Crack Chicken Soup
This creamy Crack Chicken Soup recipe is packed with flavor! A delicious medley of bacon, chicken, veggies, cheese and ranch seasoning. Low carb and Keto if you use shirataki noodles and Slimming Friendly with minor tweaks.
Servings: 4
Calories: 637kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup (130g) bacon lardons or 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large yellow onion , diced
- 2 ribs celery , finely diced
- 2 carrots , cut into small cubes
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion granules
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried chives
- 6 cups (1.4 litres) hot chicken broth (chicken stock)
- 1 pound (450g) chicken tenders (mini chicken breasts)
- 1 cup (120g) broken vermicelli noodles or small pasta shapes
- 1 cup (225g) full fat cream cheese softened
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- shredded cheddar cheese , as much as you like
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
Instructions
Stovetop Method
- Cook the bacon in a large pot (I used my Greenpan Dutch Oven) until crispy and set aside.1 cup (130g) bacon lardons
- Add the butter in the same pot and heat until foaming. Sauté the onion, celery and carrots, stirring over medium-low heat for 5 minutes or until softened.1 tbsp butter, 1 large yellow onion, 2 ribs celery, 2 carrots
- Stir in the minced garlic and add the Ranch seasoning or garlic, onion granules, dried dill, parsley, chives, salt and pepper. Pour in the stock and bring to a low simmer.2 cloves garlic, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion granules, ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp dried chives, 6 cups (1.4 litres) hot chicken broth
- Add the chicken tenders and simmer for 25 minutes over medium-low heat or until the chicken is cooked through.1 pound (450g) chicken tenders
- Shred the chicken using two forks in the soup or remove it with tongs and shred in a bowl before adding back to the pot.
- Add the noodles if using and stir into the soup. I used broken up vermicelli which cooks in under four minutes. Adjust the cooking time depending on the type of pasta used.1 cup (120g) broken vermicelli noodles
- Add the softened cream cheese, half the crispy bacon and fresh parsley and stir well.1 cup (225g) full fat cream cheese , 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed then spoon into warm bowls. Top the remaining bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and prepare to swoon!shredded cheddar cheese, salt and fresh ground pepper
Slow Cooker Method
- Cook the bacon and sauté the vegetables and seasoning on the stove as in steps 1 to 3, then tip them into the slow cooker.
- Add the hot broth and the raw chicken tenders. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours.
- Shred the chicken in the pot, then stir in the softened cream cheese, half the bacon and the parsley. Cook on HIGH for a further 15 to 20 minutes until the soup is creamy.
- Cook the noodles separately and add them to each bowl so they do not turn mushy in the slow cooker.
Instant Pot Method
- Use the Sauté setting to cook the bacon, then the vegetables and seasoning, as in steps 1 to 3.
- Add the broth and chicken tenders. Seal and cook on Manual (high pressure) for 8 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before opening.
- Shred the chicken, switch back to Sauté and add the noodles. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until tender, then turn off the heat.
- Stir in the softened cream cheese, half the bacon and the parsley until creamy.
Video
Notes
KETO CRACK CHICKEN SOUP
You can keep this soup low carb and suitable for the Keto diet by leaving out the noodles or by replacing them with shirataki noodles (also known as Miracle noodles / Zero noodles / Konjac noodles) which contain no carbs or calories. Shirataki noodles need to be rinsed well in cold water before being added to your soup. Miracle noodles come in several shapes – the ramen or rice ones are best for this recipe. SLIMMING WORLD CRACK CHICKEN SOUP Believe it or not it IS possible to make a slimming friendly variation of this soup! You will need to use back bacon or turkey bacon (fat removed), a low-calorie cooking spray and fat-free or reduced fat cream cheese. Mix the cream cheese with some of the soup broth first before adding to the pot to prevent the cream cheese from splitting. STORING AND FREEZING
You can keep this soup low carb and suitable for the Keto diet by leaving out the noodles or by replacing them with shirataki noodles (also known as Miracle noodles / Zero noodles / Konjac noodles) which contain no carbs or calories. Shirataki noodles need to be rinsed well in cold water before being added to your soup. Miracle noodles come in several shapes – the ramen or rice ones are best for this recipe. SLIMMING WORLD CRACK CHICKEN SOUP Believe it or not it IS possible to make a slimming friendly variation of this soup! You will need to use back bacon or turkey bacon (fat removed), a low-calorie cooking spray and fat-free or reduced fat cream cheese. Mix the cream cheese with some of the soup broth first before adding to the pot to prevent the cream cheese from splitting. STORING AND FREEZING
- Store any leftover chicken soup in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. You might need to add a little hot water to thin the soup before reheating on the stove over medium heat.
- This soup is suitable for freezing without the noodles. Pour the cooled soup in freezer bags or suitable containers making sure to allow a little space as the liquid will expand when it freezes. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove – adding the noodles then if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 637kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 183mg | Sodium: 3086mg | Potassium: 1052mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6510IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 2mg
