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    Home » Nut Free » King Ranch Chicken Soup – Keto Recipe

    Published: Oct 1, 2020 · Modified: Aug 17, 2021 by Carolyn

    King Ranch Chicken Soup – Keto Recipe

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    12.0K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This cheesy keto chicken soup is so thick and creamy. All the best flavors from King Ranch Chicken in a hearty slow cooker soup recipe.

    Titled image of Keto King Ranch chicken soup in a white bowl with a colourful striped napkin beside it

    The chilly weather approaches, and you need this King Ranch Chicken Soup recipe in your life. It is so rich and cheesy and creamy, and bursting with spicy Tex-Mex flavors. And so easy to make in your slow cooker!

    It’s not quite a “dump-and-run” recipe but it’s close. That’s my own personal term for recipes where you simply pop everything into your crockpot and walk away, and dinner is done. I love those recipes… who doesn’t?

    In this recipe, you have the extra step of cooking the garlic in butter and then making in into a thickened soup base. But the results are spectacular so I wouldn’t change a thing!

    What is King Ranch Chicken Soup?

    You might well be asking yourself what King Ranch Chicken is. I was too, when I started seeing posts for it on Pinterest. From what I could see, it looked like a very tasty, albeit carb-a-licious, chicken casserole.

    Upon a little investigation, I found that it is indeed a chicken casserole, and it takes its name from the largest ranch in the US. It’s a Tex-Mex style casserole with tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, and cream of chicken soup.

    I also spotted a number of King Ranch Soup recipes, like this one, and realized that they would be easy, and delicious, to keto-fy.

    Most of these soup recipes take quite a bit of flour whisked into the butter, to create a roux. A roux like this helps thicken the broth, but that’s not really an option for keto.

    So I used some cream cheese and some glucomannan to thicken the broth, for a super rich, hearty keto chicken soup.

    Top down photo of King Ranch Chicken Soup in a white bowl with handles.

    How to make Keto King Ranch Chicken Soup

    Easy, fun, and delicious. Let’s get started!

    1. Use boneless skinless thighs, or breasts if you prefer. You can even do this soup with frozen chicken – simply add 30 minutes to the cooking time.
    2. Use fresh tomatoes if you can, as they are slightly lower in carbs than canned. I used fresh tomatoes from my garden.
    3. De-seed your jalapeño, if you like milder soup. I always leave the seeds in for more heat.
    4. Cook the garlic in the butter, then add the spices and cook for another minute or so. Then stir in the broth.
    5. Thicken the broth with glucomannan or xanthan gum. My preference for a recipe like this is glucomannan because it is easier to whisk in and becomes much less gloppy.
    6. Pour the sauce over the other ingredients and turn on your slow cooker! Once it’s done cooking, remove the chicken and shred it. Add the cheeses to the slow cooker and blend, then add the chicken back in.

    Ta-da! You are now about to enjoy some deliciously spicy Keto King Ranch Chicken Soup.

    A ladle scooping keto cheesy chicken soup out of a white bowl.

    Can you make this soup in an Instant Pot or on the stove?

    This recipe is easily adapted for Instant Pot or stovetop.

    For an Instant Pot, I would follow the same process and cook on high for 30 minutes or so. Let the pressure release naturally before opening the lid.

    For the stove, I would start with Step 2 in a large saucepan or stockpot. Then I would add the chicken, tomatoes, and jalapeno right into that same pot and cook it that way.

    Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Proceed with Step 5 as directed.

    A spoon digging into slow cooker King Ranch Chicken Soup

    More keto chicken soup recipes

    • Keto White Chicken Chili
    • Keto Thai Chicken Soup with Zoodles
    • Easy Keto Chicken Enchilada Soup
    • Keto Buffalo Chicken Chowder
    • Keto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Soup
    • Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup
    Top down photo of King Ranch Chicken Soup in a white bowl with handles.

    Keto King Ranch Chicken Soup

    This cheesy keto chicken soup is so thick and creamy. All the best flavors from King Ranch Chicken in a hearty slow cooker soup recipe.
    4.96 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: king ranch chicken soup, slow cooker chicken soup
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 414kcal

    Equipment

    • slow cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 1 cup diced tomatoes
    • 1 large jalapeno, diced (more if you want it spicier)
    • ¼ cup butter
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 3 cups chicken broth
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon pepper
    • ¾ teaspoon glucomannan (optional, thickens the soup)
    • 2 cups cheddar or colby jack, shredded
    • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the chicken, tomatoes, and jalapenos to a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker.
    • In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chili powder and cumin and cook another minute. Stir in all the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
    • Remove from heat and stir in the salt and pepper, and the glucomannan if using, to thicken the sauce. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker.
    • Set the slow cooker to high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
    • When the time is up, remove the chicken to a plate. Add the shredded cheese and the cream cheese to the slow cooker and replace the lid. Let melt 10 minutes, then use an immersion blender to blend everything together.
    • Shred the chicken with two forks and stir back into the soup. Serve hot with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and additional cheese, as desired.
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto King Ranch Chicken Soup
    Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
    Calories 414 Calories from Fat 260
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 28.9g44%
    Carbohydrates 3.6g1%
    Fiber 0.7g3%
    Protein 27.1g54%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    12.0K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kiki B says

      December 17, 2021 at 8:06 pm

      Hi,

      Has anyone made this in an Instant Pot? Did you use the slow cooker option or the pressure cooker option?

      Does this keep well in the refrigerator or freezer? Does it reheat well?

      Thank you,

      Kiki

      Reply
    2. Penelope says

      November 30, 2021 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I made this using leftover Thanksgiving turkey…it was delicious! Being from Texas, I miss King Ranch Chicken, so this filled the void. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    3. Sandy Scanlon says

      October 25, 2021 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      I made this yesterday, I used 3 small jalapenos and fresh tomatoes. Also used chicken bone broth instead of just chicken stock. It was amazing! Extremely filling. I just wish it was a little thicker. Wonder if it would hurt to add either more cheese or more glucomannan to thicken it a bit more?

      This will definitely be going in my rotation though, but first need to portion out and freeze my leftovers 🙂

      Thank you, Carolyn. You are one of the first keto bloggers I discovered, and you’ve consistently provided amazing content & recipes. I appreciate you!

      Reply
    4. Diana says

      October 14, 2021 at 7:36 pm

      I used pico de Gallo instead of dicing the jalapenos and tomatoes. The added cilantro adds another depth of flavor.

      Reply
    5. Melissa Regnerus says

      October 04, 2021 at 7:38 am

      Anyone use chicken breasts with similar, good results? Also fresh tomates work fine?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 04, 2021 at 7:52 am

        It works fine that way.

        Reply
    6. Abby B says

      February 19, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      This was soooo good!
      Reminded me of a chicken tortilla soup that chilis used to have. I used one full jalapeno and one jalapeno minus seeds. I think I will add more heat next time.
      We will definitely be making this one a regular on the rotation.

      Reply
    7. Rondell says

      January 11, 2021 at 10:12 pm

      This looks wonderful! Could I use xantham gum as the thickener and if so, how much do you think? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 12, 2021 at 12:35 pm

        Use it in the same quantity.

        Reply
    8. Maryann says

      January 03, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      I made this soup today on my stove top, it’s great!!! Thanks so much for all your great tasting keto recipes!!!

      Reply
    9. Kimber says

      January 01, 2021 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      I didn’t even use a thickener and in a pinch used the meat from a rotisserie chicken. Also had no chili powder so used a little paprika. This was so delicious and I’ll def make it again.

      Reply
      • Tracy says

        February 22, 2021 at 11:02 am

        Good to know. Did you add your chicken at the end or in the beginning?

        Reply
    10. Jenn Davis says

      December 25, 2020 at 2:21 am

      We Love, love, love this soup! So good! It can be made with turkey leftovers….. just prep everything as per directions, EXCEPT add the cooked poultry At the End, after broth is done. Simmer to flavour the cooked poultry and voila! Thanks for figuring this one out Carolyn! mmmmm soup…….

      Reply
    11. Kristen says

      November 24, 2020 at 12:42 am

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and it was just delicious!!

      Reply
    12. Toni Dash says

      November 05, 2020 at 10:21 am

      5 stars
      I love it! So comforting and delicious! And really easy to make! Such a huge win!

      Reply
    13. Matt Taylor says

      November 05, 2020 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      I love all kinds of soup. This king ranch chicken soup is awesome and so easy to make. So cool it is keto!

      Reply
    14. Beth says

      November 05, 2020 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness this looks so delicious and full of flavor! My family is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try!

      Reply
    15. Sandi Moskowitz says

      October 28, 2020 at 9:54 am

      Made this soup last evening and it’s a winner. Not only does it taste awesome, it made the whole house smell wonderful. I made it stove top with cut up chicken tenders. Thanks so much for all you do.

      Reply
    16. Jeff S says

      October 17, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      Not usually a soup fan, but this is delicious. One bit of advise for other minimally experienced cooks: if you are using a liner in your slow cooker, pour the soup into a large bowl before using the immersion blender! Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time and effort filtering out shreds of plastic.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 17, 2020 at 10:22 pm

        Ohhh, I’ve never even used a liner at all. Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
      • Terri says

        November 10, 2020 at 9:42 pm

        I’m soo glad you said this. I just started using my immersion blender and I always use the crockpot liners!

        Reply
    17. Simon Beckett says

      October 14, 2020 at 3:34 am

      The soup caught my eyes at the first sign. It looks delicious!

      Reply
    18. Toni says

      October 06, 2020 at 8:31 pm

      I made this tonight! So delicious!

      Reply
    19. Tina O says

      October 03, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      Can I use arrowroot powder to thicken?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 04, 2020 at 8:28 am

        Sure, it’s just higher in carbs.

        Reply
    20. Deb says

      October 01, 2020 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      Wow, what a terrific riff on King Ranch Casserole. This may be your best soup yet!

      Reply
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