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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Air Fryer Snacks

    Air fryer croutons

    Published: May 20, 2022 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print
    image collage of crouton ingredients and after cooking
    image collage of bread cubes before and after seasoning, croutons in the air fryer basket and on a salad
    air fryer croutons in a white bowl on a wood table
    salad topped with creamy dressing and air fryer croutons

    It is so easy to make crunchy air fryer croutons using any type of bread you like: sliced or unsliced. Add them to all of the salads!

    air fryer croutons in a white bowl on a wood table
    Jump to:
    • Recipe notes
    • What kind of bread to use for croutons?
    • How to store them
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Ideas for using salad croutons

    Recipe notes

    To make these vegan croutons, start by dicing up your bread into ½" pieces. If you have a whole loaf, you want cubes. Obviously, with sliced bread, you can't control the width.

    Because you can't control the width with a sliced loaf, you may need to stick to the lower end of the cooking time. Check your croutons frequently, so they don't overcook!

    Once you have diced your bread, toss it with spices and olive oil, then air fry until it's browned and crunchy.

    image collage of bread cubes before and after seasoning, croutons in the air fryer basket and scattered on a salad

    Make sure to shake your basket and check on the croutons often! Shaking will help them cook evenly, and frequent checking avoids burnt results.

    Once they're fully cooked, serve them over soups or salads for some flavorful crunch.

    What kind of bread to use for croutons?

    What I love about making my own salad croutons in the air fryer is that it's quick and that I can use basically any bread I have on hand. Anything that will stand up to dicing will work fine -- pre-sliced or unsliced loaves both work.

    In the photos and videos for this post, I used sliced bread, because that's what we had in the pantry.

    bread cubes and seasonings in bowls on a wood table

    Gluten-free bread is also totally fine, as long as it doesn't fall apart when you dice it into small pieces.

    Very thin-sliced pieces will burn very quickly in the air fryer. If your bread is labeled as "thin sliced", your croutons may cook up even faster than four minutes. Keep an eye on them!

    Stale bread will definitely be easier to dice, but you can use fresh bread in this recipe.

    salad topped with creamy dressing and air fryer croutons

    How to store them

    Any leftover croutons will keep for two to three days in an airtight container in the pantry.

    📖 Recipe

    air fryer croutons in a white bowl on a wood table

    Air fryer croutons recipe

    It is so easy to make crunchy air fryer croutons using any type of bread you like: sliced or unsliced. Add them to all of the salads!
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    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: air fryer croutons
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 119kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups diced bread - ½" pieces, see note
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, toss together the bread pieces with spices,salt, and oil, then transfer the bread to your air fryer basket.
    • Air fry at 400° F for 4-8 minutes, shaking every couple of minutes, to make sure the pieces cook evenly.

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Video

    Notes

    You can use pre-sliced or unsliced bread for this recipe. Sliced may cook up faster, since you can't control the thickness of the slices. Very thin slices will burn easily in the air fryer, so keep a close eye on thin-sliced bread in the air fryer basket.
    The cooked croutons will keep in an airtight container in the pantry for 2-3 days.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Air fryer croutons recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    119
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    3
    g
    5
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    2
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Sodium
     
    235
    mg
    10
    %
    Potassium
     
    58
    mg
    2
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    19
    g
    6
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    2
    g
    2
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.1
    mg
    0
    %
    Calcium
     
    50
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Ideas for using salad croutons

    Air fryer croutons are lovely on basically any green salad. Here are some ideas for you!

    • Fried Tofu Salad
    • Taco Salad (I'd substitute chili powder for the rosemary in this case.)
    • Strawberry Spinach Salad

    They're also delightful on soups. Try them on:

    • Broccoli Cheese Soup
    • Yellow Split Pea Soup
    • Creamy Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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