Easy Homemade Vegan Croutons

Ready in just 20 minutes, these homemade vegan croutons are deliciously herby and crunchy. Serve this easy crouton recipe with your favorite soups, salads, and pasta dishes for lunch or dinner.

Kirsten Nunez, MS

By Kirsten Nunez, MS

2 Ratings

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Vegan croutons with tomato soup.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

Once you make these homemade vegan croutons, you’ll never buy the store-bought kind again. Not only are they easy to make and customize, but they’re significantly cheaper too.

It’s also an ideal way to use up stale bread. Simply cut into cubes, toss with olive oil and spices, and bake until crispy and golden brown.

Making homemade croutons is an excellent way to reduce waste as well. After all, store-bought croutons are traditionally packaged in single-use plastic — but if you use paper or cloth bags to fresh bread from the store, you can essentially make low-waste croutons.

Enjoy this easy vegan crouton recipe with your favorite soups and salad. Personally, we love pairing these croutons with our Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Soup and Vegan Cobb Salad with Bacon Bits.

Key Ingredients

Ingredients for vegan croutons.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez
  • Stale bread. Crusty bread works best, but you can use any day-old bread you have on hand. Sour dough and French bread are popular choices.
  • Olive oil. You can also use melted vegan butter.
  • Spices and seasonings. Customize your homemade vegan croutons by using your favorite dried herbs, spices, and seasonings. The sky’s the limit!

How to Make Vegan Croutons

This recipe is ready in about 20 minutes. For the full ingredients list and recipe, check out the recipe card at the end of this post:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

In a small bowl, combine the seasonings.

Spices mixed together in a wooden bowl.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

2. Add the cubed bread to a large bowl. Toss with olive oil until all of the bread is lightly coated.

Cubed bread tossed with olive oil in a bowl.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

3. Add the mixture of seasonings and toss well.

Croutons in a stainless steel bowl before baking.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

4. Place the cubed bread on the baking sheet in a single, even layer.

Croutons before baking on a baking sheet.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, tossing once halfway.

Baked vegan croutons on a baking sheet.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

6. Let cool. Serve with salad, soup, or as a savory snack.

Vegan croutons in a bowl.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

  • Cut the bread into equal-sized cubes. To ensure the croutons cook evenly, try to cut the bread into equal-sized pieces.
  • Use gluten-free bread. To make this recipe gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free bread.
  • Switch up the dried herbs. Try this vegan crouton recipe with other dried herbs like rosemary, oregano, or thyme.
  • Use melted butter. No oil? No problem. Toss the croutons in melted plant-based butter instead.
  • Add some heat. For an extra kick, add dried pepper flakes or paprika.
  • Toss with vegan Parmesan. Add grated vegan Parmesan for a cheesy taste.
  • Watch the croutons. Remember, every oven is different. Keep an eye out on the croutons to make sure they don’t burn.
Vegan croutons before baking.
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover croutons in an air-tight jar in a cool, dry place. Enjoy the croutons within one week.

Serving Suggestions

Vegan croutons

Homemade Vegan Croutons

Ready in just 20 minutes, these homemade vegan croutons are deliciously herby and crunchy. Serve this easy crouton recipe with your favorite soups, salads, and pasta dishes for lunch or dinner.
Click stars below to rate, or leave a full review in the comments
2 Ratings
Print Rate it Now Pin Recipe
Course: Herbs & Seasonings
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan
Keyword: croutons, vegan croutons
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Kirsten Nunez, MS

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Add the cubed bread to a large bowl. Toss with olive oil until all of the bread is lightly coated.
  • Add the mixture of seasonings and toss well.
  • Place the cubed bread on the baking sheet in a single, even layer.
  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, tossing once halfway.
  • Let cool. Serve with salad, soup, or as a savory snack.

Notes

  • To ensure the croutons cook evenly, try to cut the bread into equal-sized pieces.
  • To make this recipe gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free bread.
  • For an extra kick, add dried pepper flakes or paprika.
  • Remember, every oven is different. Keep an eye out on the croutons to make sure they don’t burn.

Recommended Tools & Products

Large bowl
Baking Sheet
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