Stale bread is not at all appetizing, and I’m not ashamed to say I’ve thrown it out a time or two. But with these amazing recipes, I’m making a point to never let it go to waste again! You’ll be surprised at the number of different dishes you can make using stale bread. There’s enough variety on this list that you shouldn’t ever have to trash your bread again, even if it is hard enough to break glass. Okay, if you can break glass with it, maybe it’s time to throw it out, but catch it before it gets that hard and use it to make these delightful dishes instead.
1. Leftover Bread Croutons
Croutons are the one thing everyone knows you can make with stale bread, so let’s go ahead and get them out of the way. You’ll have a little leeway on how you season these croutons, but I prefer to follow the recipe on this one and go all the way – garlic, thyme, oregano, seasoning salt, basil, salt, and pepper. Bake them in olive oil for 15 minutes, then enjoy them in your favorite soup or salad.
2. Italian Breadcrumbs
If you’re looking for something a little smaller than croutons, stale bread is also perfect for making Italian breadcrumbs. All you’ll need are the right seasonings and a food processor; you’ll be done in 5 minutes. Store them in the fridge if you’ll be using them soon, or pop them in the freezer for several months.
3. Italian Sweet Bread Pudding
Full of brown and white sugar, whipped cream, whole milk, cinnamon, and butter, this bread pudding is basically a baking dish full of warm, sweet, sticky goodness. It takes about 15 minutes to pull together and a little less than an hour to bake. You can also prep parts of it ahead of time.
4. Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)
As a total carb junkie, the phrase “bread salad” is like angels singing. I genuinely believe anything called “salad” is healthy, including ambrosia salad, macaroni salad, and strawberry pretzel salad. This salad is full of cubed, hardened bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Truthfully, aside from the carby bread, it actually is pretty healthy. I say enjoy it guilt-free.
5. French Onion Soup
I don’t really know how to describe this amazing dish other than to say it’s kind of like a reverse bread bowl from Panera. It features caramelized onions and cheese in a base of beef broth. The top is a fluffy yet slightly crispy crown of toasted bread. Toss some scallions on top for an extra kick, and you’ll have a warm, filling, feel-good dinner that’s both soup and bread in one.
6. French Bread French Toast
Stale bread has never tasted so good as it does in this French toast recipe. It’s a unique twist on the classic French toast recipe that uses French bread and throws in a “generous dollop of rum.” And yes, it’s as deliciously decadent as it sounds.
7. Italian Bread Soup Recipe (Pappa al Pomodoro)
This recipe is perfect for those of us who can’t enjoy a hot bowl of soup unless we fill it with saltines, oyster crackers, or croutons first. With Italian bread soup, the bread’s already been taken care of for you. If you like onions, herbs, and bread in your soup, this is 100% the soup for you. It’s tomatoey, herby, garlicky, and yummy.
8. Ribollita
This white bean soup has a lot going on, and you can add even more to it if you like. Be sure you season and toast your bread; getting that part right is key to making this soup perfect. After that, it’s just a matter of adding in all your herbs and veggies, and there are plenty of herbs and veggies, including onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, beans, kale, red pepper, oregano, and more. Add in some white wine, Parmesan, salt, cloves, and a kitchen sink or two. Seriously though, the ingredients list seems long, but they’re all easy to find, and most of them are healthy and good for you. Soup doesn’t get much heartier than this.
9. Baked French Toast Casserole
The only thing better than French toast for breakfast is French toast casserole for breakfast. The inside of the casserole stays warm, gooey, and soft. The outside crisps up, thanks to the caramelized cinnamon-sugar topping. Drizzle it with extra maple syrup or even a dollop of whipped cream and strawberries for an extra-special, dessert-like breakfast.
10. Bread Pudding Muffins with Cinnamon Custard
Have a bunch of leftover croissants going stale on the counter? Mix them with some milk, cinnamon, dried cranberries, brandy, and a few other things to make these spectacular bread pudding muffins. One batch makes a dozen muffins, and they’re ready in less than an hour. They work well as desserts or as a sweet way to start the day.
11. Stuffing Muffins
I feel like someone missed an opportunity here by not dropping the ‘g’ and calling these stuffin’ muffins, but that’s neither here nor there. What’s important is that these are scrumptious, and they make it possible for you to enjoy stuffing on the go. The recipe calls for bread cubes, red onions, celery, garlic, sage, and parsley, but you can also add apples, cranberries, peppers, mushrooms, bacon, or anything else you like. Trust me; you’ll love these.
12. Herb Stuffing
I’m a huge fan of Stove Top stuffing, but this recipe for homemade herb stuffing is too incredible to pass up. The edges are super crispy, and it turns a beautiful golden brown. The seasoning is just right, and the whole thing is buttery and herby. It’s a truly unbeatable stuffing recipe.
13. Apple Brown Betty
This dessert is sweet, slightly spicy, and will put you in mind of an apple crisp, apple crumble, or apple cobbler. The difference is in the bread. Whereas other desserts use biscuit dough or streusel, this one uses day-old bread cubes. The result is a fantastic dessert with apple cobbler’s sweet taste and bread pudding’s hearty consistency.
14. Breakfast Savory Bread Pudding (Strata)
I love traditional bread pudding for its perfect texture and sweetness, but savory bread pudding is just as good if you’re looking for something that’s a little more breakfast than dessert. This recipe calls for ham, sun-dried tomatoes, various cheeses, onion, and a few other things, but you can tweak and change it however you’d like. There are even a few additional suggestions on ways to tailor it to your tastes, such as with bacon and leeks, ham and spinach, or mushrooms, green onions, and dill.
15. Ham and Cheese Savory Bread Pudding
This is another recipe for a savory bread pudding featuring ham, cheese, shallots, thyme, and lots of spices. It’s herby and cheesy, and it’s a great way to start the morning on a filling, hearty note. Click on a star to rate it!
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