Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons
A comforting vegetable soup featuring garden-fresh produce, finished with crispy herbed croutons for texture. This general-inspired soups ready in about 45 minutes pairs chicken broth, diced carrots, diced celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 slice baguette
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup diced onion and 1/2 cup diced celery, cooking for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp dried thyme, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Step 3: While soup simmers, preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice 1 baguette slice into 1/4-inch cubes, toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt. Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove bay leaf from soup, ladle into bowls, and top with herbed croutons.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (20 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep chicken broth from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Houzz Garden Soup with Herbed Croutons?
General soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 25-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★☆☆
It was fine. Came out a bit bland for my taste.
