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Broccoli-Cheddar Soup With Chicken

You might not think that a vegetable-driven soup makes an ideal keto meal but then you might not have considered broccoli-cheddar soup! Rich, hearty, and packed with low-carb broccoli and fat-rich cheese, it’s both satisfying and filling.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 630
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs trimmed
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
  • 1¼ pounds broccoli florets chopped into ½-inch pieces, stalks peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt Pinch cayenne pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 ounce 1 cup baby spinach
  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (1 cup)
  • 1½ ounces Parmesan cheese grated (¾ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown chicken on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to plate.
  2. Add broccoli florets to fat left in pot and cook until tender and just beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer 1 cup broccoli florets to bowl and set aside for serving. Stir broccoli stalks, garlic, mustard, salt, and cayenne into pot and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, scraping up browned bits. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pot and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until chicken registers 165 degrees, about 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer chicken to cutting board, let cool slightly, then shred into bite-size pieces using 2 forks; discard skin and bones.
  4. Working in 2 batches, process soup, spinach, cheddar, Parmesan, and remaining ¼ cup oil in blender until smooth, about 30 seconds for each batch. Return soup and chicken to now-empty pot and bring to brief simmer over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top individual portions evenly with chives and reserved broccoli before serving.