Gluten Free Breadcrumbs

You will love how easy this Gluten Free Breadcrumbs recipe is! Purchasing a bag of pre-made bread crumbs is the thing of the past.

 

I love the crispy texture of bread crumbs. With celiac disease, gluten-free panko breadcrumbs can be difficult to come by because they're out of stock or the store doesn't carry them. Despite the difficulty, I used to think making my own homemade bread crumbs would take too much time and be more hassle than it’s worth. I was so wrong!

Making my own bread crumbs has been revolutionary for cooking at home. This is the best method I've tried and it's so easy, you’ll never want to buy pre-made bread crumbs again.

With nothing more than a loaf of gluten free bread—whatever variety your heart desires—and an oven, you can create your own bread crumbs in less than 30 minutes. Maybe you’re also like me and save the heels of bread, saying, “I’ll use them for something great.” Well, my friend, this is a great way to use the leftover gluten-free bread.

Because this process is so easy, give this recipe a try in the best gluten-free meatloaf (homestyle) or the best gluten-free chicken parmesan. Definitely don’t miss out on other recipes that are better with homemade breadcrumbs like gluten free meatballs (the BEST). You can use these easy gluten-free breadcrumbs in all these great recipes.

Need more recipes that call for delicious crumbs of some kind? Then you simply must try gluten free oreo balls. And if you need more recipes that call for tasty gluten-free crumbs? This pumpkin delight recipe will enchant anyone lucky enough to sample it, and this fried gluten-free ravioli (Amazing!) is to die for.

Now that I know how easy it is to make my own gluten-free, crunchy bread crumbs, I do it all the time. I even keep some in the freezer for when I might need them again. It’s definitely better than keeping around some random leftover bits of bread.

And speaking of leftover bread. Maybe you have a loaf of bread that’s gone a bit stale or dry. Give that loaf new life by baking it into bread crumbs. You won’t regret it. Store-bought bread crumbs will be a a thing of the past.

Why you should make this recipe

• This recipe is ridiculously easy
• There’s only one ingredient!
• You’ll never have to hunt for a pre-made version at the grocery store again

Ingredients Needed

• Gluten-free bread – That’s it! Use whatever variety tickles your fancy. You’ll only need 4 ounces (about half a loaf) of gluten-free bread to make this recipe.

How to make Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Cut the bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees to get started. Make sure your bread is thawed if you're pulling it out of the freezer. You can do that in the microwave if you wish.

Then cut the bread into one-inch cubes and lay them out flat on a baking sheet. You want to make sure none of the pieces are overlapping to make sure they all brown correctly. 

Bake!

Put the bread cubes into the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. After that, stir them around on the pan a bit, but make sure the pieces aren’t overlapping when you’re done. Then put them into the oven again for another two to five minutes or until the bread pieces are golden brown and dry to the touch.

Let the toasty cubes cool on the pan for about five minutes or until they're room temperature. Then transfer the cooled bread cubes to a food processor. Finally, pulse on high for 30 seconds to one minute, depending on how fine you want the crumbs to be. And you’re done! These homemade gluten-free bread crumbs are ready to use in a recipe.

Tips for success

If you don’t have a food processor 

No worries. You can use a blender for this as well. Just blend up the bread cubes until they’re as fine as you want them to be. In a pinch, you could even use a potato masher, rolling pin, or even a glass jar to turn those cubes into crumbs.

Make ahead

I like to keep gluten-free bread crumbs on hand for any recipe I may need to use them in. This cuts down on the time I’ll need to make future recipes, even though making these crumbs doesn’t take much time at all.

Make sure the bread is dry

The most important part about this process/recipe, is making sure the bread crumbs are completely dry when you pull them out of the oven. This is especially important for storing. The recipes you use them in will need these crumbs to be completely dry as well so nothing turns out soggy.

Variations

• Crutons – You can turn this recipe into croutons instead. Slightly butter the bread before slicing and sprinkle with the seasonings for your choice such as Italian spices and salt. Or drizzle a bit of olive oil onto the cubes before baking. That way the seasoning mixes stick to the bread. Serve them with salad or soup.
• Seasoned bread crumbs - Toss some of your favorite seasonings into the food processor with the bread cubes. I like to use Italian seasoning and a hint of salt for Italian bread crumbs. Or sometimes just a little salt and pepper are perfect. 

Storage and Freezing

Storing – Store bread crumbs in an airtight container or freezer bag and place in a cool dry place for up to one month.

Freezing – I love freezing these bread crumbs so I have them for a future recipe. Store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to six months.

FAQ

What kind of bread should I use?

My favorite store-bought bread is Canyon Bakehouse. But you can use whatever kind of gluten free bread you would like! Store bought, homemade, baked from a bread mix, leftover rolls, stale bread. Sky’s the limit!

Ways to enjoy 

These bread crumbs work perfectly in your favorite recipes. If you’ve already made all the recipes mentioned above, try serving a Chick-Fil-A gluten-free chicken sandwich at your next ladies night football party. And that party wouldn't be complete without the virgin margarita on the rocks recipe.

Use some of your leftover gluten free sourdough bread (honey whole grain) to make gluten free bread crumbs. Or use gluten free crescent rolls (the BEST ever!) The ways to enjoy these bread crumbs are practically limitless!