Substitutes for Breadcrumbs: 20 Best Alternatives + FAQs!

Breadcrumbs are a common element in a variety of dishes. You’ll need them in meatloaf, fried chicken cutlets, and a variety of other recipes from around the world.

But what if you don’t have any breadcrumbs in your kitchen and you need them for a recipe? Is there an alternative to breadcrumbs? You can create breadcrumbs at home because their name pretty much says it all. All you need is a loaf of bread.

You can also use replacements in your recipes that will work just as well! Almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and peanuts are examples of nuts that you can use . You can also use different seeds, such as chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds.

Crackers, pretzels, chips, quinoa, cereal, shredded coconut, expanded rice, biscuits, couscous, and spaghetti are all suitable breadcrumbs substitutes.

Breadcrumb Substitutes That Work

The following substitutions you can use in practically any recipe that asks for breadcrumbs. Some of these substitutes may already be in your pantry! Keep in mind, though, that the way you utilize them will vary depending on the recipe you’re making.

No.1 Walnuts are number one

Walnuts will alter the flavor of your food, but they will maintain the desired texture. You will not be disappointed if you use them instead of breadcrumbs in any recipe.

Your dish will have an earthy, nutty flavor to it. To use the walnuts as breadcrumbs, you will need to smash them, which you may do in a food processor.

You can use the same amount of breadcrumbs as you would for breadcrumbs in terms of quantity. They can be used in place of breadcrumbs in a variety of meals, including meatloaves.

No.2 Almonds

When it comes to replacing breadcrumbs in recipes, almonds are the same as almonds. You’ll need to smash them to get the breadcrumb texture, but this is simple to achieve if you have a food processor.

After you’ve smashed your nuts, you may use them in place of breadcrumbs in any recipe. Maintain the same quantity to get the texture you desire, but you should prepare for a more robust flavor.

No.3 Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts are more challenging to come by, but they can be an excellent substitution for breadcrumbs if you do. They don’t have as strong a nutty flavor as other nuts, but they’ll provide much flavor to your food.

Hazelnuts you can use in salty and sweet dishes. However, because they are so delectable, you may want to use them in recipes that don’t even call for breadcrumbs.

No.4 Nuts and seeds

Peanuts can be used in place of breadcrumbs in any recipe as long as they are unsalted. If you buy salted peanuts, you’ll need to minimize the salt in your recipes to keep the flavor.

The good news is that peanuts of all types are easy to come by. Use the same number of peanuts as you would breadcrumb in your recipe, but smash them to get the texture you want.

If you add peanuts, the nutty flavor is more prominent. It is, nevertheless, entirely compatible with a variety of recipes, ranging from meatloaves to stews and even certain minced meat dishes.

No.5 Seeds of chia

Instead of breadcrumbs, chia seeds can be used. These seeds have the advantage of not needing to be smashed. You can use them as is, but you’ll need to double the amount to get the texture you desire.

We didn’t include chia seeds as one of the top ingredients. When chia seeds are combined with water, they expand and take on the texture of breadcrumbs when cooked. After all, they will change the color of your cuisine because they are primarily black.

No.6 Seeds of flax

Flax seeds can also be used in place of breadcrumbs. Even though the flat seeds have a mild earthy flavor, they have a neutral flavor that will not significantly influence the flavor of your dish.

For a crunchier texture, use more flax seeds than breadcrumbs in terms of amount. Finally, the number of seeds you use will be determined by your preference and the texture you like.

No.7 Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds have a distinct nutty flavor that goes well in a wide range of dishes. You can use them in soups, meatloaves, and as a topping on a variety of recipes.

When substituting them with breadcrumbs, keep the same quantity and follow the rest of the recipe’s instructions. In the future, you may want to utilize hemp seeds because of their texture and flavor, which can significantly improve the taste of your cuisine.

No.8 Crackers

Crackers you can also use them in place of breadcrumbs in a variety of recipes. They’re made of flour and have a similar flavor to breadcrumbs.

It’s critical to choose unflavored crackers, so you don’t have to change the flavor of your recipe any more than necessary. Crackers are readily available in stores and can be used the same as breadcrumbs.

No.9 Pretzels

You may easily use pretzels for breadcrumbs in this recipe. This is an excellent substitute for the missing element.

Look for pretzels that don’t have any salt, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds, as well as ones that don’t have any other flavor. If you use breadcrumbs, you want your cuisine to taste as it would, and unflavored pretzels can provide that flavor.

You’ll need to break the pretzels to make them look more like breadcrumbs. Pretzels are best used in various crusts, such as crusted fried shrimp or chicken.

No.10 Chips

Instead of breadcrumbs, you can use chips. There are so many different kinds of chips on the market that choosing the appropriate one for you might be challenging.

Finding chips that aren’t salted will be complicated. If you use this alternative, you may want to reduce the amount of added salt in your recipe.

You may either use a food processor or a ziplock bag to smash the chips. Toss them in with your crust. You will prefer chips to breadcrumbs since the dish will be tasty.

No.11 Quinoa

If you want to use quinoa instead of breadcrumbs in your dish, you’ll need to cook it first. The directions are printed on the package.

On the other hand, quinoa can be cooked in the same way as rice. So, before you use the quinoa in your recipe, you’ll cook it in water and then drain it.

You can use the same amount of quinoa as breadcrumbs and be assured that your cuisine will have an unusual flavor.

If you’ve never had quinoa before, give it a try before adding it to your meal. This way, you’ll know exactly how to tweak the remaining ingredients to achieve the desired flavor.

No.12 Cereal

Choose a cereal with a neutral flavor, and you’ll be able to use it in practically any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs.

Unless you’re making a dessert, stay away from the sweet cereal. You may not need to smash cereal because it already comes in miniature sizes.

Consider if you need to split them down any more or not, based on your tastes. You’ll enjoy the results if you use the same amount of cereal as breadcrumbs.

No.13 Coconut shreds

Shredded coconut flakes are readily available in supermarkets. It’s a typical addition to cookies and sweets. However, you might be amazed at how much flavor it can impart to shrimp or chicken. Use this alternative in the same way that breadcrumbs are used in the making of different crusts. It tastes like coconut and has a crunchy texture. Keep the same amount of shredded coconut on hand as you would if you were using breadcrumbs.

No.14 Rice that has been expanded

Expanded rice comes in the form of rice rolls, which you can readily obtain in the snack department of local stores and supermarkets.

You don’t need to do anything with these because they’ve already been cooked. However, you’ll need to smash them into small pieces to make them look like breadcrumbs.

Expanded rice buns are available in both plain and flavored varieties. Choose the unflavored variety to ensure that your food tastes identical to or similar to the original recipe.

No.15 Biscuits

Biscuits can also be used in place of breadcrumbs. Even plain biscuits are sweeter than breadcrumbs, so keep this in mind because your meatloaves or crusts will be sweeter as well.

Increase the other seasonings in your recipes, such as salt and pepper, to equalize the flavor. In a food processor, mash the biscuits and use them in the same manner, you would breadcrumbs.

No.16 Couscous

Couscous is a type of pasta that is made up of tiny balls. In terms of texture, it’s similar to rice and quinoa. Couscous has a taste that is comparable to that of pasta, and it will be flavorless without the seasoning you use in your recipe.

If you want to use couscous instead of breadcrumbs:

1. Heat them beforehand.
2. Cook it in water with a spoonful of olive oil per cup of couscous.
3. Allow it to cool completely before using it in a recipe.

Because it will be cooked again later, keep your couscous al dente while boiling.

No.17 Pasta

Breadcrumbs can be substituted with any pasta. However, it would be best if you first prepared it according to the package directions.

Allow the paste to cool before smashing or cutting it with scissors once it has finished cooking. If you desire additional crunchiness, you can smash the pasta before cooking it and add it to your meal.

No.18 Rice

Instead of breadcrumbs, you can use rice in the same way as quinoa. You’ll need to boil or stir fry the rice just long enough to keep it crispy. Allow it to cool after you cook it. Then, exactly like with the breadcrumbs, add it to your recipe.

It’s possible that you’ll need to add more rice than the usual amount of breadcrumbs. It’s a fantastic addition to meatloaves, and it’s also good in a variety of baked and fried dishes.

No.19 Corn flakes

People commonly use corn flakes in crust recipes, and they will not let you down if you use them in other dishes as well. They have a mild, sweet flavor that pairs well with fish and white meat. You can make use of Corn flakes in meatloaves.

To keep the flavor the same, you may need to add more salt and pepper. You can use the same amount of corn flakes as you would breadcrumb in terms of quantity.

No.20 Grissini

If you don’t have any of the above substitutions, you can use grissini instead of breadcrumbs. They’re generally unflavored and can be found in the munchies area.

If you like, you can purchase them flavored with olive oil, which will provide a wonderful flavor to your cuisine. Because they often come in long, dense sticks, smash them into smaller pieces. You can use this alternative in various meals, from meatloaves to chicken crust.

What Can I Substitute for Breadcrumbs on a Keto Diet?

Smashed almonds or other types of nuts are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs if you’re on a keto diet. Almonds have a similar texture to walnuts but a richer flavor.

Because these nuts are high in calories, be sure you don’t eat too many of them. It isn’t the most cost-effective option. As a result, we recommend starting with one sort of nut. Breadcrumbs, specifically for a keto diet, will be available in stores.

Is it possible to substitute cornstarch for breadcrumbs?

In any event, cornstarch isn’t a viable alternative for breadcrumbs. This item is overly crunchy when raw, and it can substantially alter the texture of your cuisine.

The taste, on the other hand, will not be very similar. On the other hand, you can use Corn flakes successfully as a bread crumb substitute, as we discovered in our list of 20 bread crumb alternatives.

Is it necessary to use breadcrumbs when making meatballs?

Any meatballs recipe requires breadcrumbs or one of the replacements listed in this guide. Your meatballs will be too firm and less juicy if you don’t use breadcrumbs, rice, quinoa, or couscous. Bread has the benefit of bringing flavor and texture to your food.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a lack of breadcrumbs is not a catastrophe.

Using one of the substitutions in today’s advice, you can still make a fantastic meal. Furthermore, you will not have to be concerned about the flavor of your food. Any of the products mentioned in this article will enhance the flavor of your food. You could even enjoy it without the breadcrumbs if you use one of these alternatives.