The next time you're out of croutons, chop up a bagel and toss it in the air fryer. Leftover bagels are perfect for this! These air fryer bagel croutons are crunchy, cheesy, and loaded with everything bagel flavors - perfect on salad or as a snack!
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Skip store-bought croutons and indulge in these garlicky, cheesy, super crispy croutons. Everything bagel croutons will level up your next salad or pasta salad.
I love these crunchy croutons on my kale pasta Caesar salad - they bring extra flavor and great texture.
For this recipe, I chose everything flavored bagels and added garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. You could use sesame bagels and add a bit of spice or try cheese bagel with basil or oregano.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- bagel: I use an everything flavored bagel and this one was the biggest in the package. I would use one of this size for every three - four salads, depending on how much you love croutons.
- olive oil: I like extra virgin olive oil for flavor.
- garlic powder: for flavor. See below for seasoning variations.
- salt + pepper: for seasoning.
- cheese: I chose Parmesan cheese for this recipe. You could try Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or Grana Padano.
Substitutions
- bagel: try other flavored bagels like sesame, cheese, or plain.
- seasoning: spice up plain bagels with your favorite seasoning mixes like za'atar for couscous or chickpea salads, Italian seasoning for chef salad, Greek seasoning for Greek salad, or taco seasoning for taco salad.
No air fryer? Try baking these bagel croutons in the oven at the same temperature for 15-20 minutes or until crispy!
Instructions
Prep Tips
These croutons are really quick to make. You'll just mix them up and then air fry them.
- Add the bagel cubes to a large mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss or stir to evenly coat.
- Add the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Mix again.
- Transfer the bagel cubes to an air fryer tray. Sprinkle any loose Parmesan cheese over top.
- Air fry 6-8 minutes, shaking twice. They are done when they're a deep golden brown.
Let the croutons cool to room temperature and then use or store.
Tips for making bagel croutons
- Cut the bagels into about 1-inch pieces. They'll brown quickly in the air fryer and smaller pieces will be dry and crispy in the middle also. Bigger pieces might remain soft in the middle.
- Switch up the flavors by using different bagels, cheese, and seasoning mixes to coordinate with your salad flavors.
What to serve bagel croutons with
I created this recipe to go with my kale pasta Caesar salad and I think the combo is fantastic. They'd also be good on a kale chicken salad, or this spinach and arugula salad. These croutons also make for a delicious snack or even an appetizer.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Storage
Store leftover croutons in a container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze homemade croutons and let them thaw on the counter before use.
FAQs
Yes, try other bagel flavors like cheese, sesame, or plain. Switch up the spice mix for even more variation.
Yes, these croutons are good and crispy for quite a few days, so make them the day before a dinner party would work.
Recipe
Air Fryer Bagel Croutons
Ingredients
- 1 large bagel
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ground black pepper
Instructions
- Split the bagel in half and cut it into 1-inch cubes.
- Add the cubes to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat.
- Add the garlic powder and grated Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
- Transfer to an air fryer tray, sprinkling any loose Parmesan on top.
- Air fry for 6-8, shaking twice, until deep gold brown.
- Let cool to room temperature before using or storing. They get crispier as they cool.
Equipment
- Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer or similiar
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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