Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Why You Need My Keto Chicken Soup Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Keto Chicken Soup
- Serving Ideas
- More Keto Chicken Soup Recipes
- Keto Chicken Soup (So Easy!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
There’s something about a hot bowl of keto chicken soup that feels like pure comfort. Like most low carb soups , I love making this one every winter. Made with spaghetti squash (my fave), this low carb chicken soup has all the traditional components of a classic chicken noodle soup, but with just 4.9g net carbs per serving. Even my kids and very-not-keto friends love this!
Why You Need My Keto Chicken Soup Recipe

- Classic chicken noodle soup flavor
- Warm and comforting
- Simple, natural ingredients
- Just a few simple steps
- Keto friendly (just 4.9g net carbs ), gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo , and whole30
- Perfect way to warm up on a chilly day!

Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb chicken soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Olive Oil – For sauteing the vegetables. You can use avocado oil, or butter if you don’t turn up the heat too high.
- Veggies – You’ll need carrots, celery, and onion for that classic chicken soup combination. You could add other veggies, such as peas (for low carb but not keto), zucchini, bell peppers, or cauliflower florets.
- Chicken – You can cook raw chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs right in the keto chicken soup. If you have leftover pre-cooked shredded chicken in the Instant Pot or baked chicken breast , those also work great. Season the chicken with poultry seasoning for more flavor! If you have more leftover chicken, use it to make a low carb chicken salad next.
- Chicken Broth – I prefer to buy reduced sodium or make chicken broth from scratch , but regular broth or bone broth would work as well.
- Italian Seasoning – Make your own Italian seasoning blend in just a few minutes, or simply use store-bought.
- Bay Leaf – For richer flavor in your low carb chicken soup.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Spaghetti Squash – You can either bake spaghetti squash or microwave spaghetti squash , but will only need 1/2 of the squash. Use the other half to make spaghetti squash carbonara , classic spaghetti squash alfredo , or spaghetti squash pad Thai .
VARIATION: Use a different type of low carb noodles!
You can use zucchini noodles , kelp noodles , or shirataki noodles instead of spaghetti squash. You can also omit the squash altogether if you don’t want any kind of noodles (like my noodle-free healthy soup recipe ), or add a pound of cauliflower rice in the last couple of minutes.

How To Make Keto Chicken Soup
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Saute the veggies. In a large Dutch oven or pot , heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions and saute until the onions are translucent.
- Simmer the soup. Add the chicken, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer.
TIP: If using raw chicken, shred it once it’s tender.
Remove the cooked chicken from the pot, shred it, and return to the pot to continue simmering.

- Bake the squash. While the soup simmers, preheat your oven and poke holes in the spaghetti squash. Place it on a baking sheet and bake until a knife can easily pierce through the skin with only a little resistance. When the spaghetti squash is done cooking and cool enough to handle, slice it in half and use a fork to scoop out the strands.
TIP: Don’t overcook the squash.
Don’t overcook to the point where there’s no resistance at all, or the noodles will be mushy.
- Combine. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the noodles from half of the spaghetti squash. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish keto chicken soup with fresh parsley if desired.

Serving Ideas
This keto chicken soup makes a great starter before just about any keto dinner , but you can also double the serving size to make it a meal if you like. The best pairings for soup are:
- Low Carb Bread – 90 second bread is the quickest option, but classic white keto bread tastes great on the side, too. You can also try chaffles (garlic parmesan is my fave with keto chicken soup), some keto dinner rolls , or crusty keto garlic cheese bread .
- Chips or Crackers – Try my easy keto crackers or flax seed crackers . Each needs just 3 ingredients, or you can customize them with spices.
- Salad – Lighter salad options like a wedge salad or cucumber tomato salad make a light meal with keto soup, or try a chopped antipasto salad for a heartier option.
More Keto Chicken Soup Recipes
I love this classic low carb chicken soup, but there are lots of different ways to make one. Here are some of my other favorites:
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
- 2 medium Carrots (diced or sliced thinly; ~1 cup) ▢
- 2 stalks Celery (sliced thinly; ~1 cup) ▢
- 1 medium Onion (diced; ~1 cup) ▢
- 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 2-3 cups shredded chicken ) ▢
- 10 cups Chicken broth, reduced sodium ▢
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning ▢
- 1 medium Bay leaf (whole) ▢
- 3/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
- 1 medium Spaghetti squash (you’ll cook the whole thing, but the soup only needs half) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- In a large Dutch oven or pot , heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions. Saute for about 5 minutes , until the onions are translucent.
- Add the chicken breasts (you can use either raw or precooked), chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour . (If using raw chicken, remove it after 30 minutes , shred it, and return to the pot to continue simmering.)
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (191 degrees C). Poke holes in the spaghetti squash using a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 40-60 minutes , until you can easily pierce through the skin with only a little resistance when using a fork. (Don’t overcook to the point where there’s no resistance at all, or the noodles will be mushy.)
- When the spaghetti squash is done cooking and cool enough to handle, slice it in half and use a fork to scoop out the strands (pull with the fork in the same direction as the strands, crosswise across the short side of the spaghetti squash).
- Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the noodles from half of the spaghetti squash, or about 3 cups of spaghetti squash noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Store: Keep the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Meal Prep: Roast the spaghetti squash ahead or make the whole soup—it stores great for later!
- Reheat: Warm it up on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
- Freeze: I like freezing it flat in zip-top bags to save space or use souper cubes for easy portions!
- Note on nutrition info: Nutrition info is calculated based on using 1/2 of the spaghetti squash. You’ll need to cook the whole thing but only half goes in the soup. You can reserve the rest for another use.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
Add Your NotesYour Notes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Keto Chicken Soup

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- The Basic Keto Meal Formula
- Understanding Macros
- Keto Food Swaps
- Keto Food List
- Electrolyte Basics
- Keto Diet Types
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- Recipe Reviews
Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.
You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.
Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.
Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.
| Pick A Protein | Pick A Veggie | Add Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison | Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery | Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil |
Understanding Macros
Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.
Carbs Are A Limit.
Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.
A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.
“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.
A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.
Protein Is A Goal.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].
“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.
Fat Is A Lever.
Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.
A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).
Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.
Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.
“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.
Keto Food Swaps
One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.
So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .
Keto Swaps For Breakfast
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Pancakes | Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes |
| Oatmeal | Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds |
| Cinnamon rolls | Fathead cinnamon rolls |
| Cereal | Keto nut granola |
| Muffins | Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins |
| Donuts | Almond flour donuts |
| Scones | Almond flour scones |
| High-sugar smoothies | Smoothie with berries or avocado |
| Hash browns | Cauliflower hash browns |
| Breakfast casserole | Breakfast casserole with no potatoes |
| Egg whites | Whole eggs |
| Turkey bacon | Bacon |
| Waffles | Chaffles |

Keto Swaps For Bread
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Bagels | Fathead bagels |
| English muffin | Almond flour English muffin |
| White bread | Keto white bread |
| Multigrain bread | Coconut flour bread with seeds |
| Tortillas for wraps | Coconut flour tortillas |
| Corn taco shells | Cheddar cheese taco shells |
| Burger buns | Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps |
| Breadsticks | Cauliflower breadsticks |
| Biscuits | Almond flour biscuits |
| Cornbread | Almond flour cornbread |
| Croutons | Parmesan crisps |
| Rice | Cauliflower rice , konjac rice |

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Breaded wings | Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded) |
| Low-fat meat & poultry | High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower |
| Roasted potatoes | Roasted or fried radishes |
| Tacos | Taco salad |
| Pizza | Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza |
| Lasagna | Eggplant lasagna |
| Potato salad | Cauliflower “potato” salad |
| French fries | Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries |
| Tater tots | Cauliflower tots |
| Wraps | Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas |
| Sushi | Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi |
| Breaded chicken or fish | Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds |
| Spaghetti | Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles |

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Nachos | Cheese crisps |
| High-sugar fruit | Berries & other keto fruits |
| Crackers | Almond flour crackers |
| Hummus | Cauliflower hummus |
| Soft pretzels | Fathead pretzels |
| Popcorn | Puffed cheese |
| Granola bars | Grain-free granola bars |
| Jam | Sugar-free berry chia jam |
| Sweet fruity yogurt | Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries |
| Sweet salad dressing | Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette |
| Ketchup | Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup |
| BBQ sauce | Sugar-free BBQ sauce |
| Sweetened peanut butter | Natural, sugar-free nut butters |
| Light mayo | Avocado oil mayo |
| Maple syrup | Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup |
| Potato chips | Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds |

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Monk fruit or allulose |
| Powdered sugar | Powdered monk fruit or allulose |
| White flour | Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes) |
| Making baked goods soft/chewy | Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder |
| Breadcrumbs | Pork rinds or almond flour |
| Margarine | Butter, coconut oil, or ghee |
| Vegetable oil | Olive or avocado oil |
| Bananas | Banana extract |
| Chocolate chips | Sugar-free chocolate chips |
| Cornstarch or flour roux | Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end) |
| Simple syrup | Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat |

Keto Swaps For Drinks
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Water with lemon |
| Soda | Flavored sparkling water |
| Milk | Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream |
| Latte | Butter coffee |
| Coffee creamer | Heavy cream |
| Sweet wine | Dry wine |
| Beer | Ultra light beer |
| Mixed drinks | Hard liquor with soda + lemon |
If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List
When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.
The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto
- Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
- Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
- Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
- Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
- Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- Avocados
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
- Almond flour and coconut flour
- Eggs
- Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.
Foods To Avoid On Keto
- White flour & sugar
- Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
- Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
- Cereal
- Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
- Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
- Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
- Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
- Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)
Electrolyte Basics
Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.
For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .
The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:
| Sodium | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles | Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens | Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork |
Keto Diet Types
People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.
Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.
Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!
- Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
- Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
- Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
- Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.
For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)
Keto Chicken Soup (So Easy!)

You’ll love this low carb keto chicken soup! It’s easy to make with simple ingredients, just 4.9g net carbs, & tastes like comfort in a bowl.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/low-carb-chicken-soup-with-spaghetti-squash-paleo-gluten-free/
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 medium Carrots (diced or sliced thinly; ~1 cup)
- 2 stalks Celery (sliced thinly; ~1 cup)
- 1 medium Onion (diced; ~1 cup)
- 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 2-3 cups shredded chicken )
- 10 cups Chicken broth, reduced sodium
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 medium Bay leaf (whole)
- 3/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
- 1 medium Spaghetti squash (you’ll cook the whole thing, but the soup only needs half)
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or pot , heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions. Saute for about 5 minutes , until the onions are translucent.
- Add the chicken breasts (you can use either raw or precooked), chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour . (If using raw chicken, remove it after 30 minutes , shred it, and return to the pot to continue simmering.)
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (191 degrees C). Poke holes in the spaghetti squash using a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 40-60 minutes , until you can easily pierce through the skin with only a little resistance when using a fork. (Don’t overcook to the point where there’s no resistance at all, or the noodles will be mushy.)
- When the spaghetti squash is done cooking and cool enough to handle, slice it in half and use a fork to scoop out the strands (pull with the fork in the same direction as the strands, crosswise across the short side of the spaghetti squash).
- Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the noodles from half of the spaghetti squash, or about 3 cups of spaghetti squash noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Store: Keep the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Meal Prep: Roast the spaghetti squash ahead or make the whole soup—it stores great for later!
- Reheat: Warm it up on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
- Freeze: I like freezing it flat in zip-top bags to save space or use souper cubes for easy portions!
- Note on nutrition info: Nutrition info is calculated based on using 1/2 of the spaghetti squash. You’ll need to cook the whole thing but only half goes in the soup. You can reserve the rest for another use.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Why You Need My Keto Chicken Soup Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Keto Chicken Soup
- Serving Ideas
- More Keto Chicken Soup Recipes
- Keto Chicken Soup (So Easy!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
There’s something about a hot bowl of keto chicken soup that feels like pure comfort. Like most low carb soups , I love making this one every winter. Made with spaghetti squash (my fave), this low carb chicken soup has all the traditional components of a classic chicken noodle soup, but with just 4.9g net carbs per serving. Even my kids and very-not-keto friends love this!
Why You Need My Keto Chicken Soup Recipe

- Classic chicken noodle soup flavor
- Warm and comforting
- Simple, natural ingredients
- Just a few simple steps
- Keto friendly (just 4.9g net carbs ), gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo , and whole30
- Perfect way to warm up on a chilly day!

Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb chicken soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Olive Oil – For sauteing the vegetables. You can use avocado oil, or butter if you don’t turn up the heat too high.
- Veggies – You’ll need carrots, celery, and onion for that classic chicken soup combination. You could add other veggies, such as peas (for low carb but not keto), zucchini, bell peppers, or cauliflower florets.
- Chicken – You can cook raw chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs right in the keto chicken soup. If you have leftover pre-cooked shredded chicken in the Instant Pot or baked chicken breast , those also work great. Season the chicken with poultry seasoning for more flavor! If you have more leftover chicken, use it to make a low carb chicken salad next.
- Chicken Broth – I prefer to buy reduced sodium or make chicken broth from scratch , but regular broth or bone broth would work as well.
- Italian Seasoning – Make your own Italian seasoning blend in just a few minutes, or simply use store-bought.
- Bay Leaf – For richer flavor in your low carb chicken soup.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Spaghetti Squash – You can either bake spaghetti squash or microwave spaghetti squash , but will only need 1/2 of the squash. Use the other half to make spaghetti squash carbonara , classic spaghetti squash alfredo , or spaghetti squash pad Thai .
VARIATION: Use a different type of low carb noodles!
You can use zucchini noodles , kelp noodles , or shirataki noodles instead of spaghetti squash. You can also omit the squash altogether if you don’t want any kind of noodles (like my noodle-free healthy soup recipe ), or add a pound of cauliflower rice in the last couple of minutes.

How To Make Keto Chicken Soup
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Saute the veggies. In a large Dutch oven or pot , heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions and saute until the onions are translucent.
- Simmer the soup. Add the chicken, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer.
TIP: If using raw chicken, shred it once it’s tender.
Remove the cooked chicken from the pot, shred it, and return to the pot to continue simmering.

- Bake the squash. While the soup simmers, preheat your oven and poke holes in the spaghetti squash. Place it on a baking sheet and bake until a knife can easily pierce through the skin with only a little resistance. When the spaghetti squash is done cooking and cool enough to handle, slice it in half and use a fork to scoop out the strands.
TIP: Don’t overcook the squash.
Don’t overcook to the point where there’s no resistance at all, or the noodles will be mushy.
- Combine. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the noodles from half of the spaghetti squash. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish keto chicken soup with fresh parsley if desired.

Serving Ideas
This keto chicken soup makes a great starter before just about any keto dinner , but you can also double the serving size to make it a meal if you like. The best pairings for soup are:
- Low Carb Bread – 90 second bread is the quickest option, but classic white keto bread tastes great on the side, too. You can also try chaffles (garlic parmesan is my fave with keto chicken soup), some keto dinner rolls , or crusty keto garlic cheese bread .
- Chips or Crackers – Try my easy keto crackers or flax seed crackers . Each needs just 3 ingredients, or you can customize them with spices.
- Salad – Lighter salad options like a wedge salad or cucumber tomato salad make a light meal with keto soup, or try a chopped antipasto salad for a heartier option.
More Keto Chicken Soup Recipes
I love this classic low carb chicken soup, but there are lots of different ways to make one. Here are some of my other favorites:
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
- 2 medium Carrots (diced or sliced thinly; ~1 cup) ▢
- 2 stalks Celery (sliced thinly; ~1 cup) ▢
- 1 medium Onion (diced; ~1 cup) ▢
- 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 2-3 cups shredded chicken ) ▢
- 10 cups Chicken broth, reduced sodium ▢
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning ▢
- 1 medium Bay leaf (whole) ▢
- 3/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
- 1 medium Spaghetti squash (you’ll cook the whole thing, but the soup only needs half) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- In a large Dutch oven or pot , heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions. Saute for about 5 minutes , until the onions are translucent.
- Add the chicken breasts (you can use either raw or precooked), chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour . (If using raw chicken, remove it after 30 minutes , shred it, and return to the pot to continue simmering.)
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (191 degrees C). Poke holes in the spaghetti squash using a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 40-60 minutes , until you can easily pierce through the skin with only a little resistance when using a fork. (Don’t overcook to the point where there’s no resistance at all, or the noodles will be mushy.)
- When the spaghetti squash is done cooking and cool enough to handle, slice it in half and use a fork to scoop out the strands (pull with the fork in the same direction as the strands, crosswise across the short side of the spaghetti squash).
- Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the noodles from half of the spaghetti squash, or about 3 cups of spaghetti squash noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Store: Keep the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Meal Prep: Roast the spaghetti squash ahead or make the whole soup—it stores great for later!
- Reheat: Warm it up on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
- Freeze: I like freezing it flat in zip-top bags to save space or use souper cubes for easy portions!
- Note on nutrition info: Nutrition info is calculated based on using 1/2 of the spaghetti squash. You’ll need to cook the whole thing but only half goes in the soup. You can reserve the rest for another use.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
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Keto Chicken Soup
