Whether you eat keto or not, this zesty queso keto chicken soup is my new favorite for chilly nights. You can make it in the slow cooker or instant pot and it’s creamy, slightly spicy and full of flavor. 
While I’m ready for winter to be over, I’m never ready for soup season to end. This queso keto chicken soup is creamy and smooth and packs a big punch of flavor from the use of salsa verde in the soup base.
You can make this as low carb or high carb as you’d like, too! This chicken queso soup would be great with the addition of some black beans and frozen corn. Serving it up with some tortilla chips is also delicious!
I’m very non-committedly trying to eat keto for a while so I keep the recipe as is and eat with a good serving of diced avocado and Monterrey jack cheese. I’m pretty sure I could live off this soup.
Making Chicken Keto Soup in the Instant Pot
This chicken queso soup can be made quickly in the Instant pot and it’s definitely my favorite way to make it! Directions for doing so are in the recipe card below.
Making Queso Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
When I think ahead this recipe is great in the slow cooker, too. Just throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low for at least 6 hours or until the chicken shreds easily.
Recipe Tips for this Queso Keto Chicken Soup
- Adding ingredients: like I mentioned above, if you don’t need this soup to be low-carb, this soup is great with the addition of black beans and frozen corn. Just add them in with the rest of the soup ingredients and cook as directed.
- The recipe calls for salsa verde or green salsa. Note that prepared salsa verde can vary greatly in heat. I’ve found that Herdez brand has a medium heat that my family can handle. La Costena is another brand I’ve used and liked.
Can I use Neufchatel Cheese instead of full-fat Cream Cheese?
Neufchatel cheese is very similar to cream cheese but is a bit moister and has a lower fat content (1/3 fat) of regular cream cheese. I haven’t tried using it in this recipe specifically, but have in other soup recipes with success. It may be a bit harder to incorporate into the soup, so you may have to put a little bit of muscle into it, but it should melt fully and leave you with a soup that is lower in fat. I do not advise using fat-free cream cheese, however.
Want more Instant Pot soup recipes?
- Zesty Instant Pot Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
- Instant Pot Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
Zesty Queso Keto Chicken Soup
Whether you eat keto or not, this zesty queso keto chicken soup is my new favorite for chilly nights. You can make it in the slow cooker or instant pot and it's creamy, slightly spicy and full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 28 ounces petite diced tomatoes not drained
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa verde or green salsa
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- avocado and monterrey jack cheese for topping
Instructions
Instant Pot:
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Place chicken, taco seasoning, tomatoes with juices, salt, chicken broth, and green salsa in Instant Pot. Set to manual mode and cook for 10 minutes at high pressure. Allow pressure to release naturally (about 15 minutes), remove and shred the chicken. Set aside.
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Stir softened cream cheese into the soup in the pot and whisk until fully melted into the soup. Return chicken to the soup and serve with diced avocado and monterrey jack cheese.
Slow Cooker:
-
Place all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or until the chicken is tender and shreds easily. Whisk cream cheese into the broth fully if needed after cooking time is up.
Judy C. says
To reduce carbs if your taco seasoning has too many, try substituting with Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dip mix instead. It has zero carbs for 1/2 tsp. so for the amount needed for this recipe, it probably has 1 carb. The taco seasoning I have has 9 carbs for the amount used in this recipe. I’d rather eat my carbs in the tomatoes! Great recipe, by the way!
Chris M says
Yikes 9g sugar per serving and 12 net carbs, definitely not keto friendly.
Paulette Boone says
Maybe I’m missing something, but the carbs per serving for this seem super high for being Keto. Is it for the whole batch and then divide by the amt of servings?
Angela says
It’s the taco seasoning . If you use your own seasonings instead of a mix the carbs will go way down.
Chris M says
I agree also 9g of sugar definitely not keto friendly. I’ll pass on this one
Marla Pfister says
I tried to find salsa verde/green salsa in my supermarket but didn’t have any luck. If I can’t find it, is there a substitute ingredient I can use?
Thanks!
Anne says
Tomatillos boiled for 10 my no or until soft. Remove tomatillos and put in blender. Ad d a little of the boil d water to make texture you like. Add some lime juice ,cumin ,garlic & onion powder
Susan says
This looks so good! However, I was wondering how much is considered a serving?
LeAnna says
Oh my gosh, just wanted to let you know how amazing this was! Thank you! I will be making this again.
Kelly says
This soup was delicious! Will definitely make this again!
Nik says
It is a very nice post.
Thanks for sharing this yummy and healthy recipes ideas .I love to try different yummy food and healthy recipes …
Julie says
So good, I tripled the recipe. Cooked and shredded the chicken separately, added all ingredients to a big pot on the stove. Cooked for about an hour and a half. Served with tortilla chips. A little spicy, whole family enjoyed it. Easy and filling, thank you!
Carol says
Do you know if this will freeze well?
Quandora says
I don’t have an Instant Pot; can I use a slow cooker? If so, how long do I cook it?
Sara says
How much is a serving?
Alicia says
This was delicious will make it again!! I substituted the salsa for fresh roasted green Chile peeled and diced. Thank you!
Rachel says
The nutritional value is not including cheese and avocado, right?
Lisa Cowan says
I’m wondering where the sugar comes from? Is it in the taco seasoning? Since we are doing Keto I subbed 1 Tblsp Tajin seasoning for the taco seas. & it was wonderful! Will make again, and again, and again!!
Jerry says
I’m sure the sugars come from tomatoes and salsa (natural) not added sugar.
Sarah says
Is it one chicken breast cut in half to make two halves or 2 chicken breasts, both halved, making 4 pieces of chicken total? I know it reads as just 2 halves, but I just wanted to be sure
Conniefrances says
Chicken breasts you buy from the store are already halves. Whole chicken breasts are quite large.
Chamblee says
What are the total calories, fat, carbs, etc.. per serving? I don’t see that information listed. Thanks!
Andrea says
My husband and I are doing a Keto diet during Lent, and this recipe was a hit! This will definitely be a staple for us! Thank you!
Calvin Nicholson says
What size are the cans of tomatoes
Calvin Nicholson says
I used 2 14.5oz cans and it worked perfectly.
Heather Cheney says
Thanks, Calvin! 14.5oz is right and I’m sorry for omitting from the recipe. I’ve added it to the card now!
Calvin Nicholson says
No Problem. Thank YOU for this recipe!!
Trish says
I’m clearly behind. What’s Keto? It’s mentioned but doesn’t show up in the ingredients list.
Heather Cheney says
Keto is short for ketogenic and is a term for a low-carb diet that is high in protein and fat and low in carbs. This soup is very low carb and can be eaten if you’re following a keto diet, that’s why it’s in the title.