This Keto Chicken & Rice Soup is a low carb comfort food lover’s dream come true! Rich and flavorful, this healthy and delicious keto chicken soup is both creamy and slightly chewy from the veggies and “rice.”
I know you’re probably wondering what I used for the rice in this keto Chicken & Rice Soup, and if you guessed cauliflower, you’re partly right. I also included finely chopped walnuts though (like in my Keto Beef Barley Soup,) because they add an authentic chewy rice-like texture that you can’t achieve using just cauliflower.
The walnuts get a tad softer over time, but they don’t turn to mush like other vegetables, which keeps the texture legit even after a few days in the fridge.
While I flavored this Keto Chicken & Rice Soup with fresh thyme, any herb that goes well with poultry (tarragon, rosemary, herbs de Provence, or even parsley) will work as an alternative.
This delicious low carb chicken & rice soup comes together pretty quickly, since the veggies are all cut small and the chicken is typically added after being cooked.
I think it tastes even better after a day or two in the fridge, so this keto chicken & rice soup is perfect for meal prepping in advance to reheat day after day for lunch or dinner. It also freezes well so you can make it in advance and portion it out in single servings for a healthy keto lunch to grab and go on the run.
Google loves headers, so I’m going to give them what they want and also preemptively answer a few questions here that I know I’ll get later in the comments anyway. I’ll try to keep them to a minimum and remember you can always jump to the recipe and avoid scrolling if that’s your preference.
What is the best chicken to use in this Keto Chicken Soup?
I used chicken breast in this soup because it was easy at the time, but I prefer the lusciousness of dark meat in keto chicken soup usually. You can grab a rotisserie chicken already prepared, and use the meat from that for exceptional flavor and texture.
Honestly any chicken will work in this low carb chicken soup recipe, and it’s a great way to use up any roasted chicken or turkey leftovers.
Alternatively, while this recipe calls for cooked chicken, you can throw a few raw chicken thighs or breasts in the broth while simmering, and cook it covered for about 20 minutes. Then remove and cool the meat enough to handle before cutting and returning to the soup.
Can I substitute or omit the walnuts?
You can, but the texture will be much different. If you have a nut allergy, you can substitute hemp seeds, chopped sunflower seeds, or even unsweetened shredded coconut to provide a similar texture to what you’d achieve with the walnuts.
Do I have to use the Xanthan Gum?
While you don’t have to use the xanthan gum, it does help thicken the soup and give it that creamy luscious mouthfeel that is so comforting. As an alternative, you can thicken the soup with arrowroot powder, Konjac powder, or psyllium husk powder and get a similar creamy consistency.
Can this Keto Chicken & Rice Soup be made dairy free?
Yes it can! Simply replace the butter with olive oil, and the heavy cream with coconut milk. You’ll notice a slight coconut flavor, but that won’t be out of place or unpleasant in this context.
PrintKeto Chicken & Rice Soup – Low Carb
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
Description
This Keto Chicken & Rice Soup is a low carb comfort food lover’s dream come true! Rich and flavorful, this soup is both creamy and slightly chewy from the veggies and “rice.”
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups riced cauliflower
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2Â teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan gum (optional to thicken)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, garlic, cauliflower, and walnuts to the oil, and cook for 2 – 3 minutes, or until fragrant and the onions are turning translucent.
- Add the chicken broth, cooked chicken, thyme leaves, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to lowband simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is soft.
- Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the pot, then sprinkle the xanthan gum over the top and stir it in immediately to avoid clumping.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the red wine vinegar.
- Serve hot, garnished with more fresh thyme if desired.
- Before storing, cool to 100 degrees or less. Â Store in an airtight container(s) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Notes
Approximate net carbs per serving = 3g.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Keto Soup recipes
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 237
- Fat: 19g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 17g
Keywords: chicken and rice soup, keto chicken and rice soup, low carb chicken and rice soup
Hope V says
This was so good!! To be honest, I wasn’t super excited about having this for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised. This is going on my regular rotation for Keto dinners with extra for lunches. The walnuts are key for the delicious flavor and the texture!! Thank you!
★★★★★
CK says
This is a great recipe!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much for taking the time to rate and comment – I love this one too and wish more people would try it !
C K says
This recipe is really tasty!!
★★★★
Jessica says
Wasn’t sure about the walnuts, but I’m glad I tried it! Very good!
★★★★★
Noelle says
This was excellent! I didnt have red wine vinegar so I used white wine vinegar and it tasted amazing. Love the walnuts in the soup! What a game changer. Definitely saving this recipe to make over and over :)
★★★★★
Erin Self says
What kind of sorcery is this? This is the best chicken and rice soup I have ever eaten and it doesn’t even have rice. I love all of your recipes. Just starting back on keto due to my family membet being diagnosed with diabetes and I knew just where to come for the best recipes. Thanks for a delicious dinner!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Awesome to hear Erin, thanks so much!