A delicious keto chicken and vegetable soup that can help you reach your weight loss goals – especially when used as part of my 5 Day Soup Diet! Make it once and reheat all week with great results! Originally posted in Woman’s World Magazine as the IBIH Turbo Atkins Soup Diet.

Try my 5 Day Keto Chicken Soup Diet for quick and easy weight loss! Most lose 5 lbs or more on this plan, which is perfect to get yourself back on track after an indulgence, or to lose weight for an event (wedding, vacation, reunion, etc.)
This keto chicken soup originated when Woman’s World Magazine reached out and asked me to create a low carb soup recipe using chicken and lots of healthy low carb veggies for the Turbo Atkins Diet Soup feature they were running in the November 9th issue.
Of course I wanted this keto chicken soup recipe to be delicious, but I also wanted it to be undeniably healthy – since so many critics are still under the misconception that a keto diet is all bacon, steak and cheese, with little to no vegetables.
That’s just not true – or at least it doesn’t have to be if you are mindful about where your carbs are coming from.
This Keto Chicken Soup Diet recipe is loaded with delicious veggies that are low in carbs, filling, and tremendously good for you – making it the perfect complement to any low carb diet plan.
In addition to being low calorie, low carb, keto, paleo, delicious and super healthy, there is nothing more comforting than a steaming bowl of soup when it’s gloomy and cold outside – making this keto chicken soup recipe a winner on all fronts!
Now let’s talk about some of these ingredients – because every single one of them was chosen for a purpose!

I went with chicken as my protein because it’s widely available and has a mild flavor that pairs well with all of these veggies. Of course I added bacon, because it adds a lovely smoky flavor and a hint of decadence – it also provides some of the metabolism boosting fat in this recipe.
Celery root (Celeriac) is the perfect alternative to potatoes in low carb chicken soup recipes (like this one) because it’s super filling and loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and a hefty dose of phosphorus, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C. If you can’t find celery root you can use cauliflower, jicama, or even turnips as a replacement – DON’T SUB PARSNIPS AS THEY ARE TOO HIGH IN CARBS.
I included regular white mushrooms in this keto chicken soup recipe, because they are not only inexpensive and low in carbs, but surprisingly high in antioxidants, B-vitamins, and Selenium! (as a side point, in the Woman’s World article they called for Vitamin D enhanced mushrooms – I’ve never heard of them, regular white or baby bella mushrooms are fine.)
The yellow squash adds color and texture, but it’s also high in potassium (especially important on a low carb diet) and Vitamin A.

You can substitute any greens in this keto chicken soup (EXCEPT KALE WHICH IS HIGH IN CARBS,) but I went with swiss chard in this keto chicken soup recipe because it holds up better in liquids than spinach, which tends to turn the broth muddy. I also love the texture and color of the swiss chard stalks, and the fact that it’s low in calories and carbs but incredibly nutrient dense.
If you’re not familiar with Swiss chard (aka. silverbeet), I wrote a post about Swiss Chard which includes information on nutrition, health benefits, culinary uses, and even how to grow it in your garden!
Next up – garlic, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes not only add flavor to this keto chicken soup, but are also powerful antioxidants and contain immune boosting compounds just in time for cold and flu season!
The green beans I added for color, texture, and low carb/calorie filler (not that they don’t also provide valuable nutrients), and the red wine vinegar added at the end of cooking balances out the flavor of the low carb chicken soup and gives it a mouth-watering quality that keeps you coming back for more.
You can also substitute apple cider vinegar if you prefer. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes – just be sure to add it at the end so you don’t lose the slight tang during the cooking process.
Finally, the fresh basil over the top gives it a punch of brightness and unites all of the other flavors, making every bite pure bliss.
All of those healthy and delicious ingredients combine beautifully to make this incredible keto chicken soup – which comes in at just 136 calories and 4g net carbs!

While there is some chopping involved, once you’ve made this big pot of keto chicken soup you can store it in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for several months and have it at the ready whenever you want some. (If you also happen to have some of my Sundried Tomato & Asiago Zucchini Muffins in there then you are winning at life my friend.) ?
I think the flavors in this low carb chicken soup get even better with time – and the people who tested it for the Woman’s World article agreed!
Replacing just one meal per day with a bowl of this hearty keto chicken soup will not only load you up with healthy vitamins and minerals, it is also a powerful weight loss tool because it is so filling and has so little calories!
Have this keto chicken soup for lunch AND dinner and you could lose up to 10 pounds in one week, as did some of the test subjects for the magazine article!
If you give the 5 Day Soup Diet a try be sure to let us all know how you do!
SUBSTITUTION NOTES:
As per the comments and Facebook Group, quite a few are subbing in parsnips and kale in this keto chicken soup, but as you can see by this list those are the highest possible carb options and can absolutely affect your weightloss on this plan! There is room for subs, but be smart about it per this list!
(Approximate weight for root veggies is 5 oz)
1 cup turnips – 6g net carbs
1 cup celery root – 11g net carbs
1 cup parsnips – 18g net carbs
1 cup jicama – 5g net carbs
1 cup cauliflower – 3.5g net carbs
Greens (approximate weight 1.3 oz)
1 cup Kale – 5.5g net carbs
1 cup Collards – 0.7g net carbs
1 cup swiss chard – 0.7g net carbs
1 cup fresh spinach – 0.6g net carbs
Keto Chicken Soup – Keto Soup Diet Recipe
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: Fourteen servings
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
This delicious keto chicken soup recipe is loaded with healthy veggies and chicken. It’s so good it was featured in Woman’s World Magazine in November 2015!
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup sliced white mushrooms
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups celery root, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes (or cauliflower, jicama, radish, turnip)
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
- 2 cups yellow squash, sliced and quartered
- 1 cup green beans, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 cups swiss chard, chopped (or collards – NOT KALE)
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, cook the bacon and olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Add the onions, garlic, sundried tomatoes, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken stock and water, then add the celery root and chicken. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the squash, green beans, and swiss chard and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the fresh basil just before serving.
Notes
Approx nutrition info per 1.5 cup serving: 136 calories, 4g fat, 4g net carbs, 19g protein
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: keto Soup
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 136
- Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 4g net
- Protein: 19g
Can’t get enough delicious low carb recipes? Download all five of my e-cookbooks (over 150 delicious low carb recipes) for just $19.99 for a limited time!


Emma says
Hello, I really love the sound of this recipe/5 day plan and am going out to get the ingredients after work tonight! Just one question, sorry if this has been asked/answered already but does it matter what chicken stock you use?
I’m not sure I’ll have the time and inclination to make my own stock from scratch but the clean Keto FB groups always say that stock cubes like Knorr aren’t suitable…what are your thoughts? Some guidance on which brands/types are best would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance :-)
Mellissa Sevigny says
I like Pacific and Kitchen Essentials, but really any canned or box chicken broth or stock will do. Check the label and choose one without MSG and as few carbs as possible and you should be good to go!
Rosemary says
What can I use instead of mushrooms or can I just omit them and is celery root celeriac please?
Mellissa Sevigny says
You can omit the mushrooms and celery root is the same as celeriac.
Sarah says
Hi, I’m in the UK and have a couple of questions about the ingredients. Is the bacon back bacon or streaky bacon? Or does it not matter? And what is yellow squash? From google it looks like a yellow courgette (or zucchini) can I just use a normal green one?
Mellissa Sevigny says
streaky bacon and yes if you can’t find yellow courgette regular zucchini will work!
Sarah Robinson says
I made the soup today ready for this week and it’s so lovely. Overestimated the size of my pot though so will have to top up with extra stock. I couldn’t find chard or collard greens so I’m going to use spinach and just add a handful to each bowl as I eat it.
I’m not quite sure how to measure solid food in cups so just tried to estimate and hopefully will lose a few pounds this week!
Mary says
I’ve been stalling for weeks so am going to try this. Sounds yummy! My question is, do I just eat this for all 3 meals 5 days in a row and eat nothing else?
Mellissa Sevigny says
There is a detailed menu plan to follow.
Shelagh DB says
This soup is one of the best I have run across. I am a high carb whole food plant based gal but over Xmas like many of us, reached for the wrong carbs and needed a reset. This is phenomenal. Not really an animal protein consumer but occasionally I make an exception and this is well worth it. The only downside? My husband wont stop devouring it and I will have to make another batch tomorrow!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much, I’m happy it’s a hit with everyone!
Tanya says
Hi 👋 I totally love this recipe. I am after an exact version to copy into MFP. When I enter it manually it comes up as 44gms per serve. I have tried 3 times.
Please help.
Thanks
lori m says
oh my gosh!! I have the same problem, but mine is my 16 year old son! He sat and ate 2 bowls at two sittings all weekend… now I have to get more stuff and make another pot!! So, quick question…. what do you do with the butter??? I can not just eat butter! Yuck! My eggs are hard boiled…. that’s a tough one… thought about melting it in the soup for added flavor… haven’t tried it yet! haha
angela says
Oh my it is, I made it on Sunday for the week, my first dish was at lunch and lawd, I did not want to put the bowl down. It is very, very filling. I will continue to follow these receipes
STEPHANIE GARZA says
Question: Can cabbage be used in place of the swiss chard? I just love the stuff but not sure if its a good idea. Thx!
JK says
Stephanie Garza
Chard, collards & spinach all have less than 1 g.carbs/1 cup, but cabbage has just over 4 g.
Glenn says
I was a wee bit skeptical but lost 10lbs in 7 days! Thanks for this and the weekly menu planning around it!
I’m doing it for a 2nd week!
Anne W says
One thing wrong with this soup—-you can’t stop eating it!
Mel says
Do you have an instant pot adaptation for this soup? Thanks !
Rita says
I just made this in my IP and it came out great! One difference, I did not pre cook the chicken. After adding the water, stock, celery root and chicken, set it for 2-4 minutes at high pressure. (I did it for 6 minutes, and the chicken was overcooked) so will just have to experiment next time. Did a quick release then added the squash and greens, set it on low saute, covered, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Delish!!
Joyce says
Love the recipe. It’s a nice soup.
But I gained after the first day. Is this normal?
Am I getting a sort of whoosh after a few days? I used all the right ingredients and I drinking plain water and coffee.