This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more info, check out my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for your support!
Nothing finishes off a soup or salad like golden, crunchy Gluten Free Croutons. Usually croutons are not gluten free, but this recipe uses leftover gluten free bread to make a coeliac-safe version! Super simple and ready in just 20 minutes – no more missing out!
I always see croutons on soups and salads and stare at those little crunchy pieces of bread thinking, ‘I wish they were gluten free…’
But making homemade gluten free croutons is actually surprisingly quick and easy. Plus as well as the classic oven method, I now have an air fryer croutons recipe too.
They’re an excellent way to use up any stale bread – and we all know that gluten free bread is way too expensive to waste.
You can make these homemade croutons with any store-bought gluten free bread or even a homemade gluten free loaf.
Use your croutons to top your favourite dishes, including gluten free tomato soup, pea and ham soup or my Chicken and Bacon Caesar Salad.
And if you like batch cooking, check out the FAQs below the recipe card for tips on how to make these croutons in bulk and freeze/store them without them going soft.
Ingredients
To make this gluten free crouton recipe you only need a few basic ingredients.
I’ve listed these in the printable recipe card below, but here are some ideas for substitutions as well.
- Gluten Free White Bread – any gluten free bread will work for these, so you can use brown or seeded if you prefer. I actually find bread which is a few days old can work better than fresh. It’s a great way to cut down on food waste. I made these croutons (pictured) using my easy gluten free bread recipe leftovers.
- Garlic Powder – I just love adding garlic powder to everything and combined with the mixed herbs, this flavouring goes with everything. Garlic croutons are just the best!
- Onion Salt – This is one of my favourite ingredients to add to bread products as I use it in my gluten free bagel seasoning too. You can stick to regular salt if you prefer.
- Mixed Herbs – Any combination of herbs will work with these croutons and you can always vary them depending on what you’re serving them with. I like to use the Italian Seasoning as it tends to have all my favourite flavours.
- Olive Oil – This is crucial for getting that lovely golden crunch. I’d recommend using this instead of any ‘lite’ sprays as you’ll get a richer colour and flavour.
As long as you pick a gluten free vegan bread, this recipe is gluten free, dairy free, egg free and vegan – so suitable for everyone!
Variations
If you want you could add any combination of flavour to your homemade croutons. Some ideas include:
- Spicy Croutons: I love a pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli flakes if it’s going with a spicy soup like my Carrot, Chilli and Ginger Soup.
- Plain Croutons: Alternatively, if you want to keep the croutons plain you can’t go wrong with a nice helping of salt and pepper.
- Curried Croutons: Try adding a little curry powder to your croutons to go with something like my Curried Potato Soup.
How to make gluten free croutons
There’s a printable recipe card below with the method, but here are some step-by-step photos to show you how easy this gluten free croutons are to make:
Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4.
Cut the pieces of bread into cubes around 2cm in size – it’s up to you how chunky you want them but I do like my croutons to be quite chunky!
Place the bread pieces in a large bowl. Sprinkle over the garlic powder, onion salt and herbs then drizzle over the olive oil. Mix together so the bread is evenly coated.
To make oven-baked croutons:
Lay the bread pieces out on a large baking sheet in an even layer and place in the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the croutons are golden and crunchy.
Remove from the oven and serve them straight away while still hot. Or leave them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container or freezing.
To make croutons in the air fryer:
Follow the steps above to cut the bread and coat the cubes in herbs and oil. Then simply spread the coated bread cubes in an even layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 165C (329F) for 8-10 minutes until golden. You may want to toss them half way through cooking to ensure an even coating.
Serving Suggestions
Need some ideas for what to serve with these gluten free croutons? Here are my favourite soups and salads to pair them with:
- Gluten Free Tomato Soup
- Sweet Potato, Chilli and Coconut Soup
- Gluten Free Chicken Soup
- Pea and Ham Soup
- Curried Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Greek Salad
- Mexican Corn Salad
- Chickpea and Quinoa Salad
More gluten free basics recipes
If you make this recipe and love it, please do let me know by tagging me on my Instagram or using #theglutenfreeblogger. You can also share your creations in my Facebook group! And please do leave a 5* review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to let others know you loved it too! It would mean the world to me and really helps support my website.
Gluten Free Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 pieces gluten free white bread
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion salt
- 1 tsp mixed herbs
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cut the pieces of bread into cubes around 2cm in size – it’s up to you how chunky you want them but I do like my croutons to be quite chunky!
- Place the bread pieces in a large bowl. Sprinkle over the garlic powder, onion salt and herbs then drizzle over the olive oil. Mix together so the bread is evenly coated.
To oven bake the croutons:
- Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4.
- Lay the bread pieces out on a large baking sheet in an even layer and place in the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the croutons are golden and crunchy.
To make air fryer croutons:
- Spread the coated bread cubes in an even layer in the air fryer basket and air fry at 165C (329F) for 8-10 minutes until golden. You may want to toss them half way through cooking to ensure an even browning.
Notes
- Storage: For details on storing and freezing these gluten free croutons, check out the FAQs section below this recipe card.
- Step-by-Step Photos: Scroll up for some handy photos showing you exactly how to make these gluten free croutons, as well as handy recipe tips.
- Like this Recipe? It would mean SO much to me if you could leave a 5* rating and tell all your gluten free friends about these gluten free croutons!
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs about this easy gluten free croutons recipe – if you can’t find the answer to your question here or in the post above, please comment and I’ll try answer!
Croutons are small cubes of toasted bread, so are usually not gluten free. I’ve never seen gluten free croutons on sale before but making your own is super easy. These homemade croutons are also a great way to cut down on food waste as they’re better with stale gluten free bread.
Yes you can! Simply spread the coated bread cubes in an even layer in the air fryer basket and air fry at 165C (329F) for 8-10 minutes until golden. You may want to toss them half way through cooking to ensure an even browning.
Once the croutons have cooled completely, keep them in an airtight container. They should keep for a week or two without going soft, provided the tub is completely airtight.
Yes! To freeze these croutons, cool them completely then pour into a bag or tub. Freeze for up to 6 months – just defrost at room temperature when needed.
Get my cookbook!
Want more gluten free meals inspiration? My debut cookbook, Delicious Gluten Free Meals, has 100+ gluten free recipes, from breakfast and lunch ideas to dinners, desserts and sides.
Excellent way to use use up dry bread. Used onion powder instead of Garlic powder as I didn’t have any onion salt. Cooked in the air fryer at 160 for 10 mins. It was perfect.