By Becky Hardin
Published Mar 13, 2019
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
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!
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
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!
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and cover your sheet pan with aluminum foil.
- Cut each bacon strip in half down the middle, then cut them into 1/2 inch bits.
- Now cut your bread into 1/2 inch cubes. The bread and bacon bits should be about the same size.
- Place the bacon bits on the sheet pan and cook in the oven for about 2 minutes.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 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!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Bacon Croutons Recipe
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!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
