If you've never tried making your own Homemade Bread Crumbs, then you're in for a treat! Not only are they incredibly easy to make, but they'll take all your dishes to the next level with their delicious flavor and delicate crunch. Make your own bread crumbs today and you'll know what I mean!
Breadcrumbs are used in everything from soups and salads to casseroles and meatloaves, but I don't think many of us realize how much better our food would be if we made this simple ingredient from scratch. It really changes everything!
The breadcrumbs you make at home are not only healthier, but they also taste better than the store-bought variety. Although this slightly reduces their shelf life, homemade breadcrumbs are a healthier alternative, and their fresh flavor enhances every dish!
You simply can't do without it in the kitchen. If you give them a shot in a dish like a breaded chicken bake or meatballs made from scratch, you'll be convinced too. They add a delicious flavor and a delicate crunch. You're going to absolutely love it, I'm sure of it!
Want to learn how to make homemade bread crumbs? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
- What Makes This Homemade Bread Crumbs Recipe Special?
- How to Use Homemade Bread Crumbs?
- What Type of Bread Can I Use to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs?
- What You Need to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs at Home
- How to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs (Step-by-Step)
- Recipe Variation Ideas for Homemade Bread Crumbs
- How to Store Leftover Homemade Bread Crumbs
- Recipes to use Homemade Bread Crumbs
- Recipe Card
- Easy Homemade Bread Crumbs (Simple Recipe for All Breads)
- Comments
What Makes This Homemade Bread Crumbs Recipe Special?
This homemade bread crumbs recipe is special because it's so easy to make and requires minimal ingredients. All you need is some bread or rolls, a few seasonings, an oven, and a food processor or blender.
The result is a delicious mixture of crunchy crumbs that can be used in a variety of recipes. Plus, the crumbs are much healthier than store-bought varieties since they don't contain any preservatives or additives.
And the best part is that these are incredibly budget-friendly on top of everything else! You'll end up with the tastiest bread crumbs you've ever had that'll elevate every single dish while saving you money too!
How to Use Homemade Bread Crumbs?
Homemade bread crumbs can be used in a variety of recipes, from casseroles and meatloaves to fish and vegetables. They can also be used as a topping for macaroni and cheese, lasagna, or other baked dishes.
They can also be used as a coating for chicken, fish, or vegetables. Simply dip the food in beaten egg and then coat with the bread crumbs before baking or frying.
The possibilities are endless!
What Type of Bread Can I Use to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs?
To make your own breadcrumbs, you can use any type of bread you like, from artisan sourdough to store-bought hot dog buns. You can even make it with gluten-free bread!
To make the breadcrumbs easier to blend, remove the crust from bread with a tougher crust, such as sourdough.
You can't go wrong with sourdough, gluten-free, low-carb, white, whole grain, French, hamburger, or hot dog buns. In fact, change up the bread from time to time to add variety to all your dishes!
What You Need to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs at Home
All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make tasty homemade bread crumbs. Here's everything you'll need:
- Homemade French bread: As I mentioned above, you can use just about any bread you want. But for the best results and flavor, I'll be using homemade French bread to really get the tastiest bread crumbs ever!
- Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning is a blend of ground dried herbs that includes a combination of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, sage, or coriander. It'll really elevate the flavor of your bread crumbs by using one simple herb mix.
- Dried parsley: To add more color and flavor to your bread crumbs, we'll also be using some dried parsley.
- Garlic powder: Garlic powder is a secret ingredient I love adding to my bread crumbs because it truly elevates the flavor of just about every dish I make using these crumbs!
- Onion powder: To make your bread crumbs taste even better, we'll also be adding some onion powder to it.
How to Make Homemade Bread Crumbs (Step-by-Step)
Making these homemade bread crumbs is easier than you think. Here's what you need to do step by step to make them at home:
How to Prep Bread for Homemade Bread Crumbs
Start by slicing the bread loaf into thin slices.
Next, lay the bread slices flat on a baking sheet and let it sit out in the pantry overnight.
A quicker option is to dry the bread in the oven. Heat oven to 250 F, place the baking sheet into the oven, bake the bread for 30 minutes and then flip the slices over to the other side and dry for another 30 minutes.
Turn the oven off and let it sit inside for another 30 minutes. Take the bread slices out of the oven and cool completely before crushing in the food processor.
Personally, I feel it's better to plan ahead and let the slices dry naturally.
How to Process Bread into Homemade Bread Crumbs
Time to process the bread into bread crumbs! Start by breaking the bread slices into smaller pieces. Split all pieces into two portions and crush one at a time into the food processor. Crush for about 2 minutes.
Sift crushed bread crumbs through a sifter to catch larger pieces for crushing again and transfer them back into the food processor.
Crush for a minute, and repeat the same steps with the rest of the bread. This gives you plain homemade bread crumbs.
To make Italian bread crumbs follow the rest of the instructions.
Place bread crumbs back into the food processor. Add all the spices: garlic and onion salt or powder, dry parsley, and Italian seasoning, and pulse the processor a couple of times.
Make sure to not do this more than 3 seconds, otherwise, you may over crush the dried parsley and Italian seasoning and they will be too small to stand out.
Your delicious Italian homemade bread crumbs are ready to be used in your favorite recipes!
Recipe Variation Ideas for Homemade Bread Crumbs
Homemade bread crumbs are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes. To make your homemade bread crumbs even more flavorful, try adding different seasonings or herbs to the mix. Here are some ideas for recipe variations:
- Parmesan cheese and garlic powder: Add a tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder to the food processor before pulsing.
- Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, chili powder, or red pepper flakes to the food processor before pulsing.
- Herbed: Add a mix of your favorite dried herbs such as basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or a combination of them for an herbed mix. You can also use whole wheat bread crumbs instead!
How to Store Leftover Homemade Bread Crumbs
I prefer to store bread crumbs in a breathable container and dry place. I reuse the original bread crumbs container bought at the store. You can also use an airtight container to store them. Make sure the bread crumbs are completely cooled before storing.
Since homemade bread crumbs might have a little bit of moisture, the other way to store them is in the freezer.
If stored in a pantry for extended periods of time, the moisture can lead to rapid growth of mold. By storing breadcrumbs in an airtight container in the freezer, they will last longer.
Due to their small size, breadcrumbs defrost quickly after being frozen. You can keep them in the freezer and use them whenever you need them.
Recipes to use Homemade Bread Crumbs
- Baked Breaded Chicken Drumsticks
- Lemon Pepper Crispy Shrimp
- Breaded Parmesan Chicken Skewers
- Turkey and Pork Meat Patties
Recipe Card
Easy Homemade Bread Crumbs (Simple Recipe for All Breads)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. – Homemade French bread loaf
Italian Bread Crumbs Seasoning Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. – Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon – dried parsley
- ½ tsp. – garlic powder
- ½ tsp. – onion powder
Instructions
How to Prep Bread for Homemade Bread Crumbs
- Start by slicing the bread loaf into thin slices.
- Next, lay the bread slices flat on a baking sheet and let it sit out in the pantry overnight.
- A quicker option is to dry the bread in the oven. Heat oven to 250 F, place the baking sheet into the oven, bake the bread for 30 minutes and then flip the slices over to the other side and dry for another 30 minutes.
- Turn the oven off and let it sit inside for another 30 minutes. Take the bread slices out of the oven and cool completely before crushing in the food processor.
- Personally, I feel it's better to plan ahead and let the slices dry naturally.
How to Process Bread into Homemade Bread Crumbs
- Time to process the bread into bread crumbs! Start by breaking the bread slices into smaller pieces. Split all pieces into two portions and crush one at a time into the food processor. Crush for about 2 minutes.
- Sift crushed bread crumbs through a sifter to catch larger pieces for crushing again and transfer them back into the food processor.
- Crush for a minute and repeat the same steps with the rest of the bread. This gives you plain homemade bread crumbs.
- To make Italian bread crumbs follow the rest of the instructions.
- Place bread crumbs back into the food processor. Add all the spices: garlic and onion salt or powder, dry parsley, and Italian seasoning, and pulse the processor a couple of times.
- Make sure to not do this more than 3 seconds, otherwise, you may over crush the dried parsley and Italian seasoning and they will be too small to stand out.
- Your delicious Italian homemade bread crumbs are ready to be used in your favorite recipes!
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This recipe was originally posted on January 12, 2017 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Lisa says
Great recipe. Nice and simple, and has great taste! Thanks!!
Valya's Taste of Home says
Hi Lisa! Thank you for your amazing review!
kazy says
I'm on a low carb diet so I am using a low carb bread. I have a loaf of bread, weighs 567 grams. Should I cut the crust off before beginning the process?
Valya's Taste of Home says
I would not cut the crust off the bread, the crust enhances the color, and boosts the taste of the crumbs.
Lori says
Oh perfect! I am living in Russia and I can not find Italian seasoned bread crumbs at our stores here 🙂 (just plain) . I am assuming any type of white bread is ok to use? (like the white 'baton' Russian bread)
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Yes, any white bread will do!
Becca Thomson says
Perfect for chicken parm, incredibly easy and very fast!
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Yes, I cannot agree more! Thank you for the review!
Debbie says
So glad to find this recipe! Was upset to see that my favorite Italian breadcrumbs from the store had high fructose corn syrup and probable GMO oils and corn products in it.i might add a few ingredients (a bit of salt?), but a great start!! Thanks!
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Hi, Debbi! I'm so happy to hear that you found what you were looking for on my blog. Same here, after reading all the ingredients I was shocked how much junk is packed into simple breadcrumbs. The addition of salt is ok, but not necessary, you can add more salt into the bread recipe if you want your crumbs to be saltier. Thank you for an amazing review!