Creamy chicken and bacon soup with veggies in a rich, velvety broth-easy, cozy, and perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Made with browned chicken and fresh spinach, it's full of protein, very filling and yet low on carbs. It's also hearty enough to serve as a main course.
If you love comforting chicken soups as much as I do, try Chicken Pesto and Green Bean Soup and Marry Me Chicken Soup.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Soups should be delicious and satisfying and that's exactly how this chicken and bacon soup turned out to be.
- Bacon and chicken are partners in crime in this amazing combinations of tomatoes, spinach, garlic, cream, chicken broth and Parmesan cheese!
- Parmesan cheese serves as a thickener here, making this soup both gluten free and low-carb!
Why Make Chicken Soup
- Warm chicken soup is good for your health: Did you know that warm soup can actually increase your body temperature which assist digestion? When eating your body temperature rises naturally to help digestion, so having this heartwarming soup will just give your body another boost of warmth and energy!
- Better hydration: You will also feel well hydrated and full longer after eating this delicious andcreamy soup.
- A combination of healthy veggies: This easy soup recipe is loaded with spinach, tomatoes and garlic! What a perfect way to get those healthy veggies into your diet. And because they are cooked in the same liquid, all the minerals and vitamins from the veggies are also in the soup.
Tips on making this chicken soup
- Brown chicken first as opposed to throwing it and boiling it in the liquid. The chicken will be more flavorful and palatable when cooked this way.
- Use left over chicken: If you have leftover barbecue or rotisserie chicken - use it instead!
- Prepare the bacon in the oven: I baked the bacon in the oven to avoid bacon fat in the soup.
- Use fresh veggies: I used fresh tomatoes and fresh spinach
How to make Chicken and Bacon Soup
1. Bake the bacon in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 F until crispy.
2. Brown the chicken in the skillet while the bacon is cooking in the oven. What I did is brown whole chicken breasts and then cut them up into thick strips.
3. Add tomatoes and spinach.
4. Add liquids: I added chicken broth and heavy cream and the soup is done!
5. Thicken the soup: Add Parmesan cheese which will thicken the soup. I decided against flour in favor of cheese to make this soup both lowcarb and gluten free.
Creamy Chicken and Bacon Soup
Creamy Chicken Soup with Bacon and Spinach is made with browned chicken and fresh vegetables. It's full of protein, very filling and yet low on carbs. It's also hearty enough to serve as a main course.
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Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 6 bacon strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken (boneless and skinless)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 5 tomatoes (chopped in cubes)
- 10 oz. spinach (fresh)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning more, if desired
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- BACON: Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Arrange bacon strips and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined platter that will absorb extra grease. Chop into 1 inch slices.
- CHICKEN: Season whole chicken breasts with salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet. Add seasoned chicken breasts and cook on each side on medium high heat for a total of 3-4 minutes until it's nicely browned.
- Remove browned chicken from the pan, slice it in thick strips and return it back to the skillet.
- Add sliced garlic in the last minute of cooking chicken, cook for 1-2 minutes until browned and fragrant.
- TOMATOES and SPINACH: Add chopped tomatoes to the chicken and cook for 3 minutes on medium until tomatoes release their juices. Add fresh spinach and cook until it wilts. Add bacon pieces.
- SOUP: Stir in chicken broth, Italian seasoning and heavy cream; and bring the mixture to boil. Reduce to simmer and slowly add grated Parmesan cheese - until the cheese melts and makes the soup slightly thicker. Remove from heat.
- Serve immediately.
Calories: 808kcal
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken and Bacon Soup
Amount per Serving
Calories
808
% Daily Value*
Fat
66
g
102
%
Saturated Fat
28
g
175
%
Cholesterol
205
mg
68
%
Sodium
1723
mg
75
%
Potassium
1274
mg
36
%
Carbohydrates
14
g
5
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
4
g
4
%
Protein
39
g
78
%
Vitamin A
9440
IU
189
%
Vitamin C
56.7
mg
69
%
Calcium
460
mg
46
%
Iron
4.4
mg
24
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? I would love to see your creation!Let me know on Instagram @whatsinthepanblog
Judi says
The recipe says shredded Parmesan and the directions say grated. Does it make a difference in the amount?
Olya says
It was shredded cheese - I updated the recipe.
Danielle says
Use sun dried tomatoes with herbs!! Game changer and makes ALL the difference! I've done it both ways and sun dried is FAR better!! My family and friends request this soup all the time!
Olya says
Great tip about sun-dried tomatoes with herbs, Danielle!
Mel says
Thanks to Google I came across this recipe online and I made it today. It was excellent! I thought this recipe would be perfect because I had 2 leftover oven-baked chicken breasts wrapped in smoked bacon and I was trying to figure out something creative to do with the leftovers. Since my chicken was already cooked I started the recipe at step #6. After cooking my Roma tomatoes for a few minutes and, about 20 chopped cherry tomatoes I had laying around, I added the garlic and cooked it for a few minutes, then added the spinach and the chopped smoked bacon that was previously wrapped around my leftover chicken breasts. I continued on to step #7 (plus a bay leaf which I removed from the soup later) and I added the chopped leftover chicken to the soup at the end and let it simmer for a while. The flavor of the soup was outstanding. I would make it again. Has anyone tried to freeze this leftover soup? Just wondering if that's possible.
Olya says
Perfect way to use up the leftover chicken, Mel! I wouldn't freeze it because of all the cheese and cream - upon defrosting the liquids will disintegrate (you will have little white dots in whited liquid instead of solid white creamy texture).
Tim says
Perfect. I made it and everyone loves it. I doubled everything and made a lot. Freezing it for when it gets cold out and soup always makes it better.
Olya says
So happy you loved the soup!
Terri says
This is so good! I had garden tomatoes that I had frozen and threw them in there! Also I was out of Parmesan cheese so
I used a Italian blend. What a good soup!
Olya says
Thank you for such a great review, Terri!
joel says
made it for dinner with my parents. it was so good. we really loved it
when served we added on top spring onions and coriander
very good soup
thanks for a great recipe
Olya says
So glad your parents and you enjoyed this!