them.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also cook these on the stovetop or in the oven.
Stovetop: Heat a little oil in a skillet on a medium high heat. Once add hot the croutons. Stir every minute or til crispy, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Oven: Place the croutons on a lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 375F for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping half way.
Once you have air fried your croutons, let them cool and store in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Keep them at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer croutons are perfect to add to salads and soups for added texture and flavor. Try them with:
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Cut the bread into similar sized cubes so that they cook evenly.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390F before adding the bread. If you don’t have a preheat function on your air fryer, let it run at 390F for 5 minutes. This will result in crispier croutons that are fully and evenly cooked through.
- If cooking more than a single layer, give them a stir after 3 minutes, and every couple of minutes after that to ensure they crisp up evenly.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
More Easy Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
- Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
- Sautéed Bell Peppers and Onions
- Pea Mint and Feta Salad
If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!
Air Fryer Parmesan Croutons
Ingredients
- 3 thick slices sourdough bread (about ½ boule loaf)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons oil
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan (45g)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390F.
- Cut the bread into cubes, about an inch large.
- Mix the bread cubes with the other ingredients so well coated.
- Place in the air fryer basket and set to cook for 10 minutes.
- After 3 minutes, give them a stir, and then stir every couple of minutes to make sure they crisp evenly.
- Cook until golden brown and crispy. Mine were perfect at around 8 minutes.
Notes
- Cut the bread into similar sized cubes so that they cook evenly.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390F before adding the bread. If you don’t have a preheat function on your air fryer, let it run at 390F for 5 minutes. This will result in crispier croutons that are fully and evenly cooked through.
- If cooking more than a single layer, give them a stir after 3 minutes, and every couple of minutes after that to ensure they crisp up evenly.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
