How to Make Breadcrumbs

If you’ve ever wondered how to make breadcrumbs, you need this simple step-by-step recipe! You end up with perfect homemade golden breadcrumbs that will elevate any dish!

It’s not exactly a mystery why so many people love breaded food items. Breadcrumbs add a crunchy and crispy texture to the food, which is SO satisfying to bite into!

The contrast between the crispy coating and the tender interior of the food is the perfect mouthful. Plus, the beautiful golden-brown color of breadcrumbs makes everything look more appealing.

That being said, many people buy breadcrumbs at the store without even considering how easy they are to make! This simple recipe for homemade breadcrumbs is proof.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Breadcrumbs can be used to coat a wide variety of foods, even in plant-based cooking. This versatility allows for creativity in the kitchen, as different ingredients can be coated and transformed into delicious dishes.
• Learning how to make breadcrumbs is such a handy skill! Homemade breadcrumbs often taste better because you can modify them to your liking or add extra flavor.
• Did you know that bread is one of the most wasted foods in the world? One of the greatest ways to use up old bread is to transform it into breadcrumbs! This way, you can reduce your personal and household food waste and enjoy delicious coating on your veggies, tofu, and more.
• You can make breadcrumbs with virtually any bread, making this recipe even more versatile. Whether you have some sourdough, bagels, or burger buns that have gone stale, they can all become delicious homemade breadcrumbs.
• Not only is it cost-effective, but making breadcrumbs at home also means you have full control over the ingredients you use.

How to Make This Recipe

Start by preheating the oven to 375 F and prepare a baking sheet. 

Tear or chop the bread into bite-sized pieces. If your bread is particularly hard, you may need to use a sharp knife, so be very careful.

Add the bread chunks into a high-speed blender or food processor. Process until a you achieve a breadcrumb texture. 

Spread the bread crumbs on a lined or non-stick baking sheet. Add dried parsley, nutritional yeast, salt, and olive oil. Toss everything together and make sure the mixture is spread out across the tray as evenly as possible. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, tossing halfway through. Make sure to closely watch your homemade breadcrumbs as they cook to avoid accidentally burning them. 

Hack It!

• Although you could make breadcrumbs with fresh bread, I would recommend waiting for an opportune moment when you need to “rescue” some stale or hard bread. This way, you can make an entire batch at practically no cost.
• You can use virtually any type of bread, whatever is leftover in your kitchen! I have used wholemeal loaf, bagels, burger buns, sourdough, and even some old pie crust in the past. It’s a perfect mix-and-match situation, so long as you’re not working with any sweet bread.
• In this recipe, we learn how to make breadcrumbs with parsley and nutritional yeast. However, you are welcome to choose your own seasonings or even opt for a plain version if you prefer.
• Gluten-free? No problem! So long as you have access to gluten-free bread, it works just as well as regular bread.
• It is possible to make this recipe without oil, too! Keep a close eye on your breadcrumbs when they are in the oven to stop them from going too dark.

How to Use Homemade Breadcrumbs

Part of the reason to learn how to make breadcrumbs is because they can be used in tons of recipes. Here are just a few delicious examples:

• Veggie Nuggets
• Broccoli Stem Fries
• Crispy Tofu Cutlets
• Breaded Puffball Mushroom
• Vegan Coconut Shrimp

As well as using homemade breadcrumbs for coating, you can add them to veggie or lentil “meatloaf”, or to make breadcrumb stuffing. Breadcrumbs are also frequently sprinkled on top of casseroles and gratins to add a crispy and golden-brown finish.

Spice Up Your Life!

Once you master this base recipe, you can adjust the seasonings to suit your taste:

• As well as dried parsley, you can use herbs like rosemary, sage, dill, basil, oregano, or marjoram.
• If you wish, you can leave the salt out of the recipe. Alternatively, you can adjust the amount of salt to your liking.
• Want a little bit of spice? Add some freshly cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes, or cayenne.
• For an interesting flavor profile, as well as a bit of color, you can add smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, sumac powder, tomato powder, or lemon salt.
• Although this recipe does not use much oil, you can play around with it as well. For an oil-free version, skip oil altogether. Alternatively, you can use a different type of oil, such as sesame, peanut, or coconut oil for extra flavor.

Other Ways to Use Stale Bread

• In the early stages of it going stale, you can revive your bread by running it under the tap for about 10 seconds (no, I am not joking) and then baking it in the oven wrapped in foil for a few minutes. 
• As well as learning how to make breadcrumbs, you can also use your overdue bread to make croutons, stuffing, and even vegan burgers!
• Use your stale bread for sweet dishes! You can make a delicious and moist chocolate cake from old bread or coat your stale bread in aquafaba for yummy vegan French toast.
• Slice the stale bread, brush it with olive oil, and toast it in the oven or on a grill. Once toasted, top the bread slices with diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze or olive oil. Enjoy your bruschetta!

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Everything Green Sauce
• Easy Homemade Healthy Granola
• Cashew Cream Recipe
• Healthy Egg Substitute
• Homemade Protein Powder

If you enjoyed this homemade vegan cheese recipe, you’ll find plenty more similar recipes in the PlantYou Cookbook. The book is packed full of soups, salads, sandwiches, stews, and desserts. Among the 140+ WFPB recipes, there’s something delicious for every member of your household! The book also features some great cooking tips for novices and a helpful infographic for each recipe.

If you like to mix things up, check out the PlantYou Planner! It’s an app designed to make plant-based living as easy as possible. As a result, it allows you to fully customize your meal plans, including the number of servings for each dish. Once you’ve selected your dishes, the planner generates a tailored shopping list you can take with you to the store. Well… what are you waiting for?