Today I want to share with you how to make keto croutons at home. If you have been on the keto diet for a while, you probably know that one of the hardest things to give up is bread.
And when you give up bread, you also give up all the things that come with it. Croutons are one of those things. They are small, but they make such a big difference in so many dishes.
A salad without croutons just feels like something is missing. A bowl of soup without that nice crunch on top is not the same. For a long time, I thought I would never be able to enjoy croutons again while staying on track with my diet.
But then I figured out how to make them using keto bread, and it changed everything. These croutons are crispy, full of flavor, and they fit perfectly into a low carb lifestyle.
You can make a big batch and use them throughout the week, which is really helpful when you want to add something extra to your meals without spending a lot of time in the kitchen every single day.
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect Way to Use Up Your Keto Bread: Let’s be honest – sometimes keto bread sits around for a bit and starts to get a little stale or you just get tired of eating it as regular bread. Instead of letting it go to waste, you can transform it into these delicious croutons.
They Make Boring Salads Exciting Again: Eating salads on keto can get really boring really fast. You can only eat so many leafy greens with dressing before you start dreaming about something with more texture.
These croutons add that missing crunch that makes salads feel like a complete, satisfying meal instead of just a pile of vegetables.
You Control the Seasoning: When you buy store-bought croutons (even if you could find keto ones), you’re stuck with whatever flavoring the company decided to use.
With this recipe, you’re in charge. Want them saltier? Add more salt. Love pepper? Go heavy on the black pepper. Obsessed with oregano? Load it up.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 1 loaf Keto Heavy Cream Bread (baked and cooled)
- Olive Oil (generous amount)
- Dried Oregano
- Black Pepper
- Salt
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this easy recipe:
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 320°F (160°C). Take your prepared Keto Heavy Cream Bread and cut it into 10–12 slices, then cut each slice into uniform bite sized cubes.
Step 2
Place the bread cubes into a large mixing bowl. Pour the olive oil over the bread generously, then sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, and oregano.
Step 3
Toss the cubes gently until every piece is evenly coated with the oil and seasoning. Spread the cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet (use parchment paper for easy cleanup).
Step 4
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You must stir and flip the croutons every 5 to 10 minutes to ensure they brown evenly on all sides without burning.
Step 5
Remove the tray from the oven. Let the croutons sit and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
💡Tips
1. Make Sure Your Bread is Completely Cool
The bread needs to be totally cooled down from baking. If you try to cut warm or even slightly warm bread, it’s going to squish and compress under your knife, and you’ll end up with uneven, smashed pieces instead of nice clean cubes.
Warm bread also holds more moisture inside, which means it won’t crisp up as well in the oven and might end up chewy instead of crunchy.
Give your bread plenty of time to cool- at least an hour at room temperature, or you can even bake it the day before and let it sit overnight. The drier and cooler the bread is when you start, the crispier your croutons will be.
2. Don’t Be Shy With the Olive Oil
You want every single cube to have a nice coating of oil on all sides because that’s what helps them crisp up and turn golden in the oven.
If you don’t use enough oil, you’ll end up with dry, hard croutons that taste like cardboard instead of rich, flavorful ones with a satisfying crunch.
A good way to check is after you toss everything together- look at the bottom of your bowl. If there’s a pool of oil sitting there, you’re good.
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FAQ
Can I make these in an air fryer?
Absolutely, and they actually turn out really well in an air fryer. The hot circulating air is perfect for getting croutons crispy on all sides.
To make them in an air fryer, toss your bread cubes with the olive oil and seasonings just like the recipe says, then put them in your air fryer basket in a single layer- you might need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Set it to 325°F and cook for about 8 to 12 minutes total, shaking the basket every 3 to 4 minutes to move the cubes around.
Keto Croutons
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 loaf Keto Heavy Cream Bread baked and cooled
- Olive Oil generous amount
- Dried Oregano
- Black Pepper
- Salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 320°F (160°C). Take your prepared Keto Heavy Cream Bread and cut it into 10–12 slices, then cut each slice into uniform bite sized cubes.
- Place the bread cubes into a large mixing bowl. Pour the olive oil over the bread generously, then sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, and oregano.
- Toss the cubes gently until every piece is evenly coated with the oil and seasoning. Spread the cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet (use parchment paper for easy cleanup).
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You must stir and flip the croutons every 5 to 10 minutes to ensure they brown evenly on all sides without burning.
- Remove the tray from the oven. Let the croutons sit and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Great idea, thank you Richard