Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Oct 11, 2020, Updated Nov 06, 2023

5 from 17 votes

9 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These cornbread croutons are easy to make with 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes. Watch the video and follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to make cornbread croutons – my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2)

These homemade cornbread croutons are my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread. They’re easy to make with only 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes!

One of my all-time favorite restaurants was known for their cornbread, and in turn, their cornbread croutons. I craved their salads for the croutons alone! So years (and years) ago I created this cornbread crouton recipe so I could make crave-worthy salads from the comfort of my own home.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (3)

Cornbread Croutons: Ingredients

There are only 3 ingredients in this cornbread croutons recipe, but as always we’ll chat about them!

  • Cornbread.I recommend making this –best ever cornbread recipe and using the leftovers to make these cornbread croutons. It’s best to use cornbread that’s a day or two old. You could always use a box mix to make it even easier. There are also boxes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. so you can make the croutons comply to your dietary needs.
  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil works well, but olive oil is my favorite. Canola oil and avocado oil are the two substitutions I’d recommend.
  • Fine sea salt. regular salt works too, you may just need to decrease the amount.
Cornbread Croutons Recipe (4)

How to make Cornbread Croutons

This cornbread crouton recipe is so simple, but we’ll walk through the steps together, and don’t forget to watch the video

To make these cornbread croutons, you have to be gentle when stirring so the cornbread doesn’t fall apart. I like to do it in halves, so drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the cornbread then stir, and repeat with the rest.

Then do the same for the sea salt, sprinkle half of the sea salt over the cornbread, stir, and repeat with the second half. This way the ingredients are naturally dispersed and don’t rely too much on stirring.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (5)

Bake

Lightly grease a baking sheet and spread the cornbread onto it in one even layer.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (6)

Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, gently flipping the croutons over once halfway through baking (around 6-7 minutes). Remove from oven once they are golden-brown and still slightly soft.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (7)

Store

Store these cornbread croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (8)

Cornbread Croutons Recipe FAQ

How do you make cornbread that doesn’t fall apart?

Make this best cornbread recipe! And then let it sit in the refrigerator overnight and it will not fall apart when cut to make these croutons!

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (9)

Serve

Ilove serving these cornbread croutons slightly warm on top of a salad, in soups etc.

  • I love them in this Brussel Sprout Salad!
  • They’d taste amazing on this burrata salad! YUM!
  • Toss them in this sausage and kale soup for a delicious fall meal.
  • They are the perfect compliment to this butternut squash soup and this homemade tomato soup!
  • Use them to make cornbread dressing!
Cornbread Croutons Recipe (10)

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (11)

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (12)

SavePinPrint

Homemade Cornbread Croutons Recipe

Laura

These cornbread croutons are easy to make with 3 ingredients in less than 30 minutes. Watch the video and follow the step-by-step instructions to learn how to make cornbread croutons – my favorite way to use up leftover cornbread.

5 from 17 votes

Course condiment, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Servings

Calories 211

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time20 minutes minutes

Total Time25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cornbread cut into ½” cubes (day-old leftover cornbread)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet, set aside.

  • Gently cube leftover cornbread and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the cornbread. Gently stir.

  • Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon over the cornbread and gently stir to distribute.

  • Sprinkle half of the sea salt over the cornbread, stir, and repeat with the second half.

  • Spread cornbread onto the prepared baking sheet in one even layer.

  • Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, gently flipping the croutons over once halfway through baking (around 6-7 minutes).

  • Remove from oven once they are golden-brown.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Cornbread.I recommend making this –best ever cornbread recipe and using the leftovers to make these cornbread croutons. It’s best to use cornbread that’s a day or two old. You could always use a box mix to make it even easier. There are also boxes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. so you can make the croutons comply to your dietary needs.
  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil works well, but olive oil is my favorite. Canola oil and avocado oil are the two substitutions I’d recommend.
  • Fine sea salt. regular salt works too, you may just need to decrease the amount.

Store:

Store these cornbread croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.

Freeze:

Yes, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 427mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Best Cornbread Recipe

Best Easy Chili Recipe

Corn Pudding

Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili

Cornbread Muffins

Vegetarian Chili

Cornbread Croutons Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade croutons crunchy? ›

Simply make your croutons, place them into a freezer-friendly bag or container, and store them in the freezer. Take them out to thaw and then you're ready to enjoy!

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

What does adding an extra egg to Jiffy cornbread mix do? ›

If you want to make your Jiffy cornbread moist and fluffy, try adding in eggs, milk, sour cream, vegetable oil, and honey. Those add-ins are the perfect way to enhance your Jiffy mix!

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.

How do you store homemade croutons so they don't get soggy? ›

How do you store croutons so they don't get soft? Let your baked croutons cool completely, store them in a zip-top bag, and remove as much excess air from the bag as possible.

How long will homemade croutons stay fresh? ›

How long do 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.

How to keep jiffy cornbread from falling apart? ›

Cornbread normally cracks on top, but if it is too extreme and falling apart there are a few options. Do not over mix ingredients. Stir until they are just moistened. Add an extra egg yolk, even if the recipe doesn't call for an egg.

Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

Why is my cornbread not crunchy? ›

A scattering of dry coarse cornmeal in the hot skillet before you pour in the batter makes the cornbread extra crunchy. Flipping it onto a plate or rack also helps the crust stay crisp. Or you could make it thicker and cook it ahead of time, then split the slices and toast them before serving.

What happens if you put too much milk in cornbread mix? ›

Final answer: If too much milk is added to Jiffy cornbread mix, you can balance it out by adding more dry ingredients to the batter such as additional mix or a blend of flour, cornmeal, and baking powder.

Can I use water instead of milk in Jiffy cornbread mix? ›

“JIFFY” mixes can also be prepared with water or plant-based milk alternatives like soy, almond or coconut milk. Pineapple or orange juice may be substituted for flavor variation in the corn and fruit muffins. Feel free to experiment with other options and let us know if you find something else that works well.

Why do store-bought croutons last so long? ›

Commercially packaged croutons, due to their preservatives and packaging, can last significantly longer. They can often be stored at room temperature for several months without any noticeable degradation in texture or flavor.

Can you crush croutons to make breadcrumbs? ›

If a recipe calls for dry bread crumbs but you don't have any on hand, use packaged croutons. Place them in a resealable bag and smash them with a rolling pin. Crumbs made from seasoned croutons add extra flavor!

How to fix stale 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.

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.

Can you vacuum seal homemade croutons? ›

They will always be handy for game night! Grains – Rice, Oats, Homemade Breading, Homemade croutons- Seal open containers for extended freshness.

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 6146

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.