25 Bread Crumbs Substitutes

Use one of these 25 bread crumbs substitutes instead of running to the store! Save time, save money, and use what you have, whether you need to replace bread crumbs as a coating, topping, or binder.

I first started making breadcrumbs because I discovered that they’re really easy to make and making food from scratch helps me save on my grocery budget.

But another one of the key ways to save on your grocery budget (and one of the first things I teach my students in Grocery Budget Bootcamp) is to make substitutions using things you already have.

You’ll save money by not buying an additional ingredient (or any impulse buys that jump into your cart when you run to the store for “just one thing”!), and you’ll save time because you won’t have to go buy something new.

Substitution lists like this are great to have on hand, so you can keep cooking and save money.

WHY USE BREAD CRUMB SUBSTITUTES

Saves money: Using what you have instead of buying something new is always a good choice.
Gluten-free alternative: If you have specific dietary needs, like eating gluten-free, having a list of gluten free bread crumbs substitutes can come in handy.
Uses up things you have in your pantry: Do you ever find a box with just a few crushed-up cracker bits at the bottom? How about stale chips because the bag wasn’t properly closed? These aren’t great for snacking but they’re perfect for breadcrumbs!

BREAD CRUMB FUNCTIONS

Before we figure out substitutes for breadcrumbs, we need to know how we’re using them in a recipe. Breadcrumbs usually function in one of three ways.

BREADCRUMBS AS A COATING

This is how I most commonly use breadcrumbs, as a coating on a protein. Think Fish Fingers, Chicken Nuggets, or Fried Pork Chops. The bread crumbs make a crispy, delicious outer layer that gets golden brown and crunchy when you cook the protein.

BREADCRUMBS AS A TOPPING

Another popular way to use bread crumbs is as a topping, usually on some form of casserole. When the casserole bakes in the oven, the breadcrumb topping browns and ends up flaky and crunchy.

BREADCRUMBS AS A BINDER

Finally, breadcrumbs make a good binder, meaning they help hold the other ingredients together. Think of things like meatballs or black bean burgers or crab cakes, where the breadcrumbs are a part of the mixture.

WHAT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR BREAD CRUMBS

Depending on which function your breadcrumbs are serving in your dish, you’ll use different bread crumbs substitutes.

Chopped nuts – almonds, walnuts, or pecans (coating)

Breading for Almond Crusted Baked Chicken in a blender.

Hemp hearts (coating)

Seeds (coating)

Sunflower seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds are also coating bread crumb substitutes. These work best when pulsed in a blender or food processor first.

Sesame seeds (coating)

Sesame seeds work as a coating and add a nutty flavor to the protein.

Crushed crackers (coating, topping)

Easy to use as a coating or topping in place of breadcrumbs.
Use up the random crushed bits at the bottom of the package, or even if they’ve gone a bit stale. Pulse in a blender or food processor or put in a resealable bag and crush.

Baked crackers on a parchment lined baking sheet

Crushed unsweetened cereals (coating, topping)

Corn flakes, rice krispies, bran flakes, or chex would work as a coating or topping.
Uses up the random crushed bits at the bottom of the package – you can even save several kinds right in their bags in the freezer and combine them all to make a bread crumbs substitute.

Almond flour or almond meal (coating, binder)

I already mentioned finely chopped almonds, but almond flour or almond meal works as a coating as well, like in this Almond Crusted Baked Chicken.
Almond flour can also be used as a binder to replace bread crumbs.

Coconut flour (coating, binder)

Coconut flour can act as a coating or a binder.
You may want extra liquid in your recipe if you use coconut flour as a binder since it soaks up a lot of moisture as it bakes.

Rice flour (sweet rice flour or brown rice flour) (coating, binder)

Rice flour is generally very finely ground. It would make a smooth coating in place of breadcrumbs or would work as a binder.

Buckwheat (coating, binder)

Even though it has “wheat” in the name, buckwheat is a gluten-free grain, so it’s a great gluten-free bread crumb substitute option. Use it as a coating or a binder.

Shredded unsweetened coconut (coating, topping)

Shredded unsweetened coconut gives a unique texture and flavor as a coating, tasty on fish.
You could also use coconut as a topping, depending on the flavors of your recipe.

Graham crackers (coating, topping)

This substitute isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for a hint of sweetness in your breadcrumb substitute, crushed graham crackers would work as a coating or topping.

Tortilla chips (coating, topping)

Crushed Tortilla Chips give an extra salty crunch as a coating or topping.
Perfect for using up the small bits at the bottom of the bag.

Sheet pan full of homemade tortilla chips.

Potato chips (coating, topping)

Potato chips already have plenty of fat, so you won’t need to toss them with additional oil or butter before using crushed-up chips as a coating or topping.

Pretzels (coating, topping)

Crushed pretzels give an extra salty crunch as a coating or topping.
Perfect for using up the small bits at the bottom of the bag – just be careful not to overdo the salt in your recipe if you dump the pretzel bits directly from the bag since extra salt tends to sink to the bottom as well.

Crushed-up croutons (coating, topping)

Croutons are basically toasted bread, so it makes perfect sense to make them smaller and use them in place of bread crumbs.
Would work crushed up as a coating, or as is for a topping.

Finely grated parmesan cheese (coating)

For the cheese lovers, parmesan makes a savory, salty coating in place of breadcrumbs.

Corn meal (coating, binder)

Have a bit of corn meal left over from making Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread? Use it as a coating or mix it in as a binder as a substitute for bread crumbs.

Corn starch (coating, binder)

Corn starch is best when mixed with something else as a coating (like seeds, parmesan cheese, or crushed-up potato chips), or use a bit as a binder instead of breadcrumbs.

Potato flour (coating, binder)

Potato flour is actually a starch similar to corn starch and is best when mixed with something else as a coating (like seeds, parmesan cheese, or crushed-up potato chips), or use a bit as a binder instead of breadcrumbs.

Make your own soft bread crumbs with small chunks of bread (topping)

A breadcrumbs substitute for topping casseroles.
Use fresh or stale bread. Toss with a bit of melted butter and they’ll toast up in the oven.

Fresh loaf of bread on a cutting board. Half of the loaf is cut into slices.

Stuffing mix (topping, binder)

This is not something I generally have in my pantry, but if you do, you can use it as a seasoned bread crumb topping or mix it into meat as a binder.
Since stuffing is made up of tiny bits of bread, it makes sense that it would work as a bread crumb substitute. It will contain dried herbs so keep that in mind with your recipe.

Rolled oats (binder)

Good breadcrumb substitute for meatloaf or Meatballs, but not good for topping.
Oats don’t have much flavor on their own, so you may want to add additional seasoning to your recipe if you normally use Italian breadcrumbs.

Cooked rice (binder)

Not a breadcrumb topping or coating because it has too much moisture.
Would work well as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf.

Cooked quinoa (binder)

Not a breadcrumb topping or coating because it has too much moisture.
Would work well as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf.

RECIPES TO USE BREAD CRUMBS SUBSTITUTES

SUBSTITUTE FOR PANKO BREAD CRUMBS FAQS

Can I use flour instead of bread crumbs?

Sometimes. Various flours will work best as a coating or a binder, but not very well as a topping.

What is the equivalent of 2 slices of bread to bread crumbs?

It depends on how finely you pulverize the bread when making bread crumbs, but in my experience, each slice of bread is equivalent to about ½ cup of bread crumbs, so 2 slices would equal 1 cup, 4 slices would equal 2 cups, and so on.

What is a gluten-free bread crumb substitute?

As you can see from the list above, you have plenty of gluten-free bread crumb substitutes to choose from, including chopped nuts, seeds, coconut flour, buckwheat, cooked rice or quinoa, corn meal, and more!