Keto Ham Soup with Broccoli & Cheese (Hearty & Delicious)
Soup is one of my favorite keto meals as it comes together quickly without making a huge mess in the kitchen. This hearty and delicious Keto Ham Soup recipe is chock full of broccoli and cheese for a cozy and comforting meal. It’s easy to make and the perfect way to use leftover ham.
Cheesy Keto Ham & Cheese Soup with Broccoli
A couple of years ago ager my husband’s office Christmas party, we had a huge plate of leftover ham and broccoli. That next day it started snowing, and all I could think about was eating a big hearty bowl of hot soup snuggled up by the fire. The leftover ham and broccoli came to mind, and in about 30 minutes, I made a steaming pot of Cheesy Ham Soup that we all gobbled up.
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Is Ham Soup Keto Friendly?
If you are thinking of ham and bean soup with carrots and celery, it would not be suggested for the keto diet. However, the ingredients for this recipe are all low carb, so it is perfectly keto-friendly.
You’ll start this recipe by frying a couple of pieces of bacon in a large stockpot. The bacon grease is incredible for added flavor to this keto ham soup.
The reserved bacon grease is perfect for sauteeing the onion. If you don’t love onion, you can leave it out.
This base of this comforting soup is heavy whipping cream and chicken broth. If you prefer, you can sub bone broth instead. This Cheesy Ham Soup with Broccoli is comfort food at its finest.
After letting it simmer for just a few minutes, Cheesy Ham Soup with Broccoli is ready to enjoy! All you need to do is serve up a bowl and salt and pepper to taste.
What Kind of Ham Do I Use in this Recipe?
Any smoked ham will do. Make sure to avoid honey ham or maple ham varieties because of the added sugars. You can often purchase precooked ham already chopped at the grocery store in near the sandwich meats. There are also small hams that you can bake and use the leftovers for this Cheesy Keto Ham Soup Recipe.
How Long Will Ham Soup Keep in the Fridge?
I am fairly conservative as far as how long I keep leftover foods. I tend to keep soup in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Can You Freeze this Cheesy Homemade Ham Soup Recipe?
I tend to shy away from freezing soups with ingredients such as cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and cheese as they often break down and become grainy when they are reheated. The texture doesn’t bother a lot of people, but for those that it might, I want to make sure I give all the information I can.
Topping Ideas for this recipe:
- freshly grated cheddar cheese or another variety cheese
- crunchy bacon
- diced scallions
- Jalapenos if you like to turn up the heat
More Delicious Keto Soup Recipes:
- Keto Broccoli & Cheese Soup
- Queso Keto Taco Soup Recipe
- Crockpot Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Soup
- Keto No-Noodle Chicken Cabbage Soup
How to Make Cheesy Keto Ham Soup with Broccoli:
Cheesy Keto Ham Soup with Broccoli {keto/low carb}
Ingredients
- 4 pieces bacon
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups chopped ham
- 2 cups broccoli
- 1 tsp cream cheese
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 cups of cheddar cheese
- 1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum
Instructions
- In a large stock pot or dutch oven, cook bacon.
- Remove bacon and set aside.
- Add onion and garlic cloves to the leftover bacon grease and saute on medium until the onion is soft.
- Add chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, broccoli, cream cheese, and spices then simmer on medium heat for 12 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Add chopped ham then slowly add cheese stirring constantly until the cheese melts.
- Sprinkle Xanthan Gum on top to thicken the soup and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Sprinkle the reserved bacon on top and serve.
- Optional: Top with additional shredded cheese.
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Nutrition
Made this ham soup with leftover ham…. cannot say enough about it. It was delicious. I did change a few I Freddie ts based on what I had. Used 2% milk, spinach, carrot shreds and pepper Jack cheese.
Glad you thought the soup was delicious!
Thanks for mentioning the spinach! I plan to make this today and have a half a bag I need to use before it goes bad.
This soup is delicious! I used my ham bone to make the broth in my instapot..(Chicken stock and my ham bone…20 min) Then continued on the stovetop. I added cauliflower and broccoli…used my immersion blender for the fun of it….then added the ham and cheese etc. Definitely on my list to make again. Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for that idea I have a hambone in my freezer and I will use that for a nice hambone chicken broth to make chicken soup!
This is such a delicious recipe! I told everybody!! I made it with leftover ham from Easter Sunday and OMG!! Even my son loved it. I used low sodium chicken broth because I was concerned with the extra sodium from the bacon and ham. That was the only modification. I would make this every week and eat it until I get tired of it. It’s soooooo good!! Thank you!!
You’re welcome! This is such a great way to use your leftover ham. I’m really glad y’all loved it!
Whole family loved it. I did low sodium broth, added some Mrs Dash onion & herb, and red pepper flakes. Will be a regular meal in our house from now on!!!
I’m really glad your family loved this!
Really great and easy! Family loved it!
Awesome! Glad y’all loved it!
Simple and quick to prepare. If you like cheese, ham and bacon, DELICIOUS.
I love dishes that are easy to fix. Glad you loved it, too!
Love this soup. Have made it several times. Added cauliflower and sliced carrots along with the broccoli to make it more hearty as to serve as my main meal. Did not use xanthum and still delicious.
Thanks for this wonderful soup that makes me forget I am doing keto. Very satisfying.
That’s awesome! I’m really glad you enjoyed the soup.
This was so absolutely fantastic! I always add more bacon to everything in life but that was the only change. This was a huge hit for me (being keto), my 4yr old daughter, and my other non-keto family members! We all LOVED this! Great tip about not getting the sugared hams. I felt this was seasoned well and the tastes complimented each other fantastically! Thank you!
That is a huge win! So glad you all enjoyed it.
Only one teaspoon of cream cheese?
You could use more if you’d like, but a teaspoon works good.
I made this soup today because I wanted something a bit different and it was quick to make and it tastes delicious. I made it exactly as per the recipe with no problems. It made 4 servings so we have some for tomorrow. I bought ham misshaped as quite cheap.
So glad you enjoyed it.
Can anything be substituted for Xanthan gum? Maybe cornstarch?
Sure. Cornstarch isn’t considered keto-friendly but I don’t think it would add a huge amount of carbs if that is what you prefer to use.
i believe cream of tar tar will wirk
I am making this tomorrow for my in laws can you cook it in a crockpot?
I would not. Dairy products often break down when slow cooking.
This was delicious! Will be a cold night staple for us. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it.
So yummy!
This is one of my favorite soup recipes! I used spinach instead of broccoli and it was great! Great taste and so easy to make! I am going to share this recipe with my friends and family. It was delicious!
Fantastic. So glad you loved it.