Garlic Parmesan Bread Crisps (The Best Way to Use Leftover Buns)

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Turn leftover hamburger buns, bagels, or hoagie rolls into crispy Garlic Parmesan Bread Crisps. This easy snack is loaded with buttery garlic flavor, Parmesan cheese, and Everything Bagel seasoning. (156 characters)

Got leftover hamburger buns sitting on the counter?

Don’t throw them away.

Turn them into these buttery, crunchy Garlic Parmesan Bread Crisps instead.

This recipe was inspired by those irresistible garlic bread snacks you find in the bakery section of the grocery store. After making a batch of homemade hamburger buns, I found myself with several extras that had started to firm up overnight. Rather than let them go stale, I sliced them into bite-sized pieces, dipped them in seasoned garlic butter, sprinkled them with Parmesan cheese and Everything Bagel seasoning, and baked them until crisp.

The result was somewhere between garlic croutons, bagel chips, and toasted bread crisps—and they disappeared fast.

Why You’ll Love These Bread Crisps

• Great way to use leftover hamburger buns
• Perfect for bagels, hoagie rolls, and sandwich rolls too
• Buttery, garlicky, and loaded with flavor
• Easy to customize with different seasonings
• Perfect for snacking or dipping

Best Breads for Bread Crisps

One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility.

Try using:

• Hamburger buns
• Hot dog buns
• Hoagie rolls
• Kaiser rolls
• Bagels
• French bread
• Italian bread
• Dinner rolls

In general, denser breads produce crispier, heartier bread crisps.

Ingredients

You’ll find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, as always. But here’s a look at what you’ll need. Basically, bread that you want to get rid of. . .and some butter and seasonings. That’s it!

• 4 leftover hamburger buns, bagels, or hoagie rolls
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel seasoning
• Optional: 1 teaspoon dried parsley

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Bread Crisps

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Slice the bread into bite-sized pieces.

In a bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well.

Dip or brush the bread pieces with the seasoned butter.

Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Everything Bagel seasoning.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Flip the bread pieces and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.

Immediately (carefully!) remove the crisps from the pan and set them directly on a wire cooling rack to continue cooling.

Allow the crisps to cool completely before serving. They will continue to crisp as they cool.

Variations

Garlic Parmesan

• Add extra Parmesan after baking.

Everything Bagel

• Double the Everything Bagel seasoning and skip the Parmesan.

Texas BBQ

• Add your favorite BBQ rub to the butter mixture.

Ranch

• Sprinkle with dry ranch seasoning before baking.

Spicy

• Add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.

What to Serve with Bread Crisps

These are fantastic with:

• Delicious brisket queso
• Smoked cream cheese
• Savory Corn Dip
• Cream cheese with cranberry jelly

They’re also delicious all by themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these with bagels?

Absolutely — bagels are actually one of the best options because their dense texture produces some of the crunchiest bread crisps of all. Any variety works: plain, everything, sesame, or onion.

Can I make these with hoagie rolls?

Yes! Hoagie rolls work beautifully and produce a hearty, substantial crisp that holds up well to dipping. They’re a great option if you have leftover rolls from a pulled pork or meatball sub night.

How long do bread crisps stay fresh?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. The key is making sure they’re completely cooled before sealing — any residual warmth will create moisture and make them go soft.

Why aren’t my crisps getting crunchy?

A couple of things could be going on: the bread pieces may be too thick, or they may need more time in the oven. Remember that they continue crisping up as they cool on the rack — don’t judge doneness while they’re still hot. If they’re still soft after cooling, pop them back in the oven for another 5–10 minutes.

Can I freeze bread crisps?

They’re best fresh, but you can freeze them in an airtight container. To bring them back, re-crisp them in a 350°F oven or air fryer for a couple of minutes. They won’t be quite as perfect as fresh, but they’re still really good.

Are these just as good the next day?

They lose a little of their crunch overnight but are easily revived! Toss them in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes or the oven at 350°F for a few minutes and they’ll crisp right back up. The garlic flavor actually intensifies a bit by the next day, which is a nice bonus.

Do I need to use Everything Bagel seasoning?

Not at all — it adds a wonderful savory depth with the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and dried onion and garlic, but you can easily swap it out. Ranch seasoning, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, or just extra Parmesan all work great. Use what you have!

Can I use an air fryer instead of the oven?

Yes! Set your air fryer to 325°F and cook in batches for about 8–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Keep a close eye on them — air fryers vary and they can go from golden to burnt quickly. The results are wonderfully crispy.

What’s the best way to serve these at a party?

Pile them in a basket or bowl alongside your dipping options. They pair perfectly with the Smoked Brisket Queso, Smoked Cream Cheese with Honey Drizzle, or the Savory Southern Corn Dip right here on the blog. Set them out as a grazing option while the main course finishes on the grill — they’ll disappear fast!

Backyard Texas Grill Tip

Slightly stale bread actually works better than fresh bread for this recipe. If your buns, bagels, or rolls have been sitting on the counter overnight, you’re already halfway there.

Thanks for stopping by!

If you make these garlic crisps and love them, please consider leaving a review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Pit Master

Zach believes good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether he’s grilling burgers, smoking brisket, or finding creative ways to use leftovers, he loves turning simple ingredients into meals friends and family can’t stop talking about. These Garlic Parmesan Bread Crisps are proof that sometimes the best recipes come from making the most of what you already have. 🔥🥖🧄