These cornbread croutons are easy to make with leftover cornbread then use the crispy, golden brown homemade croutons to elevate fall salads!
Not just for salads, these also taste great on soup recipes, homemade chili, stews or even this cornbread stuffing.
Table of Contents
Homemade Cornbread Croutons
I love these cornbread croutons on top of my favorite fall salad. They are so easy to make with only 2 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes! They are crunchy and so addicting.
If you’ve never made homemade croutons, this cornbread croutons recipe will be a game-changer for you. Because these are made from leftover cornbread, you’ll notice that the natural moisture allows the crouton to remain slightly chewy yet they bake up golden and add the perfect crunch to salads!
How to Make Cornbread Croutons
- Prep. Preheat the oven. Cut the bread into cubes and place them onto a baking sheet. Make sure to have them spread apart so that they get even toasting on all sides.
- Coat. Drizzle or spray the olive oil evenly over top followed by the salt and pepper. Carefully mix until all pieces are coated. Careful not to drizzle too much oil as it may cause your croutons to become soggy.
- Bake. Bake initially and take them out to stir. Continue baking until golden brown or they have reached the desired texture.
Flavor Variations
For this cornbread recipe, I used just salt and pepper so I can pair them with a variety of dishes. You could also add any of the seasonings before baking:
- Sweet: For sweet cornbread croutons, add a pinch of cinnamon sugar.
- Spicy: Crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper will add a little heat.
- Herbs: Try Italian seasoning with some garlic salt.
- Poultry seasoning: This works well if you are planning to use them in stuffing!
Helpful Tips for the Best Cornbread Croutons
- Day-old bread. Using day old (stale) is even more important for cornbread croutons as cornbread itself is a lighter texture and doesn’t hold together as well as regular bread does. Using day-old bread will help give it that bit of extra firmness it will need.
- Fresh bread. If you happen to be using fresh cornbread, you will need to account for the bake time and bake a little longer.
- Crumb coating. Grind them into breadcrumbs and you can use those for cornbread crusted chicken nuggets or a twist on chicken tenders. Your kids will thank you!
Ways to Use
Soups and salads are my favorite go-to ways to serve these! Here are a few favorites:
- One Pot Pumpkin Chili Recipe
- Tomato Basil Soup or Butternut Squash Soup
- Easy Taco Soup Recipe
- Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
Storage
- Store: These cornbread croutons will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They will also keep in the fridge, however, you may experience a change in texture.
- Freeze: They will also keep in the fridge, however, you may experience a change in texture. They freeze well, in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. You can freeze them as croutons or you can freeze the cornbread and make the croutons at a later date!
You can also turn these bread recipes into croutons! Try it with garlic bread, homemade French bread or sourdough bread!
More Cornbread Recipes to Try
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Cornbread Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 cups day old cornbread
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil (I like to use a olive oil spray)
S&P, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes. Then place onto a baking sheet. Drizzle or spray the oil evenly over the top. Then sprinkle salt and pepper over top (I usually do about 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper). Carefully mix until well coated.
- Bake for 7 minutes. Stir and cook for and additonal 3-5 minutes, or until golden and reach desired texture. I prefer my croutons not too crispy.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is really amazing! I love how easy it is to make!
These look so tasty! This will go perfectly with my salad today! Can’t wait to make these!
These were so delicious and perfectly crunchy! Easily, my new favorite croutons!