Breadcrumbs are a key ingredient in plenty of recipes. They act as a binder for meatloaf and meatballs, create the perfect crust on plenty of proteins, or add crunch when sprinkled on top of a delicious casserole, pasta, or salad. From chicken nuggets to tater tots, everyone needs a crunchy crust every now and again. And breadcrumbs also have other uses, especially in meatballs, soups, and other recipes that need thickening.
20g of bread crumbs contain 59kcal Calories, 10g Carbohydrates, 1g Protein, 1g Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 4mg Cholesterol, 145mg Sodium, 1g fibre, 1g Sugar, 47IU Vitamin A, 26mg Calcium, and 1mg Iron.
Because breadcrumbs consist mainly of bread which, in turn, consists mainly of carbohydrates, there are many health challenges with this recipe. To enjoy the crunchiness of breadcrumbs without guilt, it is safe to consider the gluten-free variety.
How to Make Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs
Follow the easy steps below to make yourself homemade breadcrumbs.
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Cut the gluten-free bread into 1-inch cubes.
- Place the cubed bread on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack for 10-15 minutes or until crisp. The bread cubes should be lightly browned.
- Allow the bread cubes to cool on the baking pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the toasted bread cubes into a food processor.
- Process the bread on high speed for 30 seconds for coarse bread crumbs or 1 minute for fine bread crumbs. For even finer bread crumbs, pulse until the desired size is reached.
Gluten-Free Substitute for Breadcrumbs
Whether you need a totally keto-friendly substitute or you’re looking for a specific flavour, or you’re struggling with nut allergies, there’s absolutely a breadcrumb substitute out there for you!
If you’ve run out of breadcrumbs and can’t fix some homemade alternative, below is a list of gluten-free substitutes for Breadcrumbs.
Crushed Chips
Whether you pick a tortilla or a tasty classic potato chip (flavoured or otherwise), these are a great gluten-free substitute for traditional breadcrumbs. You can use these crunchy crumbs to coat chicken cutlets and fish fillets, or you can fold crushed tortilla chips into your meatball mixture. Just remember, unless you use no-salt-added chips, you should take into account that the crumbs will boost the salt in your dish because chips are heavily salted.
Coconut Flakes
- Pure organic unsweetened flake coconut
- Nothing added
- Made in Sri Lanka
- 8 oz.
Coconut flakes are great for adding a crunchy coating to the outside of meats or baked goods – they’re equally tasty on sweet and savoury foods. Make sure to get the unsweetened kind; the only ingredient listed on the package should be coconut.
However, you may want to experiment with the flavoured coconut flakes as this will add a new taste profile to your dish and may complement the overall dish.
Almond Meal or Almond Flour
- Contains 1 – 3lb bag of Blue Diamond Almond Flour
- Great in recipes and baking
- Supports Keto and Paleo Lifestyles
- Finely sifted and made with high quality blanched almonds
This one is a classic for Paleo recipes, and it’s a classic for a reason – almond meal/flour is widely available, easy to use, and has a mild taste that works with most dishes. Use it as a thickener or flour substitute to coat chicken nuggets, shrimp, vegetables, and more!
For a crunchier feel, opt for an almond meal over the flour. This texture resembles breadcrumbs beast.
Tapioca Starch
- GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR SUBSTITUTE: Our gluten free tapioca flour for baking and cooking is a great alternative to wheat flour; try using our tapioca starch gluten free to make gluten-free breads or flatbreads
- THICKENING AGENT: Tapioca flour or starch, like corn starch and arrowroot starch, is widely used to thicken soups, sauces, and gravies; its neutral taste and smooth texture make it ideal for enhancing the consistency of dishes without altering the flavor
- VERSATILE USES: You can use tapioca starch for baking and cooking in a variety of dishes like bread, pasta, or even use organic tapioca starch for boba pearls; you can also use tapioca starch for body butter and to make other DIY skin care products
- EXTRACTED FROM CASSAVA: While cassava flour (almidón de yuca o yucca starch) uses the whole root of Cassava Root, tapicoa flour is made from the starchy portion, making it a great gluten-free substitute for wheat flour
- FRESH QUALITY: Our organic tapioca flour starch is fresh and correctly sealed to ensure you receive the best quality product; Kate’s organic tapioca starch makes a great addition to paleo diets since the starch derives from the natural cassava root
The big selling point of tapioca starch, as opposed to almond or coconut flour, is its finer grain size and the slicker, silkier texture of the resulting recipe. It’s a little bit like the crunchy coating that you get at some -Chinese takeout places – a very smooth, glossy effect. Tapioca starch is definitely not for the low-carb crowd, but it’s perfect if what you want is a wonderful crispy coating without any noticeable texture. It also works well as a thickener in gravies and soups.
Oats
- 18 ounces of Happy Belly Quick Cook Oats
- Whole Grain Rolled Oats
- Low in saturated fat and 0 mg cholesterol
- An Amazon brand
Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren’t ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs, and flavourings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast. This substitute may affect the end texture of your dish but is a fair substitute.
Pretzels or Crackers
- Crunchy pretzels: Snyder’s of hanover pretzel snaps offer the rich, hearty flavor of traditional pretzels in a fun checkerboard shape
- Pretzel snack: crunchy snaps are a perfect snack at home or on-the-go
- School snack: pretzels are non-GMO project verified and made in a facility that does not process peanuts – safe for nut-free schools
- Crowd favorite: flavorful snack for after school, parties, tailgating and game night
- Large tub: bulk size 46 ounce canister of Snyder’s pretzels with resealable lid for stocking your pantry
I bet you have these ingredients in your snack cabinet. Simply add sleeve crackers or a handful of pretzels to a plastic bag and crush using a rolling pin. The texture of your end product depends on your taste. Ground finely for use as filling or thickener. However, if you wish to use it as a coating for chicken or other meat, leave a bit of texture.
Ground Chia or Flax Seeds
- Navitas Organics Chia Seeds are your ticket to maximum omega-3s! You can add these tiny protein- and fiber-packed seeds to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, and countless recipes for a nutritious boost.
- A good source of magnesium, calcium and iron, Navitas Organics Chia Seeds also provide 11% DV fiber and 2g protein per serving.
- Chia Seeds are abundant in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3’s are revered for their overall health support and essential for optimal functioning.
- Make chia pudding (the tiny seeds expand when soaked) or add to salads, oatmeal, dips, smoothies, and baked goods.
- USDA Organic, Kosher, Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free. Committed to accuracy and transparency, we third party test all products to verify quality and nutritional values.
Chia seeds aren’t great for breading the outsides of foods, but they’re excellent substitutes for breadcrumbs as a thickener in foods like meatballs. They do the same thing – absorb and hold a ton of water – so they have basically the same thickening effect. They’re also used a lot as a vegan egg substitute in meatballs, so tons of recipes feature them. You can buy the ground ones or grind them yourself in a food processor.
Ground flax can work either as flour for breading outside food or as a thickener/binder to stir into soups, stews, and meatballs. To get the breadcrumb effect, use ground flax, not whole flaxseeds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Kind Of Gluten-Free Bread Can Be Used To Make Bread Crumbs?
Any kind of gluten-free bread can be made into bread crumbs. You can use homemade gluten-free bread, store-bought gluten-free bread, buns or rolls to make the bread crumbs. It is best to use bread that is not baked fresh the same day. You can use any of the gluten-free bread from my recipes to make bread crumbs.
Can you use frozen bread?
Yes, you can easily defrost the bread on the countertop. I place the frozen bread on a paper towel-lined baking pan to absorb any excess moisture.
How Do You Make Bread Crumbs Without A Food Processor?
If you do not have a food processor, you can still easily make breadcrumbs. After the bread cubes are cool, add them to a large plastic storage bag and partially seal them. Use a rolling pin to crush the toasted bread into crumbs. Making homemade bread crumbs is so easy and can be made in less than 30 minutes! Making your own gluten-free bread crumbs is a money saver. You can also change up the seasoning depending on what recipe you are going to make.
If you follow a gluten-free diet, you know the struggle of finding good substitutes for glutenous products. Breadcrumbs are no exception: it’s tricky to find a texture that sticks well to the food and gets crispy. Not to mention, store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs are expensive, and they aren’t always available. Thus, here are some creative gluten-free bread crumb substitutes.
Last update on 2023-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API