Hearty Keto Soup: Comfort Without Carbs
Are you looking for the ultimate comforting dish for a cool evening, one that soothes the soul without straying from your low-carb path? We know it can be tricky to find meals that feel genuinely indulgent while being keto-compliant. That’s precisely why we’ve perfected this Hearty Keto Soup. It’s a rich, flavour-packed recipe that delivers a warm embrace in every spoonful. Filled with succulent chicken, nutritious vegetables, and a divinely creamy broth, this soup is delicious proof that you never have to choose between comfort and your dietary goals.
What Makes a Soup a Hearty Keto Soup?
For us, a ‘hearty’ soup is a substantial meal in a bowl, not just a simple starter. It’s the kind of dish that is deeply filling and keeps you feeling satisfied for hours. To make it keto-friendly, the recipe must be exceptionally low in carbohydrates. We achieve this by leaving out high-carb vegetables like potatoes and instead using nutrient-rich, low-carb heroes such as cauliflower and broccoli. The ‘hearty’ quality is boosted by a generous helping of protein from chicken and an infusion of healthy fats from double cream and butter. This thoughtful combination results in a wonderfully sustaining meal that perfectly complements a ketogenic lifestyle.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A Truly Filling Meal: This is far more than a light appetiser. It’s a robust, nourishing soup loaded with protein and fats to keep you content and ward off hunger.
- Rich with Flavour: We carefully build layers of taste, starting with sautéed aromatics and simmering the ingredients in a savoury broth, finishing it all with cream for a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Effortless to Make: With its clear instructions and everyday ingredients, this recipe is ideal for any weeknight. You can have a beautiful pot of soup bubbling on the hob in no time at all.
- Ideal for Meal Prep: Like many great soups, this one is even more delicious the following day. We suggest making a large batch over the weekend for quick and easy meals during the week.
- Wonderfully Adaptable: Don’t hesitate to use different vegetables or proteins depending on what’s available. This is a brilliantly versatile recipe that welcomes creativity.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 2 Celery Stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 700g boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1.2 litres Chicken Broth or Stock
- 1 medium head of Cauliflower, chopped into small florets
- 1 medium head of Broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 120ml Double Cream
- 100g Full-Fat Cream Cheese, softened
- A large handful of fresh Spinach (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste
- Fresh Parsley, chopped, for garnish
How to Make the Perfect Hearty Keto Soup: Step-by-Step
Just follow these straightforward steps to craft an unforgettable bowl of goodness from our collection of low carb soup recipes. We will walk you through building a deep flavour foundation and achieving that wonderfully creamy finish.
- Build Your Flavour Base: In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, warm the olive oil and butter together over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and celery and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, until they are soft and the onion is translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it becomes fragrant.
- Brown the Chicken: Introduce the chicken pieces to the pot. Season them well with salt, pepper, dried thyme, and rosemary. Continue to cook, stirring now and then, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides. This searing process is key to developing a rich, savoury taste.
- Create the Soup: Pour the chicken broth into the pot, using a wooden spoon to gently scrape any flavourful browned bits from the bottom. These morsels add incredible depth! Bring the entire mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer the Vegetables: Add the cauliflower florets, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes until the cauliflower begins to soften. Next, add the broccoli florets and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, until they are tender yet still have a slight bite. Adding the broccoli later ensures it doesn’t overcook.
- Add the Creaminess: Turn the heat down to low. In a small bowl, temper the softened cream cheese by whisking in a ladle of the hot broth until you have a smooth mixture. This smart step prevents lumps. Pour the cream cheese mixture and the double cream into the pot. Stir gently until fully incorporated and the soup is luxuriously creamy. If using, add the spinach now and stir until it has wilted.
- Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste your creation and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper as needed. Ladle your hot creamy keto soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving.
Tips for Customising Your Chicken Vegetable Soup Low Carb
The flexibility of this chicken vegetable soup low carb is one of its greatest strengths. Here are some of our preferred ways to personalise it:
- Switch Up the Protein: If you don’t have chicken, this soup is equally delicious with leftover shredded turkey, fried sausage meat, or even browned minced beef.
- Vary the Vegetables: Feel free to incorporate other low-carb vegetables. Sliced mushrooms, diced courgettes, or trimmed green beans would all be wonderful additions. Simply adjust their cooking times accordingly.
- Add a Little Spice: For those who enjoy a touch of warmth, a pinch of red pepper flakes added with the herbs will provide a subtle, pleasant heat.
- For a Thicker Soup: If you prefer a denser consistency, you can blend a cup of the soup (focusing on the cauliflower) and stir it back into the pot. Alternatively, a very small amount of xanthan gum (around ¼ tsp) will also work to thicken it nicely.
Nutritional Benefits and a Low-Carb Lifestyle
We designed this recipe to be the ultimate keto comfort food. Every serving is rich in healthy fats and protein but exceptionally low in net carbs, which helps to maintain ketosis. The variety of vegetables ensures you receive a good dose of essential vitamins and minerals. Following a well-balanced, low-carbohydrate eating plan can be a valuable tool for reaching health goals, a principle supported by insights from health bodies like Diabetes UK, particularly concerning the management of blood sugar levels.
FAQ
Your New Favourite Comfort Meal Awaits
And there you have it—a straightforward, delectable, and deeply comforting hearty keto soup that provides all the warmth you could wish for, without the carbohydrates. This recipe is a wonderful example of how a low-carb diet can be incredibly flavourful, fulfilling, and far from monotonous. It is the perfect meal to warm your bones on a chilly day, to prepare ahead for a hectic week, or to share with loved ones—regardless of whether they follow a keto lifestyle.
We warmly invite you to head to the kitchen and give this recipe a go. Make it your own, experiment with the ingredients, and find your new favourite comfort dish. We would love to hear how it goes, so please share your thoughts in the comments or tag us in your photos online. Happy cooking!
Suggested Meta Description
Searching for a warming, filling meal? Our Hearty Keto Soup recipe is the ultimate low-carb comfort food! This creamy chicken vegetable soup is easy, delicious, and keto-friendly.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 2 Celery Stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 700g boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1.2 litres Chicken Broth or Stock
- 1 medium head of Cauliflower, chopped into small florets
- 1 medium head of Broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 120ml Double Cream
- 100g Full-Fat Cream Cheese, softened
- A large handful of fresh Spinach (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste
- Fresh Parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Build Your Flavour Base: In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, warm the olive oil and butter together over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and celery and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, until they are soft and the onion is translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it becomes fragrant.
- Brown the Chicken: Introduce the chicken pieces to the pot. Season them well with salt, pepper, dried thyme, and rosemary. Continue to cook, stirring now and then, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides.
- Create the Soup: Pour the chicken broth into the pot, using a wooden spoon to gently scrape any flavourful browned bits from the bottom. Bring the entire mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer the Vegetables: Add the cauliflower florets, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes until the cauliflower begins to soften. Next, add the broccoli florets and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, until they are tender yet still have a slight bite.
- Add the Creaminess: Turn the heat down to low. In a small bowl, temper the softened cream cheese by whisking in a ladle of the hot broth until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture and the double cream into the pot. Stir gently until fully incorporated. If using, add the spinach now and stir until it has wilted.
- Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper as needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving.
Calories: 602 kcal,
Net Carbs: 8 g,
Protein: 30 g,
Fat: 50 g
