21 crouton recipes

A light and tasty salad takes no time to prepare. All the flavors are just nicely balanced.

Homemade oven-baked croutons from day-old bread, slow-dried at low heat until golden and crunchy. One ingredient, any herbs you like, and better than anything from a bag.

Lots of onion and garlic flavor in the hearty main dish soup. This version is low in fat.

Pureed carrot rhubarb soup with orange juice, served over garlic-rubbed cinnamon sourdough croutons and garnished with fresh chervil. A spring showstopper that keeps guests guessing.

Herbed tomato soup microwaves a tomato sauce base with sauteed onion, basil, and thyme into a 15-minute single-serve soup. Low fat, low calorie, served with Parmesan croutons.

Creamy corn-potato soup pureed thick with skim milk, dry milk powder, mustard, garlic, and a touch of honey. Low-fat vegetarian chowder that tastes richer than its calorie count suggests.

Not only delicious, but it also helps you keep a good diet.

Italian stuffed pork chops with basil pesto, crushed croutons, and sun-dried tomatoes. A simple 4-ingredient filling that turns ordinary chops into a flavorful baked dinner.

Spinach and cashew salad with watercress, green onions, and croutons tossed in your favorite dressing. A peppery, crunchy vegetarian salad ready in 5 minutes.

Green and wax bean salad with celery, dill, slivered almonds, and croutons in a creamy onion dressing. No-cook side dish ready in 10 minutes.

Prepare a salad like the top chefs do with this recipe that will have you wanting seconds!

Olive oil lentil vegetable soup with green lentils, potato, carrot, celery, and tomato simmered into a rustic, high-fiber vegan bowl with shallots and fresh parsley.

Set-it-and-forget-it crockpot split pea soup enriched with a silky egg yolk finish for velvety texture. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal hands-on time.

Light cream of veggie soup with broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes, partially pureed with evaporated skim milk and a hint of curry powder. Creamy without the cream.

A vegan Caesar salad dressing made from blended chickpeas, lemon juice, capers, and soy sauce. No eggs, no anchovies, no dairy. Toss it with crisp romaine and croutons for a plant-based classic.

Build-your-own summer salad with fresh veggies, marinated artichokes, avocado, sprouts, shrimp, bacon bits, and cheese. A flexible no-cook recipe you can customize with whatever is in season.