Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Bacon croutons are the perfect way to add some extra flavor to any soup or salad. This homemade croutons recipe is so easy to make! Baked croutons with the added taste of bacon. What could be better?!

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Bacon Croutons

Why make plain old croutons when you could make BACON croutons? These homemade baked croutons are mixed with savory bacon for the perfect flavor!

I’m going to go out on a limb and say everything tastes better with bacon. I know a lot of you will agree with me on that one, so let’s all just unite and agree that a few bits of bacon here and there is never a bad thing.

I’ve made lots of homemade croutons before, but I decided that what they needed was (yes, you guessed it) bacon. Crunchy croutons mixed with freshly cooked bacon bits create the most amazing flavor! You can add them to anything if you ask me, but they are ideal for soups and salads.

I made these to top off my Bacon Cheeseburger Soup, but I’ll definitely be throwing them on top of salads too. They are just SO yummy!

Add these Bacon Croutons to any soup or salad for an added savory flavor!

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Homemade Croutons Recipe

I’m a big fan of homemade crouton recipes. It’s easy enough to buy a bag of them at the store, but they truly taste SO much better when made fresh at home. Whether you bake them or fry them, making croutons is easy and delicious. These bacon croutons are definitely a new favorite to add to my other recipes.

You can also try out my Homemade Baked Croutons and my Fried Garlic Croutons for more flavor variety!

What can croutons be used for?

What can croutons be used for? These little crunchy cubes of baked or fried bread can be used for a lot of things, but of course the main use is to top salads and soups. It’s a great way to add a but of flavor and texture. Truth be told, I’ve been known to eat croutons by the handful as a snack, and that will ABSOLUTELY happen with these bacon croutons!

I specifically made these for my Cheeseburger Soup Recipe (coming on Friday!) because I thought it was the perfect way to top it off. So you just have to try that out too!

How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

How to Make Bacon Croutons

These crunchy homemade bacon croutons are really simple, and won’t take you long at all. They’re easy enough to make while you wait for your soup to simmer!

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and cover your sheet pan with aluminum foil.
  2. Cut each bacon strip in half down the middle, then cut them into 1/2 inch bits.
  3. Now cut your bread into 1/2 inch cubes. The bread and bacon bits should be about the same size.
  4. Place the bacon bits on the sheet pan and cook in the oven for about 2 minutes.
  5. Then add the bread cubes on to the sheet pan with the bacon, and put it back in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. About halfway through cooking, stir and mix up the croutons.
  6. When done baking, remove the bacon croutons from the oven and season to taste.

You can either use them immediately, or store them for later use. Before storing, let them cool completely.

How long will these bacon croutons keep?

With the bacon mixed in, these homemade croutons will keep for about 3 days. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and grab them whenever you need them. Croutons typically keep a little longer, but the bacon needs to be refrigerated.

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

These bacon croutons are going to be your new favorite soup or salad topping! A bit of crunch, a bit of savoriness, and a whole lot of flavor.

See the recipe card below for details on how to make croutons with bacon. Enjoy!

Try these croutons on top of some of these other dishes:

  • Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe
  • Classic Caesar Salad
  • Mexican Cheesy Chicken Chowder
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Bacon Corn Chowder
  • Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Recipe

Bacon Croutons Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 25 minutes minutes

Serves8

Print Rate

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Bacon croutons are the perfect way to add some extra flavor to any soup or salad. This homemade croutons recipe is so easy to make! Baked croutons with the added taste of bacon. What could be better?!

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

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Ingredients

  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 3 cups Cubes of Bread Rustic Italian works well
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt or kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Cheeseburger Soup for serving (or your fave salad!)

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 400°F and set oven rack to middle position. Cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil.

  • Halve the bacon down the middle through each slice and cut the bacon into 1/2–inch. Cut the bread into 1/2–inch cubes. The bacon and bread should be the same size.

  • Place the bacon pieces on the prepared sheet pan and place in the oven. Cook the bacon just until the fat begins to render, about 2 minutes.

  • Add the bread cubes and toss with a rubber spatula to coat with the fat.

  • Cook 15-20 minutes or until the bacon and bread are golden and crisp. Stir the bacon croutons halfway through roasting.

  • Remove from the oven season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Cool completely. Once cooled, keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

  • These pair perfectly with Cheeseburger Soup, but are also great with many salads and other soups.

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cup Calories: 141kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 17mg (6%) Sodium: 378mg (16%) Potassium: 72mg (2%) Vitamin A: 10IU Calcium: 16mg (2%) Iron: 0.5mg (3%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

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Bacon Croutons Recipe {Homemade Croutons} - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade croutons crispy? ›

Store the homemade croutons at room temperature for up to 1 week. Put the croutons in your pantry and that's it. Most croutons will be crunchy and crisp for up to a week, but the sooner you use them, the better. Croutons won't become moldy, but they will become soft or chewy once they're old.

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

Crowding the pan.

Pile the bread cubes on top of each other and they won't have enough space to crisp up and brown. Instead, make sure they're in a even layer.

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? ›

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? It could be that you stored your croutons before they were fully cooled. Warm croutons trap moisture, and the croutons can become soggy if they're stored airtight too soon. This can also cause them to go stale too quickly.

How many days do homemade croutons last? ›

The expected shelf-life for homemade croutons is about two weeks. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure your croutons are completely dehydrated during the bake and let cool completely at room temperature before storing them away in an airtight container.

Why do croutons not go bad? ›

Croutons don't expire in the sense that they become dangerous to eat. There simply isn't enough moisture in them to feed an spoilage bacteria and other such organisms.

How do you refresh croutons? ›

Let croutons cool in a single layer on the baking sheet. Use immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To refresh stale croutons, bake for 3 to 4 minutes at 400 degrees.

How do you know if croutons are stale? ›

The most common way to tell if croutons have gone bad is by smell and taste. If they have an off smell, it's best to throw them out. Similarly, if they taste stale or have lost their crunch, it's time to discard them.

How long do dried croutons last? ›

Croutons do, in fact, go bad. However, because they are toasted pieces of bread with no moisture, they will last for 8 to 10 months if wrapped and stored tightly. The package will not last longer than a month once it is opened. If you want to create your own fresh croutons, they will last no more than two weeks.”

How do you fix soggy croutons? ›

There are a few methods you can use to re-crisp croutons:
  1. Oven method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). ...
  2. Toaster method: Spread your croutons out in a single layer on a toaster oven tray and toast them on medium-high heat for a few minutes, checking regularly to ensure they don't burn.
Mar 15, 2023

Why are my croutons bitter? ›

Since homemade croutons are baked longer than, say, a loaf of garlic bread would be, I find that pieces of garlic left in the butter can be prone to overcooking. Charred garlic tends to be bitter, and no one wants a bitter crouton!

What temperature do you dehydrate croutons? ›

Directions
  1. 1Cut the bread into small cubes.
  2. 2Place in the dehydrator and dry for 4-6 hours at 155 degrees F until crisp.
  3. 3Optional: Add garlic salt, onion salt, parmesan cheese, or herbs for an exciting flavor.

Can I freeze homemade croutons? ›

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time.

Should I refrigerate homemade croutons? ›

After croutons have cooled, we suggest storing them in an airtight container at room temperature, and using them up within 5 days.
  1. Refrigerator storage: Store croutons in the refrigerator for up to 6-7 days.
  2. Freezer storage: If you store croutons in the freezer, they are okay to eat for 4-6 weeks.
Dec 1, 2021

Are croutons good for you? ›

Croutons. Why is it unhealthy? Croutons can add some delicious crunch to your salad, but they can also add calories. You might be surprised to learn that just a cup of croutons can add an estimated 120 calories to your salad, and that number goes up to 180 if they are the seasoned variety.

How do you store freshly made croutons? ›

Depending on how dry and crisp your croutons are, they will last for up to a week in an airtight container, but will be at their best for the first two days. You can refresh them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up again if you like.

Will croutons get soggy in the fridge? ›

Keep crispy stuff and cheesy stuff off

Since a salad is typically a high-moisture dish, it's best to keep anything crispy or cheesy off until serving. Crispy items such as croutons or fried wontons will become soggy and cheese will become soft.

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