When the weather turns cold or you're simply craving a bowl of nourishing comfort food, keto chicken soup with rotisserie chicken is the perfect solution. This recipe offers a delightful twist on the classic chicken soup, eliminating noodles to create a low-carb, veggie-packed meal that's ready in under an hour. Using rotisserie chicken not only saves time but also infuses the soup with delicious, savory flavors.
Why This Recipe Works
This keto chicken soup stands out for several reasons:
- Quick and Easy: Rotisserie chicken significantly reduces cooking time, making it ideal for weeknight dinners.
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: By omitting noodles and focusing on vegetables and protein, this soup fits perfectly into a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle. Each serving contains just a few net carbs, primarily from the vegetables, which can be further reduced by adjusting the ingredients.
- Nutrient-Rich: Packed with protein and an array of vegetables, this soup is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.
- Versatile: The recipe is easily customizable to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
Ingredients
The key to a flavorful keto chicken soup lies in fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you'll need:
- Rotisserie Chicken: Using rotisserie chicken gives you all the yummy spices plus the convenience of picking up a cooked chicken!
- Soup Vegetables: A mix of onions, carrots, celery, and garlic forms the aromatic base of the soup. To keep it keto-friendly, you can add leek and cavolo nero or kale.
- Chicken Broth: Use organic or preservative-free chicken broth to avoid added sugars. Homemade chicken bone broth is also a great option. You’ll need 6 cups of broth for this recipe. You can get by with 4 or one 32 oz container, if needed.
- Herbs and Spices: Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley enhance the soup's flavor profile. Turmeric adds anti-inflammatory benefits and a warm, earthy note. Bay leaves infuse the broth with a subtle depth.
- Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the soup and adds a zesty touch.
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables.
- Salt and Pepper: Adjust to taste.
Optional additions:
- Cauliflower rice for added texture
- Heavy cream, cream cheese, or full-fat coconut milk for creaminess
- Jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or Tabasco for spice
- Cheese for added flavor
- Keto-friendly noodles like shirataki or kelp noodles
Step-by-Step Instructions
Stovetop Method
- Sauté the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onions and peeled + chopped carrots. Saute until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, and onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and the vegetables are tender; about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, turmeric, rosemary and thyme. Give your herbs a quick sauté to perk them up a bit. It helps bring out their deeper aromatic flavors for a more robust chicken soup.
- Build the Broth: Add the salt, pepper, chicken broth, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Add in minced garlic, chopped thyme, 1 tablespoon chopped sage, salt (1 1/2 teaspoon ), and pepper (1/2 teaspoon).
- Add Chicken and Simmer: Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and add the chicken and cauliflower rice. When the soup reaches a boil, reduce to a simmer and chopped chicken.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from the heat and serve with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir in the lemon juice. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings, to taste. This is the secret to a really tasty soup. The more concentrated it is, the more flavoursome the soup.
Alternative Cooking Methods
While the stovetop method is preferred by many, you can also adapt this recipe for other cooking appliances:
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- Instant Pot: Use the Sauté setting to soften the vegetables. Add the remaining ingredients and use the soup setting. Cook for 20 minutes, then do a pressure release.
- Slow Cooker: Sauté the vegetables in a separate skillet, then transfer them to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.
Tips and Modifications
- Adjusting Cooking Time: Chicken - Using rotisserie chicken for this recipe gives you all the yummy spices plus the convenience of picking up a cooked chicken! If using raw chicken, add it to the soup and cook for around 20 minutes or longer, until it falls off the bone.
- Vegetable Variations: Most vegetables taste good in Keto chicken soup. If you miss potatoes in chicken soup, try celery root.
- Spice it Up: Add jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or Tabasco sauce to give your soup a spicy kick.
- Making it Creamy: Stir in heavy cream, cream cheese, or full-fat coconut milk for a creamier texture.
- Adding Keto-Friendly Noodles: Incorporate shirataki noodles, kelp noodles, zucchini noodles, shredded cabbage, or cauliflower rice for a heartier soup. Cook spaghetti squash separately and add it right before serving.
- Balancing Flavors: Just before serving, mix lemon juice with olive oil and swirl into the soup. This is the secret to a really tasty soup. The more concentrated it is, the more flavoursome the soup.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days. Alternatively, freeze the soup for up to 3 months. I like to portion it into single-serve containers. This way, I can defrost one portion at a time. See? It’ll stay fresh and yummy in an airtight container with a secure lid. You sure can. You can also put freezer bags in single-serve containers and pour the soup in. Let it harden, seal the bags and pull the containers out of the freezer. Voila!
- To Freeze: Place soup in sealable containers and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Reheating: To reheat from frozen, place the soup in a deep pot and place over low heat. Let it thaw slowly, and once it begins to simmer, give it a mix and serve. To reheat from the refrigerator, either microwave for 1-2 minutes or cook on the stovetop.
Health Benefits
Keto chicken soup offers several health benefits:
- Low in Carbs: With only 7.6 grams of net carbs per generous serving, this soup is perfect for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet.
- Rich in Nutrients: Packed with vegetables, herbs, and spices, this soup provides essential vitamins and minerals.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Turmeric, a key ingredient, has anti-inflammatory benefits that can help boost your immune system, especially during colder months.
- High in Protein: Chicken is an excellent source of protein, which is essential for muscle building and overall health.
Keto Chicken Fajita Soup
If you love chicken fajitas but are following a keto or low carb diet, I've got the perfect alternative for you-this Low Carb Chicken Fajita Soup! It has all the same delicious Mexican flavors without all the carbs from the tortillas!
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken broth
- Green pepper
- Onion
- Garlic
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Canned tomatoes
- Heavy whipping cream
- Taco seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook boneless skinless chicken breasts in a slow cooker for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low in a cup of chicken broth. Season with salt/pepper. When chicken is cooked through, remove from slow cooker and shred. (You can strain the leftover broth for the soup.)
- In a large saucepan, saute green pepper, onion, and garlic in 1 tablespoon of butter until translucent.
- With a spoon, mash the cream cheese into the veggies so that it will combine smoothly as it melts.
- Add the canned tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and taco seasoning.
- Simmer on low uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Add the shredded chicken, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
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