Clean Chicken Mushroom Soup: Low-Carb
Are you in search of the ultimate comfort in a bowl? Something that’s warm, velvety, and deeply satisfying, designed to nourish you from the very first spoonful? We understand that feeling completely, particularly on a cool evening when only a comforting soup will suffice. Well, your quest ends here. We are delighted to share a recipe that fulfils every desire: a rich, delicious, and remarkably simple Chicken Mushroom Soup. This is more than just a soup; it’s a revelation. It boasts a luxurious creaminess without any dairy, is brimming with protein, and is so quick to prepare that you’ll be left wondering how you ever managed without it.
This recipe elevates humble ingredients into an extraordinary meal. Picture tender pieces of chicken and earthy, umami-packed mushrooms mingling in a silky broth, delicately seasoned with fragrant herbs. It’s the culinary equivalent of a warm embrace, ideal for a peaceful evening at home or for delighting your dinner guests. So, find your favourite saucepan, and let’s begin. We are confident this will become a cherished favourite in your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Creamy, Totally Dairy-Free: We achieve a wonderfully smooth and rich consistency by using full-fat coconut milk, making this the perfect dairy free creamy soup for everyone to savour. You get all the comfort with none of the dairy.
- Quick and Convenient: This soup is designed with busy schedules in mind. Utilising pre-cooked chicken makes it one of the most convenient rotisserie chicken recipes for a swift mid-week dinner. You can have this wonderful soup ready in less than 40 minutes.
- Healthy and Nourishing: With a low carbohydrate count and high protein content, this soup is an excellent option for a light but substantial meal. It is a brilliant example of delicious low carb soup recipes that never compromise on taste.
- Packed with Umami Flavour: We are generous with the mushrooms! Sautéing them until they are beautifully golden releases their deep, savoury notes, which create the flavourful base for the entire soup.
- A Complete One-Pot Meal: Containing protein, vegetables, and healthy fats, this soup serves as a balanced and healthy protein dinner in one bowl. It’s a straightforward, fuss-free method for getting a nutritious meal on the table.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 450g cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1.2 litres high-quality chicken broth
- 400ml can full-fat coconut milk
- 400g cooked chicken, shredded (from a rotisserie chicken is ideal)
- 150g fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
How to Make the Ultimate Chicken Mushroom Soup
Putting this soup together is a simple and gratifying experience. We’ve outlined the process in clear steps to guarantee a perfect, creamy dish every time. The secret lies in building the flavours in layers, beginning with the vegetables.
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics and Mushrooms
In a large pot or Dutch oven, warm the olive oil over a medium heat. When it begins to shimmer, tip in the chopped onion and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring now and then, until it has softened and turned translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for one more minute until you can smell the lovely aromas. Take care to ensure the garlic doesn’t catch and burn.
Increase the heat to medium-high, then add the sliced mushrooms along with the salt and pepper. The key to deeply flavourful mushrooms is allowing them to brown nicely. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until they have released their moisture and developed a rich, golden-brown colour. This stage is vital for creating that wonderful earthy taste.
Step 2: Build the Soup Base
Pour the chicken broth into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to gently scrape up any tasty brown bits stuck to the bottom – this is where a huge amount of flavour is concentrated! Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Then, lower the heat, pop on a lid, and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes. This gives all the flavours a chance to meld together harmoniously.
Step 3: Add Creaminess and Protein
Stir the full-fat coconut milk into the pot until it is completely combined with the broth. You’ll see the soup transform into a beautiful creamy, pale hue. Following this, add the shredded cooked chicken. Allow the soup to warm through gently for another 5 minutes. It’s important not to let it reach a vigorous boil after adding the coconut milk, as this can cause the texture to split.
Step 4: Wilt the Greens and Serve
Finally, add the fresh spinach to the soup in batches, stirring until it has just wilted into the broth. This will only take a minute or two. Have a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding a little more salt or pepper to your preference. To serve, ladle the piping hot soup into bowls and finish with a generous scattering of fresh, chopped parsley for a final burst of freshness.
Our Top Tips for the Best Chicken Mushroom Soup
Although this recipe is quite straightforward, a few of our tried-and-tested tips can take it from being merely great to truly exceptional. Here is what we’ve discovered from making this soup time and again.
Choose Your Mushrooms Wisely
We favour cremini mushrooms (also known as baby bellas) as they offer a more profound, earthier taste compared to standard white button mushrooms. However, we encourage you to be creative! Using a blend of mushrooms like shiitake or oyster, or even adding a few rehydrated porcini, can introduce an incredible depth and complexity to your soup. The most important thing is to sauté them properly to unleash their full flavour potential.
The Secret to Dairy-Free Creaminess
For this recipe to achieve its signature creamy texture, it is essential to use full-fat coconut milk from a tin. The type sold in cartons for tea and coffee is too thin and will not provide the rich consistency we’re aiming for. When you open the tin, you might find the cream has separated from the liquid – this is perfectly normal. Simply add the entire contents to the pot and stir; it will melt seamlessly into the broth.
Storing and Reheating Your Soup
This soup is an excellent choice for meal prepping. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. When you wish to enjoy it again, reheat it gently on the hob over a medium-low heat. To preserve its creamy texture, avoid bringing it to a boil. We do not recommend freezing this soup, as broths made with coconut milk can sometimes develop a grainy texture after thawing.
A Delicious and Healthy Protein Dinner
It can often be a challenge to find a meal that is both profoundly comforting and genuinely wholesome, yet this Chicken Mushroom Soup manages it perfectly. It’s a nutritional powerhouse cleverly disguised as a simple, flavourful bowl of soup. The chicken delivers a significant portion of lean protein, which is vital for muscle maintenance and helps you feel full and content for longer.
Mushrooms are truly the unsung heroes of the vegetable world. They bring a meaty, umami richness while remaining low in calories and being full of B vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants. In fact, mushrooms are celebrated for their immune-supporting qualities, as explained in this article on their health benefits. When combined with iron-rich spinach, this soup offers a brilliant array of nutrients, making it a genuinely balanced and wholesome meal that you can feel great about sharing with your loved ones.
FAQ
A New Comfort Food Favourite
We are so thrilled for you to experience this creamy, comforting, and wholesome Chicken Mushroom Soup. It is a recipe that beautifully demonstrates that you don’t need dairy or hours of time to craft a meal that feels luxurious, indulgent, and deeply nourishing. It is the ideal dish to warm you through on a chilly day, comfort you when you’re feeling under the weather, or simply to be enjoyed as a quick and delightful weeknight meal.
We are certain that this soup will secure a permanent place in your collection of go-to recipes. So, the next time a craving for something satisfying and flavourful strikes, we hope this is the recipe you’ll reach for.
Have you tried our Chicken Mushroom Soup? We would be delighted to hear your thoughts! Please feel free to leave a comment below or tag us in your pictures on social media. Happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 450g cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1.2 litres high-quality chicken broth
- 400ml can full-fat coconut milk
- 400g cooked chicken, shredded
- 150g fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics and Mushrooms: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook onion until soft (5-7 mins). Add garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook Mushrooms: Increase heat to medium-high, add mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are golden brown (8-10 mins).
- Build the Soup Base: Pour in chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for at least 10 minutes.
- Add Creaminess and Protein: Stir in the full-fat coconut milk until combined, then add the shredded chicken. Heat gently for 5 minutes, avoiding a boil.
- Wilt Greens and Serve: Stir in fresh spinach in batches until just wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Calories: 493,
Carbs: 16g,
Protein: 41g,
Fat: 31g
