How long it takes: 15 minutes Equipment you’ll need: mixing bowl, rimmed sheet pan Servings: 8
“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
More Homemade Croutons
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
A must for Caesar salads. 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? It’s such a simple salad: lettuce, parmesan cheese, dressing, and croutons. With only four ingredients, you really can’t omit one. Ditch the store-bought croutons. So you can either eat those hard dry croutons you buy at the store or you can bite into a perfectly crisp chewy crouton that will elevate your salad to a whole new level. There is truly nothing like it for sale at the store. Easy to make. The good news is that these croutons are super simple and easy to make. They’ll finish baking basically in the time it takes to make the actual salad. You can make them in your air fryer, too (see air fryer croutons).
Ingredient Notes
Bread: Like all the other croutons, Caesar croutons are also a great way to use up leftover or day-old bread. I like to use a French baguette because it’s fairly porous and toasts well. Avoid sandwich bread or bread that has a sweet flavor. Olive Oil: The bread cubes are tossed with olive oil which adds flavor and helps the bread toast to a golden brown. Parmesan Cheese: I find that the shelf-stable Parmesan cheese works just fine for croutons. It sticks in the little nooks and crannies of the bread and adds lots of flavor. Pantry Seasonings: To keep things easy and simple, I use seasonings I have in my pantry: dried parsley, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt and pepper.
How To Use Caesar Croutons
Classic Caesar Salad: A classic Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce. Toss the lettuce with Caesar dressing. (You’ll definitely want to try my recipe for homemade Caesar dressing. It’s healthier, easy to make, and tastes fantastic.) When the lettuce is coated with dressing, top the salad with your homemade Caesar croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese. That’s it! Chicken Caesar Salad: Simply add cooked or grilled chicken to the salad. I like to grill Italian marinated chicken. It can be served on the side if you prefer. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad: This is the best of two worlds: pasta salad and Caesar salad. Chicken Caesar pasta salad is a hearty main course salad. Chicken Tenders: Another way to use Caesar croutons is to crush them and use as a coating for homemade chicken tenders. Try my chicken Caesar chicken tenders. They’re especially good dipped in Caesar dressing. The crispy chicken strips can be added to a Caesar salad, too.
Storage Tips
Cool the croutons completely before storing. If they’re still warm, condensation will form on the inside of the container and the croutons will get soft and won’t keep well. Store them in an airtight container or bag for up to 2 weeks.
