19 Ways To Use Stale Bread (Sweet And Savory Recipes)

Don't throw out that stale bread! It is amazing how many delicious recipes can be made utilizing dry bread. Whether you are looking for a sweet or savory dish, there's a recipe to use stale bread so it does not go to waste! Make crunchy garlic croutons for salads or soups, or a sweet bread pudding packed with a cinnamon bourbon sauce. Weekend mornings get a little easier with an overnight French toast casserole. So next time your bread is a bit too dry, get creative and turn it into a delicious new recipe.

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Air Fryer Pumpkin French Toast Sticks

pumpkin french toast sticks stacked with maple syrup poured on them — Photo Credit: Simply Stacie

These pumpkin French toast sticks are the perfect fall breakfast. They have a great pumpkin flavor and are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Pumpkin French Toast Sticks

Bruschetta With Tomato and Basil

little bruschetta topped with finely chopped tomatoes and herbs — Photo Credit: Little Sunny Kitchen

This quick appetizer is a traditional Italian dish that was created to use stale bread. It eventually evolved into different topping.

Get the recipe: Bruschetta With Tomato and Basil

Traditional Bread Sauce

a bowl of bread sauce — Photo Credit: Little Sunny Kitchen

This traditional bread sauce recipe is a British recipe that is commonly served with a holiday turkey similar to stuffing. This recipe is a simple dish made with stale bread and milk.

Get the recipe: Traditional Bread Sauce

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

a portion of bread pudding with chocolate chips and vanilla sauce — Photo Credit: Blue's Best Life

If you are looking for a delicious dessert, this chocolate chip bread pudding with cream sauce is an amazing treat to make anytime of year. With a creamy bread custard, chocolate chips and a warm vanilla sauce this bread pudding is the perfect comfort food.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

Ham and Cheese French Toast Sandwich

Sweet and salty, this is the perfect stuffed French toast (or Monte Cristo sandwich) when you want a twist on the traditional dish. Made with egg-based bread such as challah or brioche, it's soft, gooey, hearty, and wonderful served with maple syrup.

Get the recipe: Ham and Cheese French Toast Sandwich

Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is a classic recipe that can be served as a dessert or even for a holiday brunch! It has a delicious rich bread custard that is made with sweet buttery brioche bread. Then it is topped with a decadent cinnamon bourbon sauce drizzle.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Homemade Traditional Bread Stuffing

baking dish with bread stuffing with herbds and onion — Photo Credit: Blue's Best Life

A Homemade Traditional Bread Stuffing is a favorite side dish for Thanksgiving and holidays! This savory recipe has the sauteed onion, celery and herbs with lots of butter to make this flavorful dish.

Get the recipe: Homemade Traditional Bread Stuffing

Overnight Italian Strata With Fontina Cheese

casserole with strata with spinach, pancetta, stake bread, and sausage in a casserole dish — Photo Credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen

This delicious casserole is made with stale bread, pancetta, sausage, spinach and melty fontina cheese. This overnight strata is perfect for a savory breakfast, brunch or lunch.

Get the recipe: Overnight Italian Strata With Fontina Cheese

"Ribolita" Tuscan Bread and Vegetable Soup

a small ceramic bowl with soup with bread,carrots, cabbage, and beans — Photo Credit: Cooking My Dreams

Ribollita is a traditional Tuscan soup (or stew) made with stale bread, white beans, cabbage, and more vegetables. It's a simple healthy vegan soup from peasants' origins but at the same time, it's comforting and delicious.

Get the recipe: "Ribolita" Tuscan Bread and Vegetable Soup

Homemade Garlic Croutons

a bowl of croutons — Photo Credit: Blue's Best Life

These Easy Homemade Garlic Croutons will elevate any simple soup or salad. This is a terrific way to use up stale bread to make delicious croutons that are even better than store-bought. Sprinkle these over a salad or in a creamy soup for an amazing addition.

Get the recipe: Homemade Garlic Croutons

Brioche French Toast Casserole

a portion of french toast topped with raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries — Photo Credit: She's Not Cookin'

This quick and easy Brioche French Toast Casserole Recipe makes a perfect breakfast for weekend mornings or a holiday breakfast. Serve this easy breakfast with fresh fruit for a sweet breakfast that everyone will love.

Get the recipe: Brioche French Toast Casserole

S'mores French Toast

two stacked french toasts topped with chocolate drizzle and torched marshmallows — Photo Credit: Chocolates and Chai

This decadent French toast recipe with chocolate and crushed graham crackers, topped with some perfectly gooey torched marshmallows is indulgent. Super easy to make and tastes amazing.

Get the recipe: S'mores French Toast

Buttermilk French Toast

three pieces of french toast with fresh blueberries — Photo Credit: Crinkled Cookbook

If you are a fan of homemade buttermilk pancakes, you will love Buttermilk French Toast. Thick slices of crusty bread are coated with rich buttermilk and eggs and lightly sweetened with maple syrup. Each slice is cooked to golden-brown perfection in melted butter.

Get the recipe: Buttermilk French Toast

Brown Butter Sauce Pasta with Crispy Bread Crumbs

a plate with spaghetti topped with grated cheese, bread crumbs, and herbs — Photo Credit: A Little And A Lot

Brown butter sauce pasta with parmesan cheese and crispy bread crumbs is one of the most deliciously unapologetic meals. It's the kind of meal you allow yourself to truly need on those days when pasta and butter sauce might be the answer.

Get the recipe: Brown Butter Sauce Pasta with Crispy Bread Crumbs

Air Fryer Pita Chips

a plate with a dozen of triangular pita chips and a bowl of hummus next to it — Photo Credit: A Tasty Oven

Make homemade Air Fryer Pita Chips in just 12 minutes! They are so much better than store-bought pita chips and are great for snacking and dipping in hummus. These crispy homemade pita chips are vegan and can be seasoned with your favorite spices and herbs.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Pita Chips

"Pappa al Pomodoro" Tuscan Bread and Tomatoes

a bowl of appetizer made with blended tomatoes and bread — Photo Credit: Cooking My Dreams

The most flavorful ripe tomatoes embrace the Tuscan bread into a delicious appetizer, one of the most traditional of Tuscany. A couple of ingredients can create something extraordinary and Pappa al Pomodoro is exactly it.

Get the recipe: "Pappa al Pomodoro" Tuscan Bread and Tomatoes

Panzanella Salad

salad on a plate in a big bowl with croutons, red onion, herbs, tomatoes, cheese — Photo Credit: Salads Soups and Sweets

This Easy Panzanella Salad Recipe makes a colorful and wonderful side dish or a main dish that's a little on the lighter side. Panzanella, or "Tuscan Bread Salad," as some people call it, is an Italian salad made from dried or stale bread.

Get the recipe: Panzanella Salad

Spanish Garlic Soup

a bowl of garlic soup with croutons on top — Photo Credit: Bake It With Love

Spanish garlic soup, or sopa de ajo, is a richly flavorful soup that can be made in just 30 minutes with a few simple ingredients! This classic Spanish comfort food is made by combining bread, eggs, and garlic in a perfectly seasoned broth.

Get the recipe: Spanish Garlic Soup

Homemade Panko Breadcrumbs

a wooden bowl with panko crumbs — Photo Credit: Bake It With Love

These easy homemade panko breadcrumbs will save you a buck, and they are a great way to use up any old bread! You won't be able to tell a difference between these delightfully crunchy, made-from-scratch breadcrumbs and pre-packaged panko!

Get the recipe: Homemade Panko Breadcrumbs