Low Calorie Croutons

This Low Calorie Croutons recipe it’s just 30 calories per 1/4 cup.

Plus you can make several different flavors of seasoned croutons. And thanks to the guide below, you’ll be making croutons in just 15 minutes, start to finish!

This homemade croutons recipe comes with several crouton flavors. From ranch seasoned croutons, to a taco seasoning for croutons. And my amazing garlic parsley crouton recipe, as seen in the photo above.

Try these healthy croutons in soup, or over your favorite salad. These oven baked croutons can be made fast, and with household ingredients.

This healthy homemade croutons recipe it’s just 30 calories per 1/4 cup…

Low Calorie Croutons

Ingredients in Healthy Croutons

You can use any bread to make croutons. I personally love to use sourdough bread as it makes chewy croutons with crisp edges… Like the fatty ones the restaurants make (that are soaked in butter overnight!)

But thanks to the sourdough, we don’t need butter to get that perfect consistency.

You can also make croutons from French bread, or gluten free bread… basically, you can make this recipe with any crouton bread you like. And you can find the Best Low Calorie Breads to Buy here.

Shopping List for Healthy Croutons:

• Sourdough bread (or Gluten-free bread)
• Olive Oil Spray
• Garlic salt
• Parsley 

More Low Calorie Seasonings for Croutons:

• Ranch Flavored Croutons
• Taco Flavored Croutons
• Seasoning Salt Croutons

Croutons are so much more than bread cubes for salad. These perfect little bites add crunch and complexity to your soups and salads.

And thanks to the extra flavors you can make ranch croutons, taco flavored croutons and more.

How to Make Healthy Croutons

Making croutons at home is easy, and you can cook these up from start to finish, in just 15 minutes.

I use healthy cooking tricks to cut calories without sacrificing flavor, or serving size. Check out these low calorie cooking tips.

Low Calorie Cooking Tips:

• Olive Oil Spray: Use olive oil spray in place of butter or oil. You just need a tiny bit to crisp up these homemade croutons. This trick will save you 100’s of calories and lots of fat!
• Parchment Paper: Using parchment paper means you don’t need so much oil, as the crouton bread won’t stick to the baking sheet. Plus is helps with clean up… Bonus!

How to Make Healthy Croutons:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut the bread into small cubes.
3. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet, and spray them lightly with olive oil.
4. Sprinkle with garlic salt and parsley (or your favorite crouton seasoning).
5. Bake for 10 minutes until slightly crispy (they will crisp up more as they cool).
6. Cool completely and add to your favorite salads and soups.
7. Store leftovers at room temperature, in a sealed container. Will hold for about 7 days (if they get soft, bake for 3 minutes to crisp up).

Low Calorie Croutons Recipe

This low calorie crouton recipe takes just 15 minutes to make, and you can use whatever bread you have on hand!

Try the Ranch seasoning for croutons when making a salad with ranch dressing. And try the taco seasoned croutons for taco salads or spicy Caesar salads.

Nutrition and Calories in Croutons

Most croutons are soaked in butter… read that again. Soaked in butter!

But not these, I use a couple low calorie cooking tricks to help cut calories and still yield a perfect crouton recipe. You can read more about the low calorie tips above in the “how to” section.

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Article History:

• Originally written and published June 8, 2021 by Audrey Johns
• Updated on May 18, 2023 by Audrey Johns