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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Sep 29, 2021 | Modified: Sep 29, 2021

    Leftover Pesto Idea: Quick Pesto Croutons

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    overhead shot of pesto croutons made in the air fryer

    Homemade croutons and homemade pesto are two of the easiest things to make at home, combining them to make homemade pesto croutons just makes sense! These croutons can be made in the air fryer if you would like a super quick method, or they can be made in the oven. Pesto croutons are the perfect way to use up leftover bread and leftover pesto so nothing goes to waste, and you get a great little pop of flavor to your next soup or salad.

    Up close overhead shot of crunchy homemade croutons stored in a glass jar
    Homemade pesto croutons are crunchy and delicious.

    We tend to make pesto all year round with whatever surplus herbs or greens we have in the garden. Next time you have a bumper crop and don't know what to do with it, why not try one of these homemade pestos on for size: Carrot Top Pesto, Mint Pesto, Oregano Pesto, or Fennel Fronds Pesto.

    Easy Pesto Croutons

    If you have ever found yourself with a spoonful or two of pesto hanging out in the back of the fridge, then this is the post for you.

    You don't want that deliciousness to go to waste, especially if it has been made with homegrown herbs and greens.

    Am I right?

    This simple pesto crouton recipe will soon become your new best friend (where leftover pesto is concerned that is).

    It is:

    • Super easy to make. We are simply going to rip up some stale bread, coat it in some olive oil and your leftover pesto, and bake it in the air fryer or the oven until crunchy and delicious.
    • Easy to store. These homemade croutons can be stored on the bench, in the fridge, or even in the freezer.
    • Super versatile. It doesn't matter how much pesto you have leftover, we can make this work.
    • Easily made gluten free, dairy free or vegan. Just use whatever bread and pesto works well with your lifestyle, and you are good to go!
      If you don't have homemade pesto, the premade stuff bought in a jar is just fine.
    • Easy to use all year round. Croutons are the perfect accompaniment to both soups and salads, so they can be used all year round, regardless of the season.

    Grab your favorite pesto, a loaf of bread going stale on the countertop, and some good quality olive oil, and you will be good to go.

    Labelled ingredient shot of air fryer croutons
    Only a handful of simple ingredients are required: old bread, leftover pesto, and olive oil.

    A Note On Ingredients

    Nothing fancy is needed here, but I do have a few expert tips and tricks to make sure you end up with the best homemade croutons.

    what type of bread works best?

    A nice big thick loaf (such as a cob) that is starting to turn stale is just perfect as it can be cut into nice big even chunks that can soak in the olive oil and gets nice and crunchy once baked.

    You can definitely make homemade croutons work with lots of different types of bread though, so don't worry if that's not what you have:

    • Fresh bread: you will just need to add one or two minutes to your cooking time, or leave the bread out on the bench for an hour or two after cutting it into chunks.
    • Sandwich bread: although this is a lot thinner it can definitely work.
      Simply chop the bread into smaller sized chunks and cut your cooking time in half.
      You may also need less oil, as there is less fluffy bread to absorb it.
      These will basically be mini-croutons, and work really well added to a cup or mug of soup.
    • Stale bread: as long as it isn't going moldy this will work perfectly.
      You may need to remove a minute or two from your cooking time if it is already super stale.

    When you chop the bread into chunks, you want it to be cut roughly evenly, so that each piece cooks at the same rate and they are all ready at the same time.

    These can be made with gluten-free bread as well if that is your preference.

    wooden chopping board with a big cob of bread on top and a bread knife beside it
    I prefer using a cob loaf as I can make nice big chunks that absorb the oil and get super crunchy once baked or cooked in the air fryer.

    how much oil is needed?

    How much oil you use is going to again depend on the type of bread you are using (see above).

    If you are using relatively fresh, big chunks of bread like what you see in the photo above, then you are going to need more oil, as it absorbs it pretty easily.

    If you are using more stale/less fresh bread or thin slices from a sandwich loaf etc, then you will need less as it doesn’t absorb the oil as much.

    You can’t go wrong as long as you don’t add so much oil that the bread becomes soggy.

    Just add a bit at a time and see what works for you.

    wooden board with half a cob of intact cob loaf and the other half cut into chunks. a bread knife is lying beside it
    Try and make your chunks of bread as evenly sized as possible so they cook at the same time.

    Assembly Instructions

    Once you have your bread cut into even-sized chunks, making the croutons will be pretty simple:

    • Add the bread chunks, the pesto and the olive oil to a large bowl. How much oil you use is going to depend on how you are planning on cooking the croutons, so be sure to read through the recipe card and decide on a method before starting;
    • Mix well to ensure everything is evenly coated. You want each bread chunk to be evenly coated in some olive oil and some pesto.
      Don't be afraid to add more of either as this will be completely dependent on the amount and size of your bread chunks (it is hard to go wrong here, just don't drown the bread in oil);
    • Arrange the coated bread chunks in an even layer on a rack in the air fryer or on a baking tray for the oven. Spread them out as much as you can in one single layer.
      We do not want them to be stacked one on top of the other, as they will not cook properly this way, and you will not end up with crunchy croutons;
    • Allow the croutons to cool completely once cooked. As the croutons cool they will become more crunchy, so if you want super crunchy croutons, give them at least five minutes to cool down;
    • Store in a glass jar or container. Although they can technically be stored in plastic without any drama, crunchy foods tend to stay more crunchy if they are stored in glass.

    Use common sense when adding the ingredients. If you think you need more oil, then add more oil. It is hard to go wrong here.

    Collage of the process for making pesto croutons: mixing together the torn bread and pesto, adding it to the air fryer and cooking until golden

    Expert Tips and Substitutions

    How Do I Know When The Croutons Are Ready?

    When you put the chopped bread into the air fryer be sure to evenly layer them on the rack so that they all cook at the same time.

    Start with 6 minutes in the air fryer and adjust from there.

    Keep in mind, once again, that the cooking time is going to depend on the type of bread you are using.

    as a rule of thumb, start with 6 minutes in the air fryer or 15 minutes in the oven, check, and then add more time if needed.

    To check: simply pull the tray from the air fryer or oven and give the bread a squeeze.

    It should be firm and relatively crunchy.

    If the bread still has a lot of give, then pop the tray back into the air fryer or oven for a minute or two, before checking again.

    Storage Instructions

    To store, let the croutons cool completely, and then place them in a glass jar with a lid to retain their crunchiness.

    You can leave them on the bench for a couple of days, or pop them into the fridge to make them last longer.

    A shot of an easy way to use pesto on pesto croutons
    Storing homemade croutons in a glass jar keeps them extra crunchy.

    Freezing Instructions

    While perfecting the temperature and timing of these croutons I made multiple batches….so we had A LOT to experiment with.

    I now have first-hand knowledge of how well these can freeze, and we have a whole drawer of croutons in the freezer just waiting for the right opportunity to shine their light!

    Make sure the croutons have cooled completely before putting them into a container for storage, otherwise there will be a build-up of moisture and you will end up with soggy croutons.

    If that does happen, you can always crisp them up again by popping them back into the air fryer or oven for a minute or two.

    To freeze, arrange the cooled croutons in a single layer on a baking sheet small enough to fit into the freezer.

    Pop them into the freezer until nearly frozen solid.

    Once nearly frozen solid, remove from the freezer and transfer to a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag.

    Pop back into the freezer until ready to use.

    Need More Recipes That Use Pesto?

    There is nothing worse than having a leftover dollop of pesto at the end of the jar and not knowing what to do with it (well I mean technically there is a lot that is worse than that....but it is definitely a pet peeve of mine).

    Try these recipes for some interesting pesto uses:

    • Warm Pesto Chicken and Cheese Dip Recipe;
    • Quick and Easy Pesto Broccoli Rice;
    • Chicken Pesto Sausage Rolls from Create Make Bake;
    • Spinach, Feta and Pesto Muffins from Kidgredients.

    If you love using leftover greens to make new meals as we do with homemade pesto, then you need to check out this post for using up fennel fronds: What to do with Fennel Fronds: 10 Great Recipes.

    Up close shot of crunchy homemade croutons stored in a glass jar
    Use your pesto croutons on top of soups and in salads.

    Happy Eating.

    xx

    Recipe

    overhead shot of pesto croutons made in the air fryer

    Leftover pesto use: Homemade Air Fryer Pesto Croutons

    Homemade croutons and homemade pesto are two of the easiest things to make at home, combining them to make homemade pesto croutons just makes sense! These croutons can be made in the air fryer if you would like a super quick method, or they can be made in the oven. Pesto croutons are the perfect way to use up leftover bread and leftover pesto so nothing goes to waste, and you get a great little pop of flavor to your next soup or salad.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 6 mins
    Course Basic
    Cuisine Anytime
    Servings 6 serves
    Calories 161 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups bread cut into even-sized cubes (see notes)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil (see notes if cooking in oven)
    • 2 tablespoons leftover pesto (or more if desired)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the air fryer or the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celcius).
    • Put the cut bread into a large bowl.
    • Pour over the olive oil and pesto.
    • Mix everything well to combine. Each piece of bread should have some of the mixture on it.

    Cooking In The Air Fryer

    • Add the mixture to the basket of an air fryer and cook for 6 -8 minutes, checking at 6 minutes to shake. They will be golden and hard to the touch when ready.
    • Remove from the air fryer and either use straight away or allow to cool and store in a glass jar with a lid until ready to serve. See notes for longer storage options.

    Cooking In The Oven

    • Add the coated croutons (please see notes for extra oil needed if cooking in the oven) to a parchment-lined baking tray and put them into the preheated oven.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking at 15 minutes. They should be golden and hard to the touch.
    • Remove the baking tray from the oven and either use them straight away or allow to cool and store in a glass jar with a lid until ready to serve. See notes for longer storage options.

    Notes

    Bread:
    • Fresh bread: you will just need to add one or two minutes to your cooking time or leave out on the bench for an hour or two after cutting into chunks if you have the time for that.
    • Sandwich bread: although this is a lot thinner it can definitely work. Just chop it up into smaller chunks and remove a minute or two from your cooking time. You may also need less oil, as there is less fluffy bread to absorb it. These will just be mini-croutons, which work really well when drinking soup from a cup or a mug.
    • Stale bread: as long as it isn't going moldy this will work perfectly.
     
    How Much Oil:
    How much oil you use is going to depend on the type of bread you are using (see above).
    If you are using relatively fresh, big chunks of bread like what you see in the photos, then you are going to need more oil, as it absorbs it pretty easily.
    If you are using more stale/less fresh bread or thin slices from a sandwich loaf etc, then you will need less as it doesn’t absorb the oil as much.
    You can’t go wrong as long as you don’t add so much oil that the bread becomes soggy. Just add a bit at a time and see what works for you.
    To make these in the oven:
    Increase the amount of oil used to about 5 tbsp.
    Storage
    Allow to croutons to completely cool before storing in an airtight container with a lid. Glass works best to help them retain their crunchiness.
    Easily frozen. 
    Simply freeze in a single layer and once frozen transfer to a freezer-friendly container or bag such as a Ziploc.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 1mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 101IUCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword air fryer croutons
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sachi says

      October 11, 2021 at 8:30 am

      We've been really enjoying your croutons on soup!

      Reply
    2. laura says

      October 06, 2021 at 3:58 am

      Leftover Pesto is one of my FAVORITE leftovers!! These croutons are wonderful!!

      Reply
    3. Sherry says

      October 03, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      You are a genius!! I made fresh pesto and used my leftover bread (which I usually throw away) to make your recipe and these croutons tasted amazing! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. lynn polito says

      October 01, 2021 at 10:38 pm

      Pesto Croutons are my favorite to add to my lunch salad! Yum!

      Reply
      • Donna says

        October 05, 2021 at 7:56 am

        They add such a great little kick of flavour don't they!

        Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      September 30, 2021 at 11:30 pm

      I snack on croutons - I admit it - and these are delish! What a tasty alternative to boxed croutons!

      Reply
    6. Helen Best-Shaw says

      September 30, 2021 at 6:12 pm

      These are just perfect, especially for soup season. I so often have half a jar of pesto and throw it in the freezer as it goes off in the fridge, and I don't know what to do it it. Time to get some of them out and use them!

      Reply
    7. Mandy says

      September 30, 2021 at 4:28 pm

      These pesto croutons take my salad to the next level!

      Reply
    8. Cindy says

      September 30, 2021 at 11:13 am

      Oh this was brilliant! And I’m going to try some of your other yummy looking pesto recipes too.

      Reply

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

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