By: Jill Mills Posted: May 8, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Homemade Bread Crumbs take one ingredient to make and you can make a large batch with little time or cost. Toss in a couple of seasonings and you’ve got homemade Italian bread crumbs as well!

A white bowl of homemade Italian bread crumbs

Lately, I’ve been making more and more pantry staples and basics at home, like homemade ketchup and mayonnaise, and also focusing on turning the things that are a little too ripe or a bit too stale into yummy recipes for the family. Overripe bananas become banana bread. Day-old bread becomes air fryer croutons or these homemade bread crumbs.

What I love about this bread crumbs recipe is that the only ingredient needed is bread. That’s it. And to make homemade Italian bread crumbs, all you need is a few extra seasonings. There’s no oil, no fresh herbs, no butter. Just bread, a food processor to turn it into crumbs, and the oven. They last for a few weeks, so you can turn a loaf of bread into a big batch that can be used in many different recipes. They’re cheap, easy, and taste even better than the store-bought version!

Why I Love Making Homemade Bread Crumbs

Great way to use leftover bread. This recipe is a great way to use up that half loaf of bread that got left open on the counter and is now a bit stale, the end pieces that no one wants to eat, or that extra loaf that you bought just in case.
Cheaper than the store. Bread crumbs are not the most expensive item at the store, but making them at home from ingredients already in the kitchen is definitely cheaper! This is especially true if you’re using up bread that would go to waste otherwise.
Customize the flavor & texture. My favorite thing about homemade bread crumbs, though, is that I am in full control of the flavor and texture. I’ve included my seasoning blend to make homemade Italian bread crumbs, which are my favorite, but any dried herbs can be added. I also love that I can make them as fine as the store-bought ones or leave them a bit bigger if I’m looking for added texture.

Key Ingredients

Here’s a look at what you’ll need, whether you’re making the plain version or the seasoned Italian version. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Bread – I use just regular white sandwich bread, but any white bread can be used as long as the amounts match. Yes, even gluten-free white breads!
Seasonings – For Italian bread crumbs, you’ll need Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.

What’s The Best Bread For Making Bread Crumbs?

Homemade bread crumbs can be made with pretty much any type of bread. I use regular white sandwich bread because that’s what we usually have on hand. Gluten-free white bread is great too. You can also use sourdough bread (including my sourdough sandwich bread), leftover hamburger buns or hot dog buns, or homemade bread.

The only thing that’s not ideal for making bread crumbs is freshly baked bread. It will be much too soft and mushy in the food processor, since it contains more moisture. Day old or slightly stale bread is ideal.

How To Make Bread Crumbs

These are truly so quick and easy to make at home. I’ve even whipped them up right before I started a recipe, when I realized I didn’t have enough on hand. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Homemade bread crumbs and seasonings in a bowl

Prep. Preheat the oven to 300F.
Make crumbs. Cut the bread into cubes and measure it out. Place the cubes in a food processor. Blend for 20-30 seconds, stirring every 10 seconds or so, until the crumb is slightly larger than your desired consistency.
Bake. Spread the crumbs on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
Cool. Let the bread crumbs cool on the baking pan for 10 minutes.
Add the seasoning. For homemade Italian bread crumbs, transfer the bread crumbs to a bowl, sprinkle the seasonings on top, and gently stir.

Does Crust Need To Be Removed?

Nope! The crust actually adds more texture and flavor to the bread crumbs. Feel free to use the end pieces of the bread loaf, too.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making homemade bread crumbs, as well as a few ways to customize them.

Do not grease the pan. Be sure to bake these on an ungreased baking sheet. There’s no need for added moisture, and they get nice and crisp without it.
Stir frequently. Stir the bread crumbs every 5 minutes while baking, to ensure they all bake evenly.
Make finer bread crumbs. These homemade bread crumbs to tend to be a bit bigger than the super fine bread crumbs at the store. If you want that texture, you can place them back in the food processor after they’ve baked and cooled.
Customize the seasonings. I’ve included the seasoning mix to make homemade Italian bread crumbs but you don’t have to stop there. These can be customized with any dried herbs and even lemon zest or grated parmesan cheese. (Note that adding perishable add-ins will change the storage and should be done only if using them immediately.)
Final amount may vary. Four cups of cubed bread usually make right around 2 cups of bread crumbs. However, brands and types of white bread can vary in moisture content and other aspects, so the amount you get will slightly vary based on the brand and type, although this variance doesn’t tend to be a large amount.

A scoop in a bowl of homemade Italian bread crumbs

Ways To Use Them

Oh, there are so many ways I love to use homemade bread crumbs! They act as a binder in dishes like stuffed meatloaf and meatballs. I like to sprinkle them on top of recipes like seafood mac and cheese and chicken parmesan casserole for added texture.

And, of course, they can be used as breading for various recipes. I often use homemade Italian bread crumbs to make chicken Milanese and fried mac and cheese bites.

They can even be used as the base of homemade shake and bake.

Basically, these can be used in any recipe that calls for regular bread crumbs or Italian-style bread crumbs.

Proper Storage

Homemade bread crumbs, including the seasoned Italian bread crumbs, should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry area, such as a pantry, for up to 2 weeks. (They often last longer than this, but this is a great starting point.)

Do not freeze or store them in the fridge, as the moisture will ruin them.

No ratings yet