The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes

Breadcrumbs are a key ingredient in many recipes, whether binding meatloaf or meatballs, creating a crispy crust on cutlets or adding crunch to a casserole. But if you're all out of stale bread and breadcrumbs, other pantry options can be substituted.

In fact, there are plenty of alternatives to breadcrumbs, including gluten-free and more flavourful options, from rolled oats and crushed almonds to potato chips and crackers. Here's a closer look at the 10 best breadcrumb substitutes and how best to use them.

Rolled oats

Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. Rolled oats are best not used as a coating agent as they tend to go soggy.

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Potato chips

Crushed potato chips offer another gluten-free alternative. Go for salted if you want to keep the flavours tame, or take it up a gear experimenting with flavoured crisps. Great for adding extra crunch.

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Cornflakes 

Delicate and ultra-crisp, sugar-free cornflakes also make a great breadcrumb or panko substitute, especially for coating chicken. Crush them with a rolling pin in a large plastic bag to turn them into crumbs.

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Almonds

Try using almond flour or almond meal for an altogether nuttier and coarser gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs. This breadcrumb alternative is great for both binding and achieving a really crispy coating.

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Pretzels

Crushed pretzels are also another great coating alternative. Remember to take into account any extra salt they might add to a dish.

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Croutons

Croutons, seasoned or plain, store-bought or homemade, are an excellent substitute for breadcrumbs. Simply whizz them up in a food blender until they become breadcrumbs. 

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Crackers

Crackers like Ritz, Saltines, or Club crackers add a buttery and salty edge to dishes like meatloaf and meatballs, and are just as delicious as a crispy coating.

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Nuts

Crushed nuts will add extra flavour and nutrients to your dish that you don't get with standard breadcrumbs. Try adding a crushed almond, pecan, walnut or cashew crust to meat and chicken.

Seeds

Crushed seeds like sesame or sunflower add mild flavour and great texture to any number of dishes.

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Stale bread

A great way of using up stale bread is to drop small pieces in a blender and blitz them until you have the desired size of crumb.

Here are some other great ways to use leftover bread from the second season of our Why Waste? series.

With so many choices for substituting classic breadcrumbs, allowing you to achieve different textures and flavours, from panko-like cornflake-coated chicken to almond flour which adds a nutty note to meatballs, try experimenting with your pick of breadcrumb substitutes.