Description
Pasta, soups, and salads love the delicate crunch of Crispy Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs!
Light, airy, and crisp, they add a magical finishing touch to any dish using just 3 pantry staple ingredients—no day-old bread needed. Simply toast flaky panko breadcrumbs on the stovetop with garlic powder or your favorite seasonings (6 variations included).
Trust me, once you learn how to toast breadcrumbs, you’ll be sprinkling them on everything.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot and shimmering, stir in the breadcrumbs and garlic powder. Cook, stirring constantly, until the breadcrumbs are fragrant, toasty, and beautifully golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.


- Transfer the breadcrumbs to a bowl and set aside. Serve immediately, or cool and store in an airtight container.
Notes
Variations:
- Add finely chopped, hardy fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage. Dried herbs work well too, but they have a more concentrated flavor than fresh ones, so half the measurements.
- Use fresh garlic or garlic salt instead of garlic powder.
- Add parmesan or pecorino romano for a nutty, savory twist!
- Grate in fresh lemon zest for a burst of brightness.
- Spice the toasted breadcrumbs up with furikake or togarashi for umami-loaded, Japanese-inspired breadcrumbs (great with ramen!).
- Sprinkle Tajín for slightly spicy Mexican-style breadcrumbs on top of enchiladas or chilaquiles.

