Bread Baking

19 Frugal and Creative Leftover Bread Recipes

Inside: A collection of the best ways to use up leftover bread. These are recipes and ideas you’ll come back to over and over.

Sure, there are ways to store bread to make it last longer. But sometimes you’d rather just be done with it! And whether you’ve made the loaf or bought it, it feels wrong to just throw it out.

grid of 6 recipes made with leftover bread

From sweet to savory, breakfast to dinner, this collection of 19 recipes and ideas will inspire you to turn your leftovers into something truly special.

tray of finished brownned crostini.

Crostini for Bruschetta (Quick and Easy)

Super simple to make. You'll never buy overpriced toast again.

A baking dish filled with golden-brown bread pudding, topped with halved strawberries. The bread cubes are toasted, creating a crunchy texture, and the strawberries add a fresh, vibrant touch.

Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is a great use of leftover bread, and it’s a versatile recipe because the type of bread doesn’t matter: you can use anything from a soft challah to a rustic sourdough. You will want stale bread for this recipe. It’s easy to make and can be made ahead. You make a sweet custard of milk and egg, pour it over the cubed bread, and bake. One of the best things about bread pudding is its many variations: you can make it plain, add chocolate chunks, or try one of these varieties. This fresh strawberry version of bread pudding is one of our favorites: sweet and springy.

A glass jar labeled “Panko” filled with light, fluffy breadcrumbs. A metal spoon is visible inside the jar, indicating it is ready for use.

Homemade Panko Bread Crumbs

You don’t need a recipe for these. Put stale bread in the food processor and whirl until you have.. bread crumbs. You can use fancy artisan bread, plain old sandwich bread, or even leftover hot dog buns. Breadcrumbs are perfect for everything from breading chicken to topping baked mac and cheese. And they are so easy to make, that when you don’t feel like a big production they are a perfect way to avoid wasting your bread. Pop these in a freezer bag and freeze what you don’t use right away; they will last for months.

A close-up of golden-brown croutons, seasoned with herbs and lightly toasted, scattered on a baking sheet. The croutons are crispy and evenly browned.

Sourdough Croutons

Croutons take a few minutes to make but are so useful. Even a super plain salad with nothing but lettuce and dressing feels special with some homemade croutons on top. A good crouton is necessary for making the best French onion soup. To make croutons, you’ll want sturdy bread that holds its shape when diced. A few days old is best. All you need to do is: dice the bread in cubes, toss in olive oil or melted butter, sprinkle on some herbs, and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. They freeze great too!

A terracotta bowl filled with Panzanella, a traditional bread salad. The salad consists of chunks of toasted bread, diced tomatoes, basil leaves, and a light dressing. A bowl of soup and fresh basil leaves are in the background.

Panzanella (aka Bread Salad)

If you love Italian flavors, then you’ll love Panzanella. It’s a plate of stale bread that has been soaked in a mixture of olive oil, vinegar, and tomatoes. You can add more herbs and seasonings if you want. Panzanella is a recipe that’s best with sturdier bread. You want each piece to stay firm, not turn to mush. It’s a bread salad after all, not a pudding!

A square piece of bread pudding on a white plate, drizzled with syrup and topped with shredded coconut. The pudding has a caramelized top and a moist, dense texture.

Piña Colada Bread Pudding

Try the pina colada bread pudding topped with my buttered rum sauce! It’s such a great pairing of flavors.

A close-up of a glass jar filled with seasoned Italian breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs are finely ground and mixed with herbs, ready for cooking.

Perfect Italian Breadcrumbs

Homemade Italian Breadcrumbs are easy to make, economical, a great way to use up old bread, and YOU control the ingredients! Or leave out the herbs for plain seasoned breadcrumbs.

A plate of Panzanella salad featuring chunks of roasted butternut squash, kale leaves, cranberries, and toasted bread cubes. The salad is dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with seeds.

Balsamic Butternut, Kale, and Cranberry Panzanella

Traditional panzanella is a summertime salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, vinegar, and croutons made from stale bread.

A pan filled with sourdough stuffing, mixed with chopped parsley and onions. The bread cubes are toasted to a light golden brown, and the stuffing looks moist and flavorful.

Sourdough Stuffing

Homemade stuffing is a leftover bread classic. It’s simply cubed bread with some broth and seasonings that are baked and served alongside (or inside) meat. You can use any kind of bread for more stuffing recipes, and even leftover cornbread is delicious. Stuffing is traditionally made on holidays, but there’s no reason you can’t serve this for any family dinner. If you’re a regular bread baker with lots of leftovers, you’ll want to make stuffing more than twice a year. Comfort food at its best.

A stack of brioche French toast slices, golden and crispy, topped with a pat of melting butter and drizzled with syrup. Fresh berries, including strawberries and blueberries, are on the side.

Brioche French Toast

Thick-sliced brioche dipped in a sweet egg custard creates the most tender, buttery, luxurious French toast ever! Serve this Brioche French Toast with fresh berries and warm maple syrup for an easy but elegant breakfast.

A plate of French toast topped with chunks of fresh mango. The toast is golden brown and served on a floral-patterned plate, creating a tropical and appetizing presentation.

French Toast

This recipe for French toast has both egg and eggless options. Thick slices of bread dunked in an egg milk custard which is flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and fried in butter.

A slice of a savory breakfast casserole with layers of bread, cheese, and bacon, garnished with fresh parsley. The casserole has a golden, crispy top and a moist, cheesy interior.

Cheese & Bacon Strata Cake – Breakfast Casserole

A Breakfast Casserole – in cake form! All the morning essentials present – bacon, eggs, milk, bread, and cheese – it’s a breakfast strata that tastes like a cross between quiche, omelet, and savory French toast with cheesy custardy insides, and a golden crusty surface.

An oval baking dish filled with a baked spinach and cheese strata. The top is golden brown with melted cheese and scattered spinach, creating a hearty and appetizing appearance.

Spinach & Cheese Strata

Layered with spinach, cheese, and bread, and soaked in a savory custard, this make-ahead strata is ideal for entertaining.

A close-up of a baked French toast casserole, topped with sliced strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar. The casserole pieces are golden brown and look soft and fluffy.

French Toast Casserole

A delicious spin on a classic breakfast recipe that can feed a crowd with minimal work and effort. Filled with decadent flavors, prepare our French Toast Casserole overnight OR bake it right away!

A serving of French toast casserole on a decorative white plate. The casserole is topped with blueberries, strawberries, and a crumbly streusel, accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream.

Berry French Toast Casserole

This Berry French Toast Casserole is absolutely delicious and so easy to make. With flavorful pops of fresh fruit, it’s the perfect family breakfast or brunch!

A baking dish filled with French toast bake, topped with chunks of apple, pecans, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. The dish has a golden brown top and looks rich and flavorful.

Overnight Cinnamon Apple French Toast Bake

Made with tender cinnamon apples nestled in brioche bread cubes, soaked in maple syrup with pockets of a gooey cream cheese filling. Not to mention the perfectly toasted pecans right on top for that added crunch.

Three pieces of bruschetta topped with goat cheese and a roasted red pepper mixture. The toasted bread is golden and crunchy, and the topping is vibrant and flavorful.

Red Pepper Bruschetta with Goat Cheese

This simple recipe makes a delicious bruschetta that combines sweet sautéed red peppers, onions, and tomatoes with tangy goat cheese. Also very good as a topping for grilled chicken.

SOURDOUGH DISCARD RECIPE COOKBOOK 2024: A Comprehensive Guide to Transforming Sourdough Leftovers: Create Bread, Muffins, Rolls, Snacks, and More to Minimize Waste and Includes Health Benefits.Recipes with leftover Bread Bread Toast Crumbs: Recipes for No-Knead Loaves & Meals to Savor Every Slice: A Cookbook Sourdough Discard Recipes Cookbook Made Easy: An Illustrated Guide for Home Bakers and Beginners to transform Discarded Starter into Healthful and Nutritious Delights Recipes with Leftover Bread Sourdough Every Day: Your Guide to Using Active and Discard Starter for Artisan Bread, Rolls, Pasta, Sweets and More

And that’s all!

So, next time you find yourself with extra bread, don’t let it go to waste. Hope you found a leftover bread recipe that’s perfect for what you need.

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By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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One Comment

Julia says:

July 17, 2021 at 9:19 am

Thank you for all the ideas for leftover bread!

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