Keto Crack Chicken Bacon Soup (w/ Ranch Dressing)

Keto Crack Chicken Soup is a comforting, low-carb hearty meal the entire family will love! It is creamy, cheesy, thick, and, best of all, loaded with bacon, the ultimate flavor bomb!

There is a reason they call this soup “CRACK” chicken soup. It is super addicting. I mean, how can’t it be? Creamy, cheesy chicken flavored with ranch seasoning and loaded with crispy bacon!? Yes, please! The flavors of this chicken soup are packed to the brim and will have your entire family asking for more.

I especially love how I can make this soup in advance and reheat it in the same Dutch oven later on, right over the stove. The smell will infuse the entire house warming your heart and, of course, your belly!

Ingredients:

• Onion, garlic, celery, spinach: These veggies add nutrients and delicious flavor to your soup.
• Shredded boneless chicken breasts: I like to make my shredded chicken ahead of time using my slow cooker. It shreds easily with two forks. Or, you could always use a rotisserie chicken for ease. 
• Cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, whipping cream: These ingredients make this soup creamy while helping to thicken it.
• Bacon: Bacon adds fat, protein, and a TON of delicious flavor to your soup with minimal carbs.
• Chicken Broth: Chicken broth is a must and adds extra chicken flavor. You can use homemade broth or store-bought.
• Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: This is where the deliciousness shines! Ranch packets are a quick way to add layers of flavor. You can make homemade ranch dressing mix if you prefer. There are tons of options on Pinterest. 
• Xanthan gum: Xanthan gum replaces the flour acting as the thickener in this soup. It is keto-friendly and a must for creating thick, creamy soup!

Steps to make Creamy Crack Chicken soup:

 

Step 1: Cook the boneless skinless chicken breasts in a slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, then shred. 

Step 2: Fry the bacon in a dutch oven or soup pot. Remove using a slotted spoon reserving 1 TB of the bacon grease. Set bacon aside.

Step 3: Sauté the onion, garlic, and celery in reserved bacon grease and butter.

Tip: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can substitute it with 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and a tablespoon of onion powder can be subbed for the fresh onion. 

Step 4: Once translucent, add the softened cream cheese and stir until combined. 

Step 5: Add the chicken broth, baby spinach, ranch seasoning, heavy whipping cream, cheese, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if desired). Bring to a slow boil on medium-high heat, then turn down to medium-low and simmer with the lid off for 10 minutes. 

Step 6: Remove ¼ cup of the soup in a small bowl and add the Xanthan Gum. Mix until combined, then add back to the soup and the shredded chicken and ½ of the crumbled bacon. Reserve the rest of the crumbled bacon to sprinkle on top of the soup when serving.  Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes or until the soup thickens. 

Step 7: Serve with crumbled bacon, chives, and parsley on top.

Can you freeze crack soup?

Yes! This soup can be frozen, but keep in mind that the texture may change since dairy products don’t freeze well. Make sure to freeze it in a freezer-safe container or freezer bags that are airtight to prevent freezer burn!

Reheating:

When reheating your frozen soup, make sure to defrost it fully in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow your soup to reheat evenly without scorching or curdling the cream. Reheat over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not boil.

How Many Net Carbs are in this recipe?

There are 5g carbs and 1g of fiber, making this creamy crack chicken soup only 4g net carbs per serving. 

Can you make this soup in a slow cooker?

I do not recommend making this soup in a slow cooker. Because it is made with cream, it has the chance of separating, which is not appealing. My recommendation is to cook it in a Dutch oven. This is best for soups since the thick bottom does not cause food to burn easily. Simmering the soup gently is ideal for cream-based soups.

Soup variations:

If you do not have a few ingredients or would like to alter this recipe a bit, you can. If you do, keep the cream, cheeses, and chicken stock measurements the same, so your consistency stays thick and creamy. The xanthan gum should not be omitted if you want thick soup while keeping it low in carbs.

With that said, if you would like to swap out a few ingredients, here are my recommendations:

• Add mushrooms to your celery and onions while sautéing. This adds flavor and a bite to your soup.
• Swap out the spinach for kale if you wish. (You could also use frozen spinach, make sure to squeeze out the liquid as much as possible, so your soup is not watery!)
• If you do not have a ranch seasoning packet, you can make your own homemade ranch seasoning that is keto-friendly.
• If you do not have bacon, you can use diced ham or leave it out altogether.
• Chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, or turkey breasts can be subbed for boneless skinless chicken.
• Add zucchini noodles to make it extra hearty.
• You can sub 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for fresh garlic and 1 tablespoon onion powder for fresh onion

Other keto soup recipes you will love:

Keto and Low Carb Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Low Carb Chicken Fajita Soup {Keto Friendly}

Keto Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe

Keto Cheeseburger Soup Recipe

Queso Keto Taco Soup Recipe

More Keto Chicken Recipes that are delicious:

Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Broccoli

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken

Keto Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli Bake

Creamy Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Recipe with Bacon (very similar to slow cooker crack chicken recipe)

Keto Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe