9 Genius Substitutes for Bread Crumbs (2024)

Home Test Kitchen Test Kitchen Tips

Updated: May 02, 2023

    Don't run out to the store for a last-minute ingredient! Use a genius substitute for bread crumbs instead.

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    Pretzels

    Pretzels are a great all-purpose substitute for bread crumbs. You can pulse them in a food processor until they’re super-fine and use them as a binder for meatballs or meatloaf. Or keep them coarser for a crispy coating on fried food. Keep in mind that pretzels are usually saltier than bread crumbs, so you may want to reduce the salt in the recipe for this swap.

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    Crushed Nuts

    Any variety of nuts will work for this swap, so try mixing and matching your favorites! They will stick best as a coating when they’re chopped super-fine in a food processor, and they’re especially delicious when used on chicken or fish recipes.

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    Crackers

    Crushed-up crackers make an excellent bread crumb substitute in baked dishes like meatballs or meatloaf. The crackers work just as well as the bread crumbs to hold the meat mixture together, and using varieties like salty saltines or buttery Ritz is a great way to add an extra burst of flavor to your dish.

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    Rolled Oats

    Oats are a fantastic healthy swap-in for bread crumbs, and they can be a gluten-free alternative if you’re choosy with your oats. Simply place them in the food processor and pulse until they become a fine powder. They don’t have as much flavor as bread crumbs, so we recommend spicing up crushed oats with herbs or seasonings when using it as a coating.

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    Potato Chips

    The best part about using potato chips as a bread crumb substitute the way their ability to add zesty flavor. This is especially true if you choose barbecue or onion flavored chips! Crush the potato chips in a bag or pulse them in a food processor until they resemble fine bread crumbs. Try them on chicken strips like we did here.

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    Fresh Bread

    If you have bread around, you have bread crumbs! You can use any bread you like, including gluten-free options. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use about twice as much fresh bread, as the dried bread crumbs are more concentrated and take up less space in a measuring cup. Or, you can dry the bread first to make homemade bread crumbs.

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    Cornflakes

    Most unsweetened cereal works well as a bread crumb substitute, but cornflakes are our favorite — especially when we’re making chicken! Cornflakes have a delicate flavor and an ultra-crispy texture. The easiest way to turn them into crumbs is to place them into a large bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

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    Almond Flour

    Almond flour (sometimes sold as almond meal) has a coarse texture and a nutty flavor, making it a great gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs. You can use it in meatball or meatloaf mixture, but we especially like using it to dredge meats like pork chops to create a crispy exterior.

    Next, try cooking with another gluten-free substitute—chestnut flour.

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    Cooked Rice

    This substitute definitely won’t work on fried foods; cooked rice is too mushy to crisp up, even if you fry it at high temperatures. But if you’re making a dish like meatballs or meatloaf, cooked rice works as a perfect binder. If you’re not convinced, try these stuffed cabbage rolls, and you’ll be sold!

    Originally Published: December 11, 2019

    Author

    Lindsay D. Mattison

    Lindsay has been a food writer, recipe developer and product tester for seven years. She’s a culinary school graduate who specializes in sustainable food and seasonal ingredients. She draws on her professional chef background to develop recipes and help home cooks gain confidence in the kitchen. When Lindsay isn’t writing, you’ll find her coo...

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    9 Genius Substitutes for Bread Crumbs (2024)

    FAQs

    9 Genius Substitutes for Bread Crumbs? ›

    It's best not to use flour instead of breadcrumbs. While you can use flour to coat chicken, it won't have the crisp texture that breadcrumbs or an alternative can provide. Don't use flour as a binder in meatballs because the mixture will become paste-like.

    Can I just use flour instead of breadcrumbs? ›

    It's best not to use flour instead of breadcrumbs. While you can use flour to coat chicken, it won't have the crisp texture that breadcrumbs or an alternative can provide. Don't use flour as a binder in meatballs because the mixture will become paste-like.

    How do you crumb without breadcrumbs? ›

    There are several alternatives you can use, such as crushed cornflakes, crushed crackers, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or even ground nuts like almonds or pecans. These alternatives can provide different flavors and textures to your breaded chicken.

    Can I use rice krispies instead of breadcrumbs? ›

    "Instead of using bread crumbs or crushed crackers, I use rice krispies and they work great!

    Can you use all purpose flour as breading? ›

    The Better Way to Bread Chicken

    To make this glue, whisk eggs and flour together in a ratio of 1 large egg to 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour. This creates the exact same coating you would get from dredging the chicken into flour first and then beaten eggs, but you throw out a lot less unused egg and flour afterward.

    Does flour work as breading? ›

    Flour: The flour acts as a barrier between the fat in the pan and the moisture in the chicken breast. Eggs: Or brush on mayonnaise or olive oil to help the breading stick.

    What keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

    When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

    Why would you put milk in meatloaf? ›

    Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

    How important are breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

    Breadcrumbs for meatloaf are used to absorb the juices and keep them in the meat while it cooks so that it stays moist; without the breadcrumbs, the meat would dry out in the oven. Breadcrumbs also add to the meatloaf's tender texture so it's more than a giant seasoned hamburger when you pull it out of the oven.

    What is a healthy substitute for breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

    If a recipe for meatloaf or meatballs calls for bread crumbs, you may have success swapping it out for rolled oats or oat flour. Oats by weight are also lower in calories, provide more complex carbohydrates, and are a richer source of dietary fiber than bread crumbs, making them a nutritionally sound substitute.

    What are panic breadcrumbs? ›

    What are panko breadcrumbs? Panko is a Japanese-style of breadcrumbs, traditionally used as a coating for deep-fried foods such as tonkatsu and chicken katsu. They are made by lightly baking coarse breadcrumbs to give them more 'crunch'.

    Can I use Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs? ›

    Crushed-up Ritz crackers make a great substitute and add an extra burst of buttery flavor and moisture to your dish that regular breadcrumbs can't quite match.

    Can you use cheerios in place of breadcrumbs? ›

    Crush unsweetened cereal varieties such as Cheerios, or corn or bran flakes to use in place of breadcrumbs. Easily crush cereal by placing it in a plastic bag and crushing to the desired texture with a rolling pin.

    What's the difference between bread crumbs and all purpose flour? ›

    The biggest difference between the two flours to remember while baking, is that bread flour has a higher protein content which leads to more stability, form, and rise in the dough allowing it to lift and hold shape, whereas all-purpose flour has a lower protein content resulting in lighter, more crumbly breads.

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