Air Fryer Croutons

These quick and easy air fryer croutons will give your salads and recipes that “wow” factor! A fresh loaf of bread cubed, seasoned, and air fried to perfection.

Crispy and delicious, air fryer croutons are the perfect addition to any soup or salad. Pair them with chicken noodle soup, antipasto salad, or this strawberry spinach salad for a meal full of delicious flavor and texture!

Hero image of croutons in the basket of an air fryer.

Homemade Croutons in Air Fryer Recipe

Croutons are an irreplaceable part of any salad! They’re little crunchy bits of goodness and even better when you make them from scratch in the air fryer. I’m sure you already know how much I love my air fryer, but it really comes in handy! Even for the most unlikely recipes! Like everything else I’ve made in the air fryer, these croutons were amazingly delicious and came together in a snap. It’s the most delicious way to use day-old bread.

So grab that stale loaf of bread and let’s get started! This recipe takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish, so it’s perfect for working into your busy day! Really though, you have to try making homemade croutons because they are a game-changer for all of your salads. I’ve seasoned mine with olive oil, Italian herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese for the perfect savory flavor, but feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors! I’m sure you’ll love them just as much as I have!

Everything Needed to Make Them

The best part of this recipe is that everything you need to make air fryer croutons is sitting in your pantry right now! Nothing fancy, just bread, seasoning, and your air fryer to make the magic happen! Find measurements for all ingredients below in the recipe card.

Bread: I used French bread here, but you can easily swap it out for sourdough, Italian, wheat, or white bread.
Olive Oil: Just a drizzle on top is all you need to help add flavor and crisp up your croutons nicely.
Italian Seasoning: You can use prepackaged Italian seasoning or make your own blend from a few simple spice rack ingredients!
Parmesan Cheese: Cheese makes life better. Especially parmesan! I add it to everything for a boost of flavor. Not to mention, it has the perfect crispy texture when it’s baked or air-fried.
Garlic Salt: Garlic and parmesan is a combination you can’t go wrong with. I love adding garlic salt to make the overall flavor of these croutons more delicious.

How to Make Croutons in an Air Fryer

Salads are so easy to throw together, so croutons should be too! Complete your salad with a total time of 8 minutes from start to finish!

Cut Into Cubes, Add Olive Oil: First, cut slices of bread into one-inch cubes. Add to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss until coated.
Toss With Seasonings: Add Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Toss to coat.
Add to Air Fryer Basket: Next, add half of the coated bread cubes to the air fryer basket. Spread them out in an even layer making sure the croutons aren’t overlapping.
Cook: Air fry at 390 degrees Fahrenheit (199 degrees c) for 6-7 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket to toss the croutons around. This will help the croutons cook on both sides.
Crisp if Needed: Continue to cook if needed to crisp to desired crunch! Enjoy on your favorite salad!

Process photos of cubing and seasoning bread.

Tips, Tricks, and Variations

Here are a few simple ways to make your air fryer croutons taste as delicious as possible! This recipe has been so easy and fun to make, I just want to keep making more batches with different variations.

Swap Bread: Instead of bread like French or sourdough, try making your croutons with whole-wheat, rye, or pumpernickel bread for a boost of fiber!
Change Flavor: Instead of Italian herbs, try flavoring your croutons with ranch seasoning! Sometimes I like to omit the savory ingredients entirely and toss my bread in cinnamon sugar instead. The sweetness is great for salads with fruit!
Cook One Layer at a Time: Your air fryer will work most efficiently when you only cook one layer at a time with plenty of space between croutons. Airflow is a must to achieve the crispiest result possible!
What Else Can I Use Stale Bread For? Lots of things, don’t throw it out! In addition to croutons, you can make homemade breadcrumbs, french toast, or bread pudding. Just make sure the bread you are using isn’t moldy. Moldy bread is never safe to consume, even if you trim off the moldy parts.

Closeup of croutons in air fryer basket.

How Long Does it Take For Croutons to Go Bad?

I like to store mine in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually last for 5-7 days. If you feel like they need to crisp up a little, you can always pop them in the air fryer for a couple of minutes at 400 degrees F. This makes them taste like they’ve been freshly made! You can pop them in the oven at 300 degrees for a few minutes to freshen them up as well.