Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs

Make affordable, homemade Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs in minutes! Enjoy meatloaf, chicken fingers, and meatball recipes again with this easy recipe or discover gluten-free bread crumb substitutes!

Best Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs

A search for the best gluten-free bread crumbs proves difficult. They are expensive, perishable, and sold in small, pricey amounts. Making easy, homemade bread crumbs saves money and repurposes expensive store bought gluten-free bread! 

Whether you are looking for gluten-free bread crumb alternatives or want to learn how to make the best gluten-free breadcrumbs, I’ll show you how!

Equipment Needed

Making wheat-free bread crumbs requires either a food processor or a blender and a baking sheet. However, if you don’t own a food processor or blender, read below on how you can still make breadcrumbs without any special equipment!

making breadcrumbs without a food processor

Enjoy homemade bread crumbs in no time by using alternative kitchen equipment. Although using a food processor is the most efficient way, there are many different options!

For fresh or stale cubed bread, use a blender, spice grinder, or coffee grinder to make your bread crumbs. Process and pulse in smaller amounts and then transfer to a baking sheet.

Wipe down the inside of the spice grinder or coffee grinder thoroughly first. Otherwise, your bread crumbs may end up tasting a little more like oregano and coffee than you hoped. 

If you are using dry, toasted bread to make breadcrumbs, you have a few more options – most of which you probably have on hand in your kitchen. Ideally, the bread would sit out for a couple of days and then be toasted before using one of these methods.

• Rolling pin with bread placed inside ziplock bag.
• Cheese box grater
• Mallet with bread placed inside ziplock bag.
• Heavy pot with bread placed inside ziplock bag.

How To Make Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs Recipe (Cheaply!)

Not only is making homemade bread crumbs easy, but it can also be made with leftover bread, crust, or croutons that often gets thrown away. When I’m able to use food that would otherwise go to waste, it definitely puts a smile on my face knowing I’m being resourceful and saving our family money. 

Use any leftover gluten-free bread you have on hand, even stale bread, as long as there is no mold.

It is also a good use of bread heels, as those are often discarded. I keep a ziplock bag in my freezer with heels I add to with every loaf. Once I have a supply, I’ll make a quick batch of gluten-free bread crumbs to store back in the freezer.

Substitution / Alternatives For Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs

If you don’t have any bread crumbs on hand, here are some easy gluten-free substitutes. If using cereal, pretzels, nuts, or chips crush them finely in a food processor or place them in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin or mallet. 

• Almond flour or almond meal
• Corn flakes (not all corn flakes are gluten free, so be sure to check ingredients)
• Gluten-free crackers
• Rolled oats (used certified gluten free)
• Crushed nuts
• Gluten free pretzels
• Potato chips
• Rice or Corn Chex cereal
• Crushed pork rinds

What Type of Bread Should I Use?

When making this recipe, use any bread that is gluten-free, either one type or a mixture. This applies if you are making breadcrumbs that aren’t gluten-free as well.

Frozen, stale, gluten-free bread failures (both store bought or homemade) and heels all work well. So don’t throw away anything!

If you know you will be making the recipe in a few days, you can also let the bread sit out so it hardens. After processing the bread, the crumbs will take a shorter time to toast and dry out in the oven. 

How to Store Bread crumbs

Store bread crumbs in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one month, the freezer up to six months, or the pantry for up to two weeks.

Regardless of your method of storage, be sure there is no moisture in the container and label the container with the date. 

Gluten-Free Panko 

Originating in Japan, Panko is made of white bread and is typically airier, lighter and more coarse in texture. Panko bread crumbs are not gluten free on their own, but can easily be made with gluten free white bread.

To make gluten-free Panko grate the bread into coarser crumbs. The best method is to use the grater disc with the food processor. 

gluten-free Italian Bread Crumbs

To season your bread crumbs, consider turning them into a seasoned Italian version. When grinding the bread in the food processor add garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. (Amounts are shown in recipe card below).

Transfer the crumbs to a baking sheet and bake in a 400ºF oven for 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway. 

Tips and Tricks

• Save bread heels, stale bread, or bread failures in a freezer bag. When you have enough, make a batch of bread crumbs, and store crumbs back in the freezer.
• After the bread crumbs have been made, they do not have to be thawed before using in recipes. Just take what you need from the freezer bag and use immediately. 
• If using frozen bread, thaw before processing so crumbs will be uniform. 
• Make as little or much as you want. Generally, one piece of bread will make 1/4 – 1/3 cup bread crumbs, based on the size of the slice.
• If using more than 10 bread slices, split the crumbs between two pans. Overcrowding the pan will cause the crumbs to steam rather than toast. 

Recipes To Use With Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs

• Baked Breaded Pork Chops
• Gluten-Free Stuffed Mushrooms
• Baked Mac and Cheese
• Gluten-Free Meatloaf
• Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
• Italian meatloaf
• Pork meatloaf
• Broccoli and Cheese Bake

SAVE THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE BREAD CRUMBS TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!

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