How to Make Plain and Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Learn how to make homemade seasoned bread crumbs using leftover bread! This easy guide includes step-by-step instructions plus three flavorful variations — Italian-style, Cajun-style, and Garlic Herb breadcrumbs — perfect for coating, topping, or adding crunch to any recipe.
Ever gone to grab breadcrumbs for a recipe only to realize you’re out? Don’t panic — making homemade breadcrumbs is incredibly easy and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. Once you learn how, you’ll never buy the store-bought kind again.
Homemade breadcrumbs have a fresher flavor, better texture, and can be customized to fit whatever dish you’re making — from Chicken Parmesan to homemade meatloaf. Below, I’ll show you the simple steps to make your own, plus three flavorful variations: Italian-style, Cajun-style, and Garlic Herb breadcrumbs.
“Wow, I looked up this recipe just for the different seasoning options. I dipped my chicken legs in the Italian style bread crumbs. It was delicioso! Then I went back to your recipe and realized how easy it is to make bread crumbs. Thank you for sharing your technique!!!”
-Lenay
Recipe at a glance
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The best bread for bread crumbs
Believe it or not, you don’t need to buy bread just to make breadcrumbs! In my house, no one ever touches the ends of the loaf, so I put them to good use. I keep an empty bread bag in the freezer and toss in leftover ends or any extra bread before it goes bad. Dinner rolls, sandwich buns, wheat, white, French bread — it all works. Once the bag starts to fill up, I know it’s time to make a fresh batch of homemade breadcrumbs.
Ingredients you will need
Whether you’re coating chicken, topping casseroles, or adding crunch to homemade meatballs, these homemade breadcrumbs deliver amazing texture and flavor every time. To make homemade bread crumbs, you will need:
- Several slices of bread
- Baking sheet
- Food processor or blender
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lay the bread slices out in a single layer on a sheet pan.
Step 2: Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the bread feels dry and crisp but not browned. Cool completely, then transfer to a food processor.
Step 3: Pulse until fine or coarse, depending on your preference.
Note: This method makes traditional breadcrumbs, not the light, crispy Japanese-style Panko bread crumbs. Regular breadcrumbs use the whole slice of bread (crusts included) that’s dried and then processed. Panko uses crustless white bread that’s processed first, then dried for a lighter texture.
Seasoned Breadcrumbs
Once you’ve made your basic plain bread crumbs, you can take them to the next level by adding seasoning blends. Try one of these delicious versions:
Italian Bread crumbs
Perfect for coating Chicken Parmesan or as a delicious topping for baked pasta dishes such as Turkey Tetrazzini.
Mix together:
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Cajun-Style Breadcrumbs
Add a Southern kick to fried catfish, crab stuffed shrimp, or chicken.
Mix together:
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Garlic Herb Breadcrumbs
Crispy, fragrant, and packed with flavor — these are great for roasted veggies, baked macaroni, or savory stuffings.
Mix together:
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons dried minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
How to store
Let the breadcrumbs cool completely before storing. Keep them in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade breadcrumbs are one of those versatile ingredients that can instantly elevate almost any dish. Here are a few delicious ways to put them to work in your kitchen:
- Crispy Coating: Use them to bread chicken, fish, or pork chops for a crunchy, golden crust.
- Flavorful Fillings: Mix with herbs, garlic, and cheese for stuffing mushrooms, peppers, or baked tomatoes.
- Perfect Crispy Topping: Sprinkle over casseroles, mac and cheese, or baked pasta before baking for a crisp, buttery finish.
- Savory Binding Agent: Add to meatballs, meatloaf, or crab cakes to help hold everything together.
- Toasted Garnish: Lightly toast breadcrumbs in olive oil and scatter over soups, pasta, or salads for a gourmet touch.
- Homemade Stuffing: Combine with sautéed onions, celery, and broth for a classic holiday side that tastes completely from scratch.
Once you start keeping homemade breadcrumbs on hand, you’ll find endless ways to use them — and your dishes will never be bland or soggy again!
Seasoned Bread Crumbs FAQ’s
No — for regular breadcrumbs, use the whole slice, crust and all. If you want lighter, flakier crumbs similar to Panko crumbs, remove the crusts first.
Absolutely. Place the toasted bread in a zip-top bag and crush it with a rolling pin, meat mallet, or even the bottom of a pan until you reach the desired texture.
Simply use your favorite gluten-free bread. The process is exactly the same!
Toss them with a little melted butter, olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil before baking. It helps them brown beautifully and adds a rich, toasty flavor.
Tried This Recipe? Let Me Know!
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If you made these plain or seasoned bread crumbs, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Your ratings and reviews help others find the recipe and give me great feedback too.
Plain and Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
- Several pieces of bread any variety
For Italian-style breadcrumbs:
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Cajun-style breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
For Garlic Herb breadcrumbs:
- 2 teaspoons dried minced garlic
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Arrange the bread pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet. If you have any thick pieces of bread, cut or tear them into smaller pieces for more even drying.
- Toasted the bread for 10-15 minutes, stirring or flipping the bread halfway through, until the bread is crunchy.
- Allow the bread to cool completely.
- Place the bread in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the crumbs reach your desired consistency. The longer you process the bread crumbs, the finer the crumbs will be.
- To make seasoned breadcrumbs, add the corresponding ingredients above to one cup of plain bread crumbs.
Video
Notes
- Bread Type: Any kind of bread works — white, wheat, French, or even leftover hamburger or hot dog buns. Using a mix of different breads can add more depth of flavor.
- Texture Control: For fine breadcrumbs, process longer. For coarse crumbs (great for toppings), pulse just a few times.
- Toasting Tip: Make sure the bread is completely dry before processing. Moist bread can lead to soggy crumbs that won’t store well.
- Storage: Keep breadcrumbs in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks at room temperature, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Seasoning Freshness: Add herbs and spices only when ready to use to keep flavors bold and aromatic.
- Quick Trick: Toast breadcrumbs in a little butter or olive oil for an instant flavor boost before sprinkling over pasta, salads, or casseroles.
Okay, thanks for sharing.
Just for your info…I’m italian and live in Italy. No such thing as “seasoned” breadcrumbs over here. That’s an American thing.