Dr. Atkins–Style Chicken Soup (Ninja Foodi – Whole Chicken, Low-Carb)

Low-Carb • Keto Friendly • Whole Chicken • Bone Broth Base

This homemade soup uses a whole chicken for rich flavor and nutrition, but keeps things keto by skipping starchy veggies. The chicken breasts are removed before pressure cooking to keep them juicy and tender—perfect for adding back at the end!

🛒 Ingredients

For the Broth:

• 1 whole chicken (3.5–4 lbs), giblets removed
• 10 cups cold water
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 medium onion, quartered (optional – discard after cooking)
• 1 small carrot, chopped (optional – discard after cooking)
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp turmeric (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• Herbs: sprigs of parsley, thyme, or rosemary (optional)

For the Final Soup:

• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup zucchini, chopped (or green beans, kale, or spinach)
• 1/2 cup leeks or onion, chopped (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning or Italian herbs
• Fresh parsley for garnish

👨‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

1. Carefully remove both chicken breasts from the whole bird. Refrigerate them to add later.
2. Place the remaining chicken (thighs, wings, carcass) into the Ninja Foodi.

Step 2: Pressure Cook the Broth

1. Add celery, garlic, optional onion and carrot, herbs, and seasonings to the pot.
2. Pour in enough cold water to cover the chicken (about 10 cups).
3. Close the pressure lid, set valve to Seal, and pressure cook on High for 30 minutes.
4. Allow a natural release for 15–20 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
5. Carefully remove the chicken and strain the broth into a clean bowl or pot. Discard solids (onion, carrot, herbs, etc.).

Step 3: Shred Chicken

1. Once cooled, remove meat from the carcass and shred (save skin/bones for more broth or discard).
2. Set shredded chicken aside. Breast meat will be added fresh in the next step.

Step 4: Final Soup Assembly

1. Set the Ninja Foodi to Sauté (High). Add oil or butter.
2. Sauté chopped celery, leeks/onion, and garlic for 3–5 minutes.
3. Pour in 6–8 cups of your homemade broth.
4. Add chopped zucchini and seasoning, then gently slide in raw chicken breasts.
5. Simmer until breasts are fully cooked (10–12 minutes), then remove, slice or shred, and return to the pot.
6. Stir in previously shredded chicken and garnish with fresh parsley.

🥄 Nutritional Information (per 1.5-cup bowl, approx.)

• Calories: 290
• Protein: 35–38g
• Fat: 14g
• Net Carbs: 2–3g

🛍️ Recommended Tools

• Ninja Foodi 6.5-qt Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer
• Meat Claws for Easy Chicken Shredding
• Fat Separator with Strainer Lid

This recipe is part of our low-carb comfort food collection on Vancouver Island Epicure. Bookmark us for more flavor-forward, keto-friendly cooking!