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
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Marguerite O'Connell says
I made this for dinner tonight and loved it. I was somewhat surprised how much I liked it, actually, only because my favorite flavors are southwestern spicy and when I first read the recipe, I assumed it would be bland. But it is not. It is quite flavorful. I did substitute cut cauliflower for the celery root and fresh spinach for the Swiss chard. I also used frozen cut green beans and they cooked up just fine. I had pulled a few spices thinking I would want to doctor it before eating it, but I didn’t even add salt or pepper. It was delicious.
I have done low carb/lazy keto for years. But after a trip to see my family in August on which I let myself eat ALL the fried and breaded things, I never did get back on the keto bandwagon. Now my insides are very unhappy with me – I am bloated, tired and sluggish, and have gained weight. Carbs are not my friend. I know this. But it took a miserable weekend for me to finally decide it was time to start eating right (for me) again. So I made this soup to make sure there is a low carb choice for meals during the first few days when giving up carbs is kind of really hard. And I am so glad I did. I don’t feel deprived at all. Thank you so much for sharing this and all your recipes with us.
Francesca says
I’m on the last day of the soup diet and as of this morning I was down about 4 lbs. I love the soup, I used shrimp instead of chicken and I though it was delicious. After cooking the bacon, I removed it out of the pan but left the fat, then proceeded with the rest of the recipe (exact quantities and no subs). Once the vegetables were cooked I used an immersion blender to puree all the vegetables, then added in the bacon back in and the shrimp. I have to say, it was awesome!!!! I was short 3 cups so I thinned it out with chicken broth, a little watery but still flavorful. I think the reason I had less in the end is because of the pureeing, I think solids take up more room, at least that’s the explanation I’m going with. Thanks for the recipe Melissa and all the other menu plans you share, I’ve suggested your website to several friends already.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Your version sounds delicious Francesca – thanks for sharing and for taking time to rate the recipe!
Sharon King says
Soup is Great! Hubby and I did the 5 day diet – I lost 8lbs – husband lost 7. Soup was filling and had good taste.
Plan on doing it again next week
Thanks
Mellissa Sevigny says
Congrats on fantastic results for both of you!
Tina says
I bought way too many vegetables! I’m not familiar with these so I only wound up needing one yellow squash, one collard green bunch, and two celery root. A good handful of green beans was perfect. Very excited to start in the morning. Thank you for the recipe.
Brandy says
Can I substitute mushrooms for something else?
Lseeber says
I know this is well past the timing but that is also my question. I’d like to find a comparable (nutrient wise) sub.
Bert says
How many of the 4 fat grams are Saturated Fat?
Cathy Munro says
Made the soup today and I really like it but I only got 10 1 1/2c servings. Hum? Don’t know what I did wrong. Anyway, I made the soup today but I am not going to be able to start the diet for a couple of weeks. Can I pressure can it?
Thank You
Rose says
I have the same yield, 10 cups! What did i miss?
Suzanne says
What can I replace bacon with?
lseeber says
I’m going with turkey bacon and liquid smoke.
Becca says
I just made a batch and it is good! I used fresh radishes, celery, collard greens, zucchini, and frozen whole green beans cut in half.
Dee says
Dislike green beans. Substitute with any low-carb green veg?