Make use of leftover hot dog buns to make these light and crispy Hot Dog Bun Croutons. They take just minutes to make and are great for topping soups, salads, and more!
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I always give myself a little pat on the back whenever I figure out how to make use of something that would otherwise end up in the trash. These leftover Hot Dog Bun Croutons are an excellent example. We end up with leftover buns all the time which eventually led me to discover that they make super delicious croutons!
Hot dog buns are surprisingly tasty when tossed with a little olive oil and seasoning and baked until crispy. Their tender but slightly chewy bite makes it pretty impossible not to pop a few in your mouth before you even get around to making the salad!
I discovered the method of using old sandwich rolls to make Cheater Garlic Bread a very long time ago. This recipe stems from that same idea and, honestly, you can use any type of leftover buns you happen to have in your pantry to make these homemade croutons.
Ingredient Notes
- Leftover hot dog buns – This recipe will also work with leftover hamburger buns or sandwich rolls.
- Olive oil
- Seasoning – The seasoning consists of a simple mixture of dried spices including Italian seasoning, granulated garlic or garlic powder, dried parsley flakes, fine ground sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
How to Make Hot Dog Bun Croutons
- Cut each hot dog bun in half lengthwise
- Then slice it crosswise into 5 slices. Separate the bread cubes and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the bread cubes with the olive oil and toss with your hands until well coated in oil.
- Sprinkle the granulated (or garlic powder), salt, dried parsley flakes, Italian seasoning and pepper over top and toss again to distribute the seasoning.
- Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and pour the croutons on to the sheet, spreading out in an even layer.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, lightly tossing with a spatula about halfway through, or until golden brown and crisped to your liking.
Serving Suggestions
- Add great flavor and texture to an otherwise boring green salad with a handful of Hot Dog Bun Croutons. They are the perfect choice on a Simple Italian Salad or Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.
- Adding homemade croutons to a bowl of tomato soup seriously takes it to the next level! I also like to add croutons to Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Creamy Cauliflower Soup, or White Bean and Ham Soup.
- Crushed croutons can be used as a replacement for bread crumbs in many recipes. They’re delicious sprinkled over cooked veggies, macaroni and cheese, and casseroles.
How to Store Croutons
Transfer completely cooled croutons to an airtight container. If using a resealable plastic storage bag, press out as much air as possible before sealing. Store the croutons at room temperature and use within two weeks.
Hot Dog Bun Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 hot dog buns, see Notes
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- ¼ teaspoon fine ground sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut each hot dog bun in half lengthwise and then into 5 slices crosswise. Separate the pieces and you should have 20 small cubes per roll. Transfer the cubes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss with your hands until well coated in oil. Sprinkle granulated (or garlic powder), salt, dried parsley flakes, Italian seasoning and pepper over bread cubes. Toss again to distribute the seasoning.
- Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and pour the croutons on to the sheet, spreading out in an even layer.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, lightly tossing with a spatula about halfway through, or until golden brown and crisped to your liking. Remove and allow to cool slightly before adding to your favorite salad or soup.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
Like this? Please rate & comment below!
These are excellent! I was skeptical at first but we always have leftover buns and I hate to waste food. Oh my goodness, these are light and crispy but not hard like store bought (although if you prefer a harder crouton you could just bake them longer). Delicious flavor. They store well in the fridge and are so easy to make. We will never buy store bought croutons again! Thank you for this recipe.
Aren’t they the best? I was surprised too! So glad the recipe worked so well for you. Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂
Amazing flavor. I’ve made them twice now, but this time I cut them a little smaller, and did them them in my air fryer. Perfect. Thank you for this recipe.
Ive done this for years using hot dog and hamburger buns! The only thing I do differently is I use one of the refillable pump oil sprayers. Its so easy to add all of the cubes to a large bowl and lightly spray and toss to very lightly cover with the olive oil so the yummy spices will stick to all of the cubes. My Grand-daughter loves them as a snack if I use dry ranch dressing mix.
Love your tips, Teresa! Thanks so much. 🙂