Get ready to cozy up with a bowl of Chicken and Bacon Soup! This deliciously hearty soup combines tender chicken and melt-in-the-mouth bacon with veggies for a comforting, flavour-packed meal. Perfect for those chilly nights or when you just need a little extra warmth and comfort.
This soup is sure to become a new family favourite.
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Keto Chicken and bacon Soup with a slice of cheesy toast and basil leaves on top.

When the weather cools down, nothing beats a warm, hearty soup to bring comfort to your day. Thrifty and easy, Chicken and Bacon Soup is a perfect example of a delicious meal that doesn’t break the bank. This recipe, brimming with wholesome vegetables and tender chicken, is not only easy on your wallet but also easy to prepare. A truly tasty soup I am sure you will love!

What You Will Love about this Recipe

  • LOW CARB FRIENDLY – This healthy chicken and bacon soup with no potato is both low carb and keto friendly. It is important to me to offer low carb soup options.
  • VERSATILE – I love this Chicken and Bacon Soup because it brings warmth and comfort to any meal without requiring expensive ingredients or complicated techniques. The combination of tender chicken, smoky bacon, and wholesome vegetables makes it a satisfying dish for any occasion. Plus, it’s versatile enough to adapt to whatever ingredients I have on hand, making it a staple in my kitchen.
The ingredients for Chicken and Bacon Soup laid out on a white backdrop with labels.

The Ingredients

  • Chicken – If you’re out of chicken legs, chicken thighs or breasts can be used as substitutes. Bone-in is best used to add flavour.
  • Vegetables – While the classic recipe calls for onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and zucchini, you can easily add other vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, or spinach. More low carb vegetables include cauliflower or kohlrabi as good choices.
  • Spices – Chipotle powder or smoked paprika adds a delightful smoky flavour. You can experiment with other spices like curry powder, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary, or cumin to give the soup a different profile. Try my ranch seasoning to make a very delish chicken bacon ranch soup.
  • Bacon bones/Ham Hock – If you prefer to skip the bacon or ham hock, you can still achieve a smoky flavour with a few drops of liquid smoke or a dash of smoked salt. This easy chicken and bacon soup recipe is also a fab way to use up Christmas ham.

How To Make It

Carrots, onions, and celery in a saucepan.
Chicken drumsticks and vegetables in a saucepan.

Step 1. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot and celery and sauté for 2-3 minutes

Step 2. Add chicken legs and zucchini; cook for a further 10 minutes with the occasional stir.

A saucepan of soup with chicken and vegetables in it.
Shredded chicken in a bowl.

Step 3. Add remaining ingredients. Cover with a lid and reduce heat. Simmer for 70-90 minutes.

Step 4. Remove bay leaves and bacon bone (if using) with a slotted spoon. Shred chicken and discard bones.

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A bowl of soup with chicken and bacon topped with fresh herbs.

Step 5. Strain soup and puree vegetables in blender. Pour soup back into the saucepan. Add the chicken back to the soup. Season to taste and serve.

Chef’s Tips

  • Butter vs. Olive Oil: Both butter and olive oil work well. Butter adds a rich flavour, while olive oil is a lighter dairy-free alternative.
  • Fresh Bay Leaves: Fresh bay leaves provide a more intense flavour compared to dried ones.
  • Garlic: Freshly crushed garlic gives the best flavor, but in a pinch, garlic powder can be used.
  • Chicken Broth: Homemade chicken stock offers the richest flavour. Store-bought stock is a convenient substitute.
  • Cream and cream cheese: If you like a creamy chicken soup add cream or cream cheese to the soup when pureeing.

Cooking Methods

This chicken bacon soup is incredibly versatile and can be prepared using various methods:

  • Slow Cooker: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Strain into a blender and puree the soup. Pour into a soup pot and add the shredded chicken.
  • Instant Pot: Use the sauté function for the initial steps, then cook on high pressure for 25 minutes followed by a quick release. Strain into a blender and puree the soup. Pour into a soup pot and add the shredded chicken.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Chicken and Bacon Soup with crusty low carb bread, a fresh green salad, or a side of roasted peperonata. A sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley, sliced green onions, basil leaves, or coriander can add a burst of freshness to each bowl. Or even better a dollop of pesto, chimichurri, or garlic sauce. For the carb-lovers make a chicken potato soup with bacon. Potatoes do make the soup very creamy and hearty. They are off the menu for me as I mostly follow the EF3 Meal Plans and eat only one high carb meal each week.

Perfect Bread To Serve with Chicken Soup

If you are anything like me you need a good keto bread recipe to go with your chicken soup. Here are just a few of my favourites;

  1. Hemp Seedy Bread
  2. Low Carb Focaccia Bread
  3. Good for the Soul Bread
  4. Low Carb Bread Rolls

FAQs and Tips

Can I make this soup in advance?

Yes, this soup tastes even better the next day. Store it in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

Can I use leftover cooked chicken?

Absolutely! If you have leftover cooked chicken, add it during the last 10 minutes of cooking to heat through without overcooking it.

Is this soup suitable for freezing?

Yes, this soup freezes very well. Just make sure to cool it completely before transferring to airtight containers for freezing.

Want more Keto Soups?

I am feeling the love for the chicken soup recipes and low carb soups in general. Here are a few more that you can add to your meal plans.

  1. Keto Chicken Vegetable Soup
  2. Keto Minestrone Soup
  3. Clear Chicken Soup
  4. Leek and Celery Soup
  5. Keto Pea and Ham Soup

If you love soups, you might also enjoy our Souper Tasty eBook with so many more keto and low carb soups to enjoy!

RAVING NEW FAN? Subscribe to our newsletter. Join our keto community on  Facebook,  Instagram or see all the new stuff and easy keto recipes on Pinterest.

A white bowl filled with chicken, bacon and vegetable soup.

Hearty Chicken and Bacon Soup

Get ready to cozy up with a bowl of Chicken and Bacon Soup! This deliciously hearty soup combines tender chicken and melt-in-the-mouth bacon with veggies for a comforting, flavour-packed meal. Perfect for those chilly nights or when you just need a little extra warmth and comfort.
This soup is sure to become a new family favourite.
5 from 89 votes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Lunch and Dinner
Cuisine: Australian Keto
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
Recipe Category: Low Carb
Calories: 373kcal
Author: Megan Ellam
Servings: 4 serves
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Equipment

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Ingredients 

  • 40 g (3 tbsp) butter or olive oil
  • 60 g (1/2 cup) (1/2 medium) onion diced
  • 1 clove (1 clove) garlic crushed and diced
  • 70 g (½ cup) carrot (1/2 medium)
  • 80 g (3/4 cups) celery diced
  • 4 (4) lovely legs or drumsticks (skin off)
  • 1 medium (1 medium) zucchini diced
  • 2 (2) fresh bay leaves bruised
  • 4 cups (4 cups) chicken stock
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp (1 tsp) cracked pepper
  • 1 tsp (1 tsp) chipotle powder or smoked paprika
  • 1 (1) bacon/smoked ham hock optional

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • In a large saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot and celery and sauté for 2-3 minutes
  • Add chicken legs and zucchini; cook for a further 10 minutes with the occasional stir.
  • Add remaining ingredients. Cover with a lid and reduce to low temperature. Simmer for 70-90 minutes.
  • Remove bay leaves and bacon bone (if using) shred any meat from it and discard. Shred chicken and discard bones.
  • Strain soup and puree vegetables in blender. Pour soup back into the saucepan. Add the chicken back to the soup. Season to taste and serve.

THERMOMIX METHOD

  • Place all ingredients into the mixer; only add stock to the MAX line; cook 80 min/90°C/reverse/stir.
  • Remove the chicken from the broth and set aside to cool briefly before shredding the meat.
  • Discard the skin from the chicken and shred the meat placing it into a separate bowl.
  • Remove the bacon bone, and shred any meat off it and add to the chicken.
  • Remove bay leaves and discard. Puree the soup 30 sec/speed 10. Add the chicken back to the soup. Stir to combine. Season to taste.

Notes

Storage Tips:
  • Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • For longer storage, freeze the soup in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • When reheating, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over low heat to avoid overcooking the chicken and bacon.
The bacon bone or ham hock is purely optional but imparts a delicious smokey flavour. Alternatively, cook bacon rashers and serve as a garnish.
Collagen peptides are a great natural thickener, using it does NOT result in a slimy thickener. It is very gentle and perfect for soup. If you prefer a thicker soup you can add it after straining. Or add cream to make a creamy chicken and bacon soup.
BEST CHICKEN AND BACON SOUP THERMOMIX TIPS
  1. Portion Size: Cut the bacon bones or ham hock into smaller pieces, around 3-4 inches in length, so they fit easily into the Thermomix bowl. This can be requested when you purchase so the butcher can cut them for you.
  2. Fit Test: Before starting the recipe, place the cut bones or hock pieces in the Thermomix bowl to ensure they fit without obstructing the blades or the lid. Adjust the size as needed.
  3. See the blog post above for chicken bacon soup slow cooker method and Instant Pot method. 
Serve with keto bread lightly toasted and slathered in butter.

Your Own Notes

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 519mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3480IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1.1mg | Net Carbs: 4g
Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

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30 responses to “Easy Chicken and Bacon Soup”

  1. Julie S

    5 stars
    Oh my so good and delicious.
    Love the bacon hock in this soup, so filling and so delicious. Was a great hit, hubby loved it 🤤

    Reply
  2. Loreto and Nicoletta

    5 stars
    This truly a beautiful soup. We love thst you strained the soup then pureed the veggies creating thus lovely creamy broth for the chicken to sit in. Nice work and lovely pictures. We would love to cuddle up to a bowl of this! 😋 ❤️ 😍 👌

    Reply
  3. Hayley

    5 stars
    This soup taste so good, easy and simple recipe that is pcked with flavours. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Tammy

    5 stars
    Ooh this sounds very delicious and comforting. What a fabulous soup and perfect for all that extra protein!

    Reply
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5 from 89 votes (67 ratings without comment)

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