Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs

Name: Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup bread crumbs ((from about 3.5 ounces of bread)); 1/3 teaspoon dried basil; 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/3 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 teaspoon salt ((or to your taste))

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Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs will take your cooking to a whole new level! I'm sharing four methods to make bread crumbs to use here. This is one of my key Italian Bread Recipes!

If you want to elevate your cooking game, I’ve got some advice. Ditch the store-bought bread crumbs and panko.

I don’t say this to be snobby or critical. I’m just sharing a secret from my family’s Italian kitchen.

Homemade Italian bread crumbs are the secret to the best Italian Chicken Cutlets and more. Homemade bread crumbs' superb taste and texture will make your food fabulous!

You’ll thank me later.

Plus, you can avoid the junk that’s in store-bought bread crumbs.

Store-bought bread crumbs

The Italian bread crumbs I used to buy have a frighteningly long list of ingredients. Among them are five kinds of sweeteners, including high-fructose corn syrup.

The store-bought bread crumbs also contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (with dangerous trans fat), chemical dough conditioners, preservatives and lots of sodium. According to Healthline and many sources, trans fat raises bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol.

No, thanks!

So, are you ready to make Italian bread crumbs at home? Here's everything you need to know.

Do you need to start with homemade bread?

You can make or buy the bread. You'll get delicious DIY bread crumbs from this Homemade Italian Bread, Bread Machine Italian Bread or Artisan Italian Bread.

If you're purchasing bread, just be sure to read the ingredients on the label to avoid buying anything with too much junk.

How to make homemade bread crumbs

There are four methods you can use to make plain bread crumbs that you’ll season later. You’ll need a blender or a food processor to grind the bread. I use my Vitamix (affiliate link).

overhead view of toaster with four slices of bread inside

Toaster Method: If you’re starting with bread slices that can fit into a toaster, simply toast them lightly. Then, tear the toast into pieces and grind them.

Dried Bread Method: If you’re starting with part of a baguette that has become dry, slice it up into chunks. (If it's too difficult to cut, heat it in the microwave for a bit). Then grind the chunks of bread.

Oven Method: If you’re starting with leftover bread that hasn't dried out completely, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the bread into slices and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake the slices for 10 minutes, or just until the bread is dry, but not browned. Then proceed to grind the bread as described above. You'll end up with dried bread crumbs.

Fresh Bread Method for Soft Bread Crumbs: If you’re looking for soft, fresh bread crumbs, just grind up torn pieces of fresh bread in the food processor or blender.

How to make Italian bread crumbs

Once you have the plain bread crumbs, add salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried basil to make Italian-seasoned bread crumbs.

To make my Italian bread crumbs, you’ll need to add freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the seasoned bread crumbs just before you need to use them in a recipe.

Keep in mind that some dishes are already salty enough and would be better without the Parmesan bread crumbs. In that case, just use these homemade Italian-style bread crumbs without cheese.

Recipe tips

Save any portions of bread loaves that are starting to dry out. Store them in a brown bag to keep them dry, so they'll be ready for making bread crumbs.
To make bread crumbs fast, use the toaster method with sliced bread.
To make bread crumbs without a food processor or blender, place toasted or dried bread in a zip-top plastic bag and crush it with a rolling pin or heavy pot.

Recipes with bread crumbs

Homemade Italian bread crumbs are the secret to several of our family recipes! Don’t miss these Green Beans with Bread Crumbs or Broiled Scallops with Parmesan Bread Crumbs.

Other recipes using bread crumbs include:

And don't miss these Italian pork chops or this Baked Pesto Chicken, which is lightly coated with cheesy bread crumbs!

Frequently asked questions

Do bread crumbs go bad?

Bread crumbs can get stale and moldy, whether store-bought or homemade. Homemade bread crumbs don't have all the preservatives that store-bought bread crumbs do, so homemade ones have a shorter shelf life.

How do you store homemade bread crumbs?

Seasoned bread crumbs (without cheese) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. They also can be frozen for up to three months.

Once you’ve added Parmesan to them, you can refrigerate the Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs for up to a week in a sealed container, or freeze them for up to three months.

If you try this Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs recipe, be sure to leave a comment and a rating!