Elevate your Thanksgiving feast with The Best Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs! Made with pecans and pumpkin seeds, they’re savory and versatile! You can use these homemade breadcrumbs on top of pasta, mashed potatoes, salads, and more!
Let’s be honest – what ISN’T better with crunch? (When it comes to savory foods, at least!) With these Thanksgiving breadcrumbs, you can level up all of your favorite side dishes with a crunchy texture and herby, buttery flavor. Making these breadcrumbs is dead simple, but the flavor payoff is huge. All you do is toast the bread, grind it up in a food processor with pecans, pumpkin seeds, and rosemary, then sauté the mixture in butter and oil until you have the perfect condiment.
In my opinion, these Thanksgiving breadcrumbs are better than stuffing. Why? Because so many other elements on the Thanksgiving table are crunch-less, such as mashed potatoes or casseroles. Come on, we need some texture!! And I call these The Best Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs for a reason – they’ve got two layers of crunchiness. One from the toasted breadcrumbs for the finer crunch, then larger chunks of pecans and pumpkin seeds for a good hearty bite.
Another thing I should add is that I love the idea of serving breadcrumbs as a side instead of on top of a dish. Why? For several reasons. First, serving them on the side allows people to take as much or as little as they like. Second, by keeping the breadcrumbs separate, you’re not left with soggy crumbs when you have to reheat your Thanksgiving food. Everyone knows one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. And by keeping these Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs on the side, you don’t have to worry about them losing their crunch in the microwave!
I know you’ll love this recipe! Enjoy! :)
Try these Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs…
1 // Sprinkled on top of this Thanksgiving Salad
2 // As a crunchy topper for Pumpkin Cauliflower Gratin
3 // On top of Creamy Honeynut Pasta
4 // As an accompaniment to Roasted Green Beans
The Best Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs FAQs
Are these Thanksgiving breadcrumbs savory?
Yes!! For the seasoning, we use salted butter, pepper, and rosemary to create a delicious yet versatile flavor that will go with most Thanksgiving side dishes.
Can you use Thanksgiving breadcrumbs for pasta?
100%! I have a bunch of delicious pasta recipes that would be perfect for these breadcrumbs, such as my Honeynut Pasta and my Vegan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese recipe!
What kind of bread should I use to make breadcrumbs?
For this recipe, I have you use whole grain bread to make the breadcrumbs for hearty flavor that will stand up to Thanksgiving dishes. However, you can use whatever bread you have on hand in a pinch – try sourdough, honey wheat, or multigrain! Just be sure to keep the pecans, pumpkin seeds, and rosemary for crunch and flavor.
How to create breadcrumbs?
This recipe couldn’t be easier – all you do is toast the bread until it’s crunchy, then blend it up in a food processor with pecans, pumpkin seeds, and rosemary. After a quick sauté with butter and olive oil, you’re left with buttery, savory, flavorful breadcrumbs that go with nearly everything!
The Best Thanksgiving Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- 4 Slices Whole Grain Bread toasted in the toaster
- 1/4 Cup Raw Pecans
- 1/4 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds or Pepitas
- 1 Tbs Fresh Rosemary
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- To begin, toast your bread in the toaster, then set aside.
- Add the toasted bread and the rosemary to a food processor, and process on high until bread is in medium-sized crumbs.
- Then, add in the pecans and pumpkin seeds, and pulse until the nuts are in rough chunks and the breadcrumbs are slightly smaller. You don't want to totally pulverize the nuts – you want to keep some good sized pieces for crunch!
- Bring the butter and olive oil to medium-low heat in a sauté pan. Once the butter and oil are hot, add in the breadcrumbs. Stir on medium-low for about 3-5 minutes, until breadcrumb mixture is toasty and fragrant. Be sure to keep a close eye on the breadcrumbs to prevent burning.
- When done, remove from heat and serve breadcrumbs in a bowl.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t skip toasting the bread beforehand – it cuts the cooking time down significantly!
- You can use any type of bread you like for these breadcrumbs, but I recommend whole grain or whole wheat for best flavor.
- Feel free to use stale bread as well! This is the perfect application for it!
- Breadcrumbs will keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for about a week. Be sure to bring to room temperature before serving!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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