Croutons in the air fryer
Crispy, homemade croutons with garlic and herbs — ready in under 20 minutes in the air fryer. The perfect topping for salads and soups.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Bread knife
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 400 g bread Preferably day-old white bread or country loaf
- 3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp black pepper Freshly ground
0.5 tsp paprika
Instructions
Preparation
- Cut 400 g bread into even cubes of about 1.5 cm. Use a sharp bread knife so the cubes don't get squashed.
- Whisk 3 tbsp olive oil together with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, 0.5 tsp black pepper and 0.5 tsp paprika in a large mixing bowl.
- Toss the bread cubes thoroughly in the seasoned oil so every piece is evenly coated. Let them sit for a few minutes while the air fryer preheats.
Cooking in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C convection.
- Place the bread cubes in a single layer in the basket. Avoid overcrowding — work in two batches if necessary so they turn out crispy all over.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes at 180 °C. Shake the basket halfway through so the croutons brown evenly. They should be golden and crispy, but not burnt.
Serving
- Let the croutons cool slightly on a plate before scattering them over salad or soup, or serving them as a crispy side. They get even crispier as they cool down.
Notes
Tips for the perfect result:
Use day-old bread — it soaks up the seasoned oil better and turns out crispier than completely fresh bread. Always cut the cubes to an even size so they finish at the same time. Variation:
Experiment with rosemary, thyme, grated Parmesan or chilli flakes for different flavour profiles. Butter instead of olive oil gives a richer, fuller flavour. Serving:
Scatter the croutons over Caesar salad, tomato soup, Greek salad or pumpkin soup for extra crunch. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the croutons in two batches — then they turn out more evenly crispy.
Use day-old bread — it soaks up the seasoned oil better and turns out crispier than completely fresh bread. Always cut the cubes to an even size so they finish at the same time. Variation:
Experiment with rosemary, thyme, grated Parmesan or chilli flakes for different flavour profiles. Butter instead of olive oil gives a richer, fuller flavour. Serving:
Scatter the croutons over Caesar salad, tomato soup, Greek salad or pumpkin soup for extra crunch. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the croutons in two batches — then they turn out more evenly crispy.
Nutrition
Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated fat: 2gPolyunsaturated fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated fat: 8.5gSodium: 950mgPotassium: 130mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 100IUCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mgNet carbohydrates: 43g
