What to use instead of 1 cup breadcrumbs
1
1 cup crushed crackers
Saltine or butter crackers; reduce added salt.
Best for: Coatings, meatloaf
2
1 cup quick or rolled oats, pulsed
Great binder; gluten-free if you use certified oats.
Best for: Meatballs, burgers
3
1 cup crushed cornflakes or panko
Extra crunchy.
Best for: Oven-fried chicken and fish
Chef's tipToast stale bread, then blitz it in a blender for fresh breadcrumbs; they freeze well.
Substituting pantry staples
Pantry swaps are usually the most forgiving, because these ingredients play a supporting role. Taste as you go, add the substitute a little at a time, and adjust seasoning at the end. When a swap is sweeter or saltier than the original, reduce other sugar or salt in the recipe to balance it.
Need more or less than 1 cup breadcrumbs? Scale the swap the same way as the original amount, or paste your recipe into the recipe converter to scale everything at once.
