Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs Recipe

Homemade Italian bread crumbs are a simple pantry staple you can make anytime with stale or toasted bread. They are fresh, flavorful, easy to customize, and perfect for adding a crisp, seasoned coating or topping to your favorite savory recipes.

Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs Recipe

Homemade Italian bread crumbs are one of those basic recipes that can make everyday cooking easier. If you have a few slices of stale bread, or even bread that you can quickly toast, you can turn them into seasoned bread crumbs in just a few minutes.

They are especially useful for recipes like breaded chicken, baked pasta, meatballs, casseroles, dips, and crispy toppings. Once you know how easy they are to make, you may find yourself skipping the store-bought version more often.

The best part is the control you have over the flavor and texture. You can make the crumbs coarse for a heartier crunch or pulse them longer for a finer coating. You can also adjust the seasoning to match the dish you are preparing, whether you want classic Italian flavor, a little extra garlic, or a simpler plain crumb.

This recipe uses bread, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. It is quick, practical, and a great way to use up bread that might otherwise go to waste.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Making your own Italian bread crumbs is easy, affordable, and useful for so many meals. Here are a few reasons this recipe is worth keeping in your kitchen routine:

• You can customize the flavor with different spices, herbs, cheese, or keep the crumbs plain when you want other ingredients to stand out.
• It takes only about 5 minutes to make Italian seasoned bread crumbs, so it does not add much extra time to your cooking.
• You can control the texture, from coarse crumbs for a rustic crunch to fine bread crumbs for a smooth, even coating.
• It is a great way to use stale bread, leftover sandwich bread, bakery bread, or even extra buns.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make homemade Italian bread crumbs:

• bread, stale or toasted
• parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper

Substitutions and Variations

You can use store-bought Italian seasoning or make your own blend with dried basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. If you prefer a different flavor profile, you can adjust the herbs to suit the recipe you plan to use the bread crumbs in.

Almost any kind of bread will work. Homemade bread, sandwich bread, whole wheat bread, bakery bread, leftover dinner rolls, hot dog buns, and hamburger buns can all be turned into bread crumbs. The main thing to remember is that the bread should be dry. If it is fresh and soft, toast it first so the crumbs do not become damp or clumpy.

If you need a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bread and follow the same method. The texture may vary slightly depending on the type of bread, but the process is the same.

You can also change the seasoning. Onion powder, garlic powder, extra black pepper, or a little lemon pepper seasoning can all add more flavor. For a more versatile batch, keep the seasoning simple with salt, pepper, and a small amount of herbs.

How to Make Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs

There are only a few easy steps to making Italian-style bread crumbs at home.

Start by toasting the bread if it is fresh. If you are using bread that is already stale and dry, you can skip this step unless you prefer the flavor of toasted bread.

Break the bread into smaller pieces and place it in a food processor. Pulse until the bread turns into crumbs. Stop earlier for larger, rustic crumbs, or continue pulsing for a finer texture.

Transfer the crumbs to a bowl and mix them with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Use the bread crumbs right away, or place them in an airtight container for storage.

How to Store Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs

Store homemade Italian bread crumbs in an airtight jar, food-safe container, or sealed plastic bag. If using a bag, press out as much air as possible before sealing it to help keep the crumbs fresh.

When stored properly, bread crumbs can last up to 2 weeks at room temperature. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. To freeze them, place the bread crumbs in a freezer bag, remove the air, seal tightly, and freeze for 3 to 4 months.

How to Use Italian Bread Crumbs

Italian bread crumbs can be used in many savory recipes. They work well as a coating for chicken, a binder for meatballs, a crispy topping for baked macaroni and cheese, or a finishing layer for baked dips and casseroles.

Any time a recipe calls for seasoned bread crumbs, this homemade version can usually be used. They are especially helpful when you are in the middle of cooking and do not want to make an extra trip to the grocery store.

Tips for Success

• Use any dry bread you have on hand. Sandwich bread, bakery bread, rolls, hot dog buns, and hamburger buns can all work.
• If the bread is fresh, toast it first. Place slices on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (177°C) for a few minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and dry.
• A food processor gives the best texture, but a blender can also work. Make sure all large pieces are broken down evenly.
• Keep the food processor clean and dry to prevent the crumbs from clumping.
• Pulse in short bursts so you can control whether the crumbs are coarse or fine.

FAQ

More Savory Recipes

• Grilled Chicken Marinade
• Grilled Pizza
• Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Tomato Tart with Puff Pastry

Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Homemade Italian bread crumbs are a quick substitute for store-bought bread crumbs, with fresher flavor and easy seasoning options.

Makes: 1 cup breadcrumbs

Author: Madison | A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Equipment

• Airtight jar or food-safe storage container
• Cheese grater
• Food processor

Ingredients

• 2 slices stale or toasted bread
• ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 2 heaping teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

• If using fresh bread, toast it until crisp. Break the bread into small pieces and place it in a food processor.
• Pulse until crumbs form. Pulse less for coarse crumbs or longer for fine crumbs.
• Pour the crumbs into a bowl and mix with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Use immediately or store in a food-safe, airtight container at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer.

Notes

Store the bread crumbs in an airtight jar, container, or plastic bag. If using a bag, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
Properly stored bread crumbs will last up to 2 weeks at room temperature, 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, or 3 to 4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon
|
Calories: 10kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 1g
|
Protein: 1g
|
Cholesterol: 1mg
|
Sodium: 95mg