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4.7 from 33 votes

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.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 637 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American

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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook the bacon in a large pot (I used my Greenpan Dutch Oven) until crispy and set aside.
  2. Add the butter in the same pot and heat until foaming. Sautée the onion, celery and carrots, stirring over medium-low heat for 5 minutes or until softened.
  3. 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.
  4. Add the chicken tenders and simmer for 25 minutes over medium-low heat or until the chicken is cooked through.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Add the softened cream cheese, half the crispy bacon and fresh parsley and stir well.
  8. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed then spoon into warm bowls. Top the remaining bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and prepare to swoon!

Notes

  • KETO CRACK CHICKEN SOUPYou 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 Information

Calories 637kcal (32%) Carbohydrates 39g (13%) Protein 47g (94%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 183mg (61%) Sodium 3086mg (129%) Potassium 1052mg (30%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 6510IU (130%) Vitamin C 36mg (40%) Calcium 123mg (12%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 637

% Daily Value*

Calories 637kcal 32%
Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Protein 47g 94%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 183mg 61%
Sodium 3086mg 129%
Potassium 1052mg 22%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 6510IU 130%
Vitamin C 36mg 40%
Calcium 123mg 12%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.