Make these delicious keto croutons for a crunchy addition to your favorite low-carb soups and salads. My crouton recipe makes a filling and satisfying topping without the added carbohydrates! Even better, they add great flavor thanks to the homemade Italian seasoning.
Why you'll love this keto croutons recipe
Some of you may already know the power that a good crouton can hold. But, if you have only ever had tasteless croutons out of a box, you have to trust me and see for yourself how delicious the homemade variety can be.
Croutons provide a tasty crunch in a pinch and turn any simple soup or salad into a total delicacy!
And today, I bring good news – you can still eat them on a low-carb diet with my keto croutons recipe.
These perfectly crunchy keto croutons are gluten-free and dairy-free and contain just 2g net carbs per serving. Even better, they take just 5 minutes of prep!
In this post, I'll share how to make low-carb croutons, along with yummy serving suggestions, fun variations, and cooking tips.
Didn't know you could eat bread on a keto diet? Read all about it: Bread on Keto Diet (Low-Carb Options + Recipes).
Ingredients needed
These gluten-free croutons are made with just a few simple ingredients for maximum flavor payoff. Here's everything that brings them together:
Keto bread
The base of these croutons is made from keto-friendly bread. In other words, bread that is made from low-carb flour and sugar-free ingredients.
Most commonly, keto bread is made with gluten-free flour like almond flour, coconut flour, or chia flour.
When making croutons, bread that is slightly hard or stale is best! It'll crisp up nicely when baked.
You can make your own keto bread recipe or choose a store-bought version. For more convenient cooking, check out the best keto bread to buy; there are quite a few options out there.
If you're baking your own low-carb bread, try one of my quick and easy recipes:
- Coconut Flour Psyllium Husk Bread
- Pumpkin Seed Bread
- Easy Low-Carb Bread Recipe
- Keto Flax Meal Bread
- Low-Carb Cream Cheese Bread
Olive oil
To achieve golden brown, crunchy croutons, a bit of olive oil is a must!
Extra virgin olive oil will also add extra flavor and fat content to your croutons which I'm sure your macros will appreciate.
Homemade Italian seasoning mix
To season your keto-friendly croutons, simply whip up a quick batch of homemade Italian seasoning.
Seasoning mixes are great to have on hand for easy cooking. Just add your spices to a mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake it up!
This recipe calls for a yummy mix of spices, including:
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Dried rosemary
- Onion powder
- Dried basil
- Dried thyme
- Salt
Crouton tips
This homemade croutons recipe couldn't be easier to throw together! Here are a few cooking tips for the best results possible:
- Use dry or stale bread for extra crispy croutons.
- Prep your seasoning blend in a big batch for future cooking projects and easy mixing.
- Freeze your baked croutons for a long-lasting topping!
How to make keto croutons
Ready to make your low-carb croutons? Here are the simple steps:
Prep your elements
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F.
Take a minute to gather your ingredients, pre-mix your spice mixture, and chop up your keto bread.
You'll want your bread to be in small, biteable cubes.
Combine olive oil and seasoning
Next, combine all of your spices, including garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, rosemary, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
Add olive oil and whisk to combine.
Mix and bake
Transfer your pre-cut bread cubes to a baking sheet, spreading them out in a single layer. You can use a bit of parchment paper for easy cleanup!
Then, drizzle your seasoned olive oil on top of your bread and toss until each piece is well-coated.
Next, pop them in the oven and bake until they're crisp and a beautiful golden-brown color.
Remove the croutons from the oven and let them cool down before using.
Store or serve your keto croutons
Your delicious keto croutons are ready to enjoy! Use them as a crispy topping, or store them for later use.
Once your croutons are cooled, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 or 3 days.
However, if you're looking for longevity, pop that container in the freezer! You'll just need to bake them for a few minutes to crisp them up again.
How to serve homemade croutons
These croutons are tasty enough to eat by the handful! Add them as a topping to any low-carb salad recipe for a tasty, satisfying crunch.
Try them with my keto southwest chicken salad, baby kale salad with avocado, or spinach strawberry salad with vinaigrette.
They also make the perfect soup topping for rich and creamy keto soups. Try them on top of easy keto creamy pumpkin soup with bacon or keto cream of chicken soup with bacon.
For a vegetarian option, opt for keto tomato soup, keto cream of asparagus soup, creamy low-carb broccoli cheese soup, or cauliflower cheddar soup.
Variations of low carb croutons
One of the best parts of cooking is getting creative with recipes! These keto croutons are simply dressed with Italian-inspired seasoning, though you can change them up for a variety of recipes.
Here are a few fun variations to try:
- Swap olive oil for melted butter and add grated parmesan cheese to your seasoning mix for indulgent, cheesy goodness.
- Try an Indian spice blend including curry powder, cumin, coriander, and garam masala for incredible flavor.
- For garlic and herb croutons, swap Italian seasoning for garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Add fresh minced garlic a couple of minutes before your croutons have finished baking!
FAQs
Here are a few common questions I get asked most about my keto croutons recipe. If I don't answer your questions here, please leave them for me in the comments down below.
Croutons are made simply from stale bread! If you have a loaf of bread that is getting a little old (hard, not moldy), you can cube it up, season it, and bake it until crispy.
Most croutons are also seasoned for a more flavorful topping. Common seasonings include vegetable oils and Italian seasoning blends, though there are wide varieties of possible flavor combinations.
Traditional croutons should be avoided on a keto diet. They are most often made from high-carb wheat bread, which isn't a keto-approved food. There are, however, some ways around this!
You can make your own keto croutons using low-carb, keto-friendly bread or purchase premade keto croutons for convenience.
Shrewd Food makes low-carb protein croutons in a variety of flavors, from parmesan herb to bacon and ranch!
And for a cheesy option, use parmesan crisps for your crispy topping.
Croutons are most often enjoyed on top of salads, like my keto broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar. But their uses don't end here!
Add them as a topping to a tried-and-true soup recipe like palak soup or low-carb cream of mushroom soup. You can also add them to scrambled eggs, casseroles, stuffing, or meatloaf.
And if the craving hits, enjoy them on their own as a snack!
There are a couple of reasons why your croutons lose their crunch.
First, ensure that your bread cubes are evenly spaced in a single layer when baking. If they're touching, they won't properly crisp and will end up soggy.
Next, make sure you're storing your croutons correctly. Before adding them to an airtight container, make sure that they have completely cooled.
If you add your croutons hot, it can trap moisture in the container and make your croutons soggy.
Most types of keto bread are made from ingredients like almond flour and coconut flour because of their low-carb counts. Other common ingredients include nuts, seeds, and even low-carb vegetables.
When checking your ingredients, ensure your bread is free of wheat flour, added sugars, and any other high-carb ingredients.
My homemade keto croutons last about three days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
You can prolong the life of your croutons by freezing them for up to two months. When you're ready to eat them, simply pop them in the oven for a few minutes.
Like this keto croutons recipe? Try these!
You can enjoy bread on a keto diet with any of my low-carb bread recipes. Start with these:
- Key Lime Bread Coconut Cake Loaf is sweet and tart with an incredibly moist texture.
- Keto Naan Bread is made with low-carb almond flour and mozzarella cheese for the perfect pairing with any Indian curry.
- Chocolate Zucchini Bread hides sneaky vegetables in a chocolatey loaf. Even kids will be fooled!
- Low-Carb Banana Bread makes it possible to enjoy this high-carb fruit without blowing your ketosis.
- Keto Gluten-Free Orange Cranberry Bread is made with low-carb flour and fresh berries for a warm and delicious treat.
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Recipe
Keto Croutons
Ingredients
- 6-8 slices keto bread We used our famous basic keto bread recipe!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cut the pre-made keto bread into small cubes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and salt.
- Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle the seasoned olive oil over the top.
- Toss the bread cubes with the seasoned olive oil until well coated.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the croutons from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
Notes
- Use the croutons in your favorite keto salad or soup recipe.
- Store the cooled croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months.
- To reheat, simply place them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for a few minutes until they are crispy again.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
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