Air fryer croutons are so easy to make and are better than anything you can buy in stores. These gluten free croutons are crispy, crunchy and make any salad 100 times better! You are going to find yourself making salad more often once you find out how easy it is to make gluten free croutons in your air fryer.

Why you will love this recipe

• Easy to make – making croutons in the air fryer is so easy and so much faster than using the oven! You will have croutons on demand once you see how easy it is to make gluten free croutons in the air fryer!
• Simple ingredients – making gluten free croutons in the air fryer requires simple pantry ingredients. You are going to find yourself buying an extra loaf of bread to keep on hand to make croutons all the time!
• Versatile – change up the spices on the croutons based on what you are eating them with. You can also use them in so many ways – on salads, on soups, instead of crackers for dipping or you can grind them up to make gluten free breadcrumbs.

Ingredients

• Gluten free bread – use your favorite gluten free bread. I have tried this with gluten free sourdough, pumpernickel and a dense flax bread and it works with just about any bread!
• Avocado oil or olive oil spray – avocado oil or olive oil spray is used to coat the bread to help the spices stick. If you don’t have any oil spray, could also use olive oil, avocado oil, melted ghee, melted butter or melted coconut oil.
• Spices: Salt, garlic powder, italian seasoning – these spices make the gluten free croutons irresistible (and yummy enough to enjoy as a snack). You can also use other spices to change up the flavors (see below for more ideas).

How to make air fryer croutons

Cut the bread into bite size pieces. Try to cut them into equal size pieces so they will cook uniformly in the air fryer.

Add the bread cubes to the air fryer basket. Spray with avocado oil spray (or olive oil spray) and sprinkle the spices over the bread. Stir well.

Shake the basket to try to get the bread cubes into a single layer. Cook at 360F for 6 minutes. For the best texture, pause the air fryer 1-2 times and shake the basket during cooking.

Top tips

• You can also use hamburger buns or hotdog buns in place of bread.
• Easier clean up tip: If you want to make these gluten free croutons super simple, skip the oil and simply spray the bread cubes with olive oil or avocado oil in the basket then sprinkle with seasoning. The end result will be almost exactly the same but with one less bowl to clean.
• Spread out the bread into an even layer. If the bread cubes overlap, pause the air fryer 1-2 times to shake the basket.
• If you have leftovers, let them cool completely before storing. Store leftovers on the countertop in an airtight container once they have cooled completely.
• The type of bread will impact the flavor and texture of the croutons. A heavier, denser bread will make a chewier, crunchy crouton whereas a lighter bread will make a more airy, crispy crouton.
• Cooking time will depend on how thick the bread is, how big the cubes are and your air fryer. Every air fryer cooks a little differently based on size and wattage and how full the basket it.

Ways to use gluten free croutons

Other flavor variations

• Herbs de provence – instead of italian seasoning, use herbs de provence for a slightly more floral flavor (thanks to the lavender)
• Za’atar – instead of italian seasoning, use za’atar seasoning for a smoky flavor
• Ranch seasoning – instead of italian seasoning, you can use your favorite ranch seasoning. (my go-to is 1 tablespoon of dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried dill and a pinch of salt)
• Onion powder – you can add onion powder in addition to the other spices or use it instead of garlic powder for a slightly different flavor.

Common questions

What kind of bread can you use to make homemade croutons

Any bread can be made into croutons, even leftover hamburger buns or hot dog buns.

Using something like a gluten free sourdough or pumpernickel bread will create croutons with a different flavor than a country white bread or baguette. Simple Kneads is my go-to for gluten free sourdough and gluten free pumpernickel bread

Using a dense bread (like Food for Life Gluten Free Seed bread) will create a dense but crunchy crouton. Lighter, airy bread will create an airy, crisp crouton.

How to you keep homemade croutons crunchy

Allow the croutons to cool completely on counter in an open container before storing for later use. If hot air is trapped with the croutons, this can make the croutons get soggy as they sit.

Why are my croutons not crispy

Croutons get crispy as the moisture is baked out of the bread. If your croutons are not crispy, cook them for 1-2 additional minutes. Stay close though, as they can quickly go from crispy to burned.

Why are homemade croutons soggy?

If your croutons are soggy, not crispy, they likely haven’t baked long enough or you added too much oil. Add more baking time in the air fryer to crisp them up.

If you are storing leftover croutons and those become soggy, it’s likely because you didn’t allow the croutons to cool completely before storing. Any trapped hot air will quickly make the croutons soggy.

Also be sure to store the croutons on the counter (not in the fridge) for the best texture.

Storing leftovers

If you have leftover gluten free croutons, store them in an airtight container after allowing them to cool completely. To be safe, I usually allow them to cool for 1-2 hours before storing.

Store in an airtight bag or container (I like to use reusable Stasher bags for this) on the counter for up to a week.

You can also freeze leftover air fryer croutons. Defrost the croutons on a baking rack and air fryer at 350F for 2-3 minutes to get them crispy again.

More air fryer recipes to try (that would be great in salad)

Air Fryer Black Bean Burgers

Potatoes and Onions (in the air fryer)

Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers

Zucchini and squash in the air fryer