Sourdough Breadcrumbs Recipe

sourdough breadcrumbs in a bowl with a wooden spoon

Yield: cups

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 25

Sourdough breadcrumbs, crafted from leftover sourdough bread, effortlessly add a tangy twist and satisfying crunch to meals while effectively reducing kitchen waste.

5 from 1 vote

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Equipment

Ingredients

1 loaf sourdough bread fresh or stale

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
First, slice the leftover sourdough bread. You can use fresh bread, but it will take longer to dry out.
Then, take the slices of bread and cut them into 1-inch cubes. Add the bread pieces into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the bread cubes on high for 30 seconds for coarse crumbs or for 1-2 minutes for fine breadcrumbs.
Spread the breadcrumbs on a large rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and place into the preheated oven.
Bake for 5 minutes, stir with a wooden spoon, and then bake for an additional 10 minutes. The breadcrumbs should turn to a golden brown color and be dry to the touch.
Continue to bake for a few extra minutes, if necessary.
Remove the crumbs from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes or until room temperature.
Return the crunchy sourdough breadcrumbs to the food processor and process again if you desire finer crumbs or store them immediately!

Notes

This recipe card was updated on February 26th, 2026.

Sourdough Breadcrumb Variations

Italian -

For the perfect Italian Seasoning, add parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder to your sourdough breadcrumbs.

Cheese -

A combination that can't go wrong - bread and cheese! Mix sourdough breadcrumbs with finely grated cheese, typically parmesan or pecorino romano. Use this immediately.

Garlic -

Add garlic powder to your fresh sourdough breadcrumbs for an excellent bite of flavor.

Lemon Pepper -

A fun and unique breadcrumb flavor option is lemon pepper! Do so by combining fresh lemon zest with ground black pepper and toasted breadcrumbs. Talk about bright and refreshing flavors!

How to Use Sourdough Breadcrumbs

Store-bought breadcrumbs can be easily swapped for homemade breadcrumbs in all of your family's favorite recipes. My favorite way to use sourdough bread crumbs would have to be as a topping on my

Homemade Sourdough Mac and Cheese! Oh, is it good! Just the perfect crunchy topping for all that cheesy goodness. Another great way to use fresh bread crumbs is in different dishes like Sourdough Meatballs, Crispy Chicken Tenders, Fried Pickles, Fish Cakes, and Onion Rings - the list could go on and on of creative ways to use them!

How to Store Sourdough Breadcrumbs

When storing sourdough breadcrumbs, your biggest goal is to keep out the moisture, as it can make your breadcrumbs stale and moldy.

The best practice is to store breadcrumbs in an airtight container, like a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, a plastic container with a secure lid, or a reusable ziploc bag. Store in a dark and cool place, away from heat sources or sunlight. The shelf life should be up to 3 months.

You can also refrigerate or freeze your sourdough breadcrumbs. freezer bag, shelf life

FAQs:

What type of bread should I use to make sourdough breadcrumbs?

Sourdough breadcrumbs can be made from a variety of sourdough bread. From Sourdough French bread, sandwich bread, artisan loaf, focaccia, ciabatta, fresh sourdough bread, or stale, you name it, it can be transformed into breadcrumbs! You can make the breadcrumbs all from the same loaf of dry bread or a combination. Sometimes I will store pieces of bread in a ziploc bag and place them into the freezer until I have enough dry bread to make breadcrumbs.

Can I use sourdough breadcrumbs to substitute store-bought breadcrumbs?

Absolutely! Ever since I started making my sourdough breadcrumbs, I have eliminated store-bought from my grocery list entirely. Now, I make all my family's favorite recipes like meatballs, mac and cheese, and breaded chicken with my homemade sourdough breadcrumbs, and the flavor is unmatched!

Nutrition

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