You’ll never have to buy breadcrumbs again once you try this incredibly easy Homemade Air Fryer Breadcrumbs recipe! Any leftover bread crusts from sandwiches or leftover bread slices can be instantly turned into a crunchy, tasty ingredient with just a few minutes of cooking in the air fryer!
Use your crispy homemade breadcrumbs as a topping or crunchy ingredient in various meals and recipes.
Why This Recipe Works
- Fast and foolproof: Toasty, even crumbs in minutes with no babysitting.
- Zero waste win: Stale bread turns into a crunchy pantry staple.
- Custom flavor: Season them your way, from Italian to spicy to lemon-herb.
- Any bread works: White, wheat, sourdough, brioche, or gluten-free all toast up great.
- Better texture: The air fryer keeps crumbs crisp without heavy oil.
WHAT KIND OF BREAD CAN I USE TO MAKE AIR FRYER BREADCRUMBS?
You can use any type of bread when making your homemade breadcrumbs in an air fryer. I’ve opted to use white bread, but you can also experiment with whole wheat, multigrain, or oat bread.
WHAT CAN I USE HOMEMADE BREADCRUMBS FOR?
Just like store-bought breadcrumbs, use your air fryer homemade breadcrumbs to bread fish or chicken, to add as a crunchy topping to casseroles, or to incorporate as a recipe ingredient in other main dishes or appetizers.
CAN I MAKE GLUTEN-FREE HOMEMADE BREADCRUMBS?
Absolutely! Use gluten-free bread slices instead of regular bread if you want gluten-free homemade breadcrumbs. It’s as easy as that!
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN AIR FRYER? CAN I MAKE BREADCRUMBS IN MY OVEN?
If you don’t have an air fryer, make your breadcrumbs in a regular convection oven. I would, however, recommend grinding the crusts or pieces of bread in a food processor and then baking them. Here are some easy steps you can follow:
- Preheat your oven to 300F.
- Grind the bread slices in a food processor to get a fine consistency.
- Spread the breadcrumbs over a baking tray that’s lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the breadcrumbs for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Add any extra seasoning and herbs.
- Store in an airtight container or use immediately in meals or other recipes.
If you add larger pieces of bread to the oven, you will need to add an extra 2-4 minutes of baking time and then process the pieces in a food processor once cooled.
Storage& Freezer Tips
- Re-crisp: If they soften, a quick air fry brings the crunch back.
- Pantry: Airtight up to 2 weeks once fully cooled and dry.
- Fridge: Up to 1 month if you added parmesan or butter.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months. Freeze flat in bags and pull what you need.
David's Tips
- Save any crusts and end slices from sliced bread that you’ve used for sandwiches and other recipes during the week to make your air fryer breadcrumbs.
- While I’ve cut my bread slices into squares to air fry, you can also cut them into long strips. The point is to reduce the size of each piece of bread so that the bread can dry faster.
- You can easily adapt the flavor of your air fryer homemade breadcrumbs by using different seasoning blends or adding ingredients such as Parmesan cheese.
Make it Your Own
- Italian seasoned: Add Italian seasoning, extra garlic powder, and a pinch of parsley.
- Parmesan herb: Stir in finely grated parmesan after toasting so it does not scorch.
- Lemon pepper: Lemon zest, cracked pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder.
- Spicy pangrattato: Red pepper flakes and a little smoked paprika.
- Garlic butter crumbs: Melt butter with a smashed garlic clove, strain, and toss while warm.
- Gluten-free: Use your favorite GF loaf. Texture toasts up beautifully.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Enjoy
Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
Air Fryer Weight Watchers Monkey Bread
Easy Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Everything But The' Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
The Best Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Zucchini Casserole
Air Fryer Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- 4 slices white bread
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Cut slices of white bread into inch squares. No need to cut off the crust of the bread.
- Transfer the bread to the air fryer basket and roast at 340F for 6-7 minutes. After 5 minutes, you can check the bread to prevent burning.
- Place the toasted bread slices in a blender.
- Add smoked paprika and dried thyme to the blender as well. You can use other spices and herbs. Close the lid and grind in pulses of 10-15 seconds. After each pulse, check how finely crushed the crackers are.
- If you want to get a smaller crumb, grind the crackers longer.
- Transfer the finished breadcrumbs to a jar or container, tightly close the lid and use if necessary. To keep the crackers from getting damp, you can store them in the refrigerator. Can be used for breading fish, meat, appetizers, seafood, as well as for casseroles, minced meat and other dishes.
Notes
David's Tips
Want to make double batches? Dry extra bread in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10 mins first.Sweet variation: Add cinnamon + sugar after frying (great for desserts).
No air fryer available? Bake at 350°F (175°C) on a sheet pan for 8–10 mins, stirring halfway.
FAQs
Can I use fresh bread?
Yes. Dry it briefly in the air fryer or a low oven first, then pulse and toast.
Panko vs regular crumbs?
For panko-style, pulse bread more coarsely and go easy on the oil so the flakes stay light.
Can I add parmesan before toasting?
It can brown too fast. Mix it in after toasting or in the last minute if you watch closely.
Gluten-free bread ok?
It works great. Texture varies by brand, so adjust pulsing time to your preferred crumb size.
