Cream of chicken soup is a pantry staple for many home cooks. It’s rich, creamy texture and savory chicken flavor make it a versatile ingredient for casseroles, pot pies, sauces, and more. But like many canned, condensed soups, cream of chicken soup can be high in sodium, fat, and carbs.
For people counting carbs or following a low-carb diet like keto, knowing the carb count is important. In this article, we’ll look at how many total carbs and net carbs are in a 1 cup serving of condensed cream of chicken soup. We’ll also compare different brands and types of soup, and provide some low-carb cream soup alternatives.
How Many Total Carbs in Cream of Chicken Soup?
The total carb count in cream of chicken soup can vary by brand. Here are the total carbs per 1 cup serving for some common cream soups:
| Soup | Total Carbs |
|---|---|
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | 14g |
| Progresso Creamy Chicken Soup | 15g |
| Store brand Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | 13g |
As you can see, a 1 cup serving of condensed cream of chicken soup contains around 13-15g total carbs, depending on the brand. Campbell’s and store brands tend to be slightly lower.
Net Carbs in Cream of Chicken Soup
Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols. To calculate the net carbs in cream soup:
Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols = Net Carbs
Here are the net carbs for a 1 cup serving of some popular cream soups:
| Soup | Net Carbs |
|---|---|
| Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | 13g |
| Progresso Creamy Chicken Soup | 15g |
| Store brand Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup | 12g |
The fiber and sugar alcohol content is minimal, so the net carbs are very close to the total carbs. Expect around 12-15g net carbs per cup of regular condensed cream of chicken soup, depending on brand.
Low-Carb Cream of Chicken Soup Alternatives
If you’re limiting carbs, here are some substitutions to lower the carb count:
– Make homemade cream soup with chicken broth, heavy cream, chicken, and seasonings. Add a thickener like xanthan gum or psyllium husk powder to get the creamy texture.
– Look for reduced-carb cream soups with around 5-8g net carbs per cup. Options include Pacific Foods Organic Creamy Chicken Soup and Campbell’s Slow Kettle Style Creamy Chicken Soup.
– Use full-fat coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk blended with chicken broth and seasonings. You can also add cream cheese or mascarpone for extra richness.
– Make a cheesy chicken soup by blending chicken broth with cream cheese, grated parmesan, garlic, and spices. The cheese gives a creamy texture.
– For casseroles, replace the soup with a combination of chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese or velveeta cheese.
Tips for Lowering Carbs in Recipes
When using cream soup in recipes, there are a few substitutions that can help cut down on carbs:
– Use reduced-carb cream soup or homemade lower-carb cream soup (see ideas above).
– Replace half the soup with chicken broth or additional heavy cream/cream cheese.
– Add extra non-starchy vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or cauliflower rice to casseroles to bulk it up and lower the overall carb count per serving.
– Skip carb-heavy accompaniments like noodles, rice, or biscuit topping. Serve chicken and veggie casseroles over cauliflower rice instead.
– For sauces or gravies, use heavy cream or cream cheese as the base instead of a cream soup.
– Bake chicken dishes topped with cheese and sauce rather than including cream soup baked inside. This reduces the soup amount.
With some simple subs and adjustments, you can still enjoy creamy comfort food recipes while following a low-carb or keto diet. Just focus on increasing healthy fats and non-starchy veggies in place of the carbs.
Nutrition Facts for Cream of Chicken Soup
Here is the full nutrition breakdown for a 1 cup serving of Campbell’s condensed cream of chicken soup:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 410 |
| Total Fat | 26g |
| Saturated Fat | 12g |
| Trans Fat | 1.5g |
| Cholesterol | 65mg |
| Sodium | 810mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Protein | 6g |
As you can see, cream soups get a large portion of calories from fat. They are also very high in sodium, with a 1 cup serving providing over a third of the daily recommended limit.
Make sure to account for the fat, sodium, and carbs if using cream soup in your diet. Lower sodium chicken broth can be used to reduce salt content.
How Many Carbs in Other Canned Cream Soups?
In addition to cream of chicken, other popular creamy canned soup flavors include:
| Soup (1 cup) | Total Carbs |
|---|---|
| Cream of Mushroom | 14g |
| Cream of Celery | 13g |
| Cream of Potato | 17g |
| Cream of Broccoli | 12g |
| Cream of Asparagus | 13g |
Most cream soup varieties clock in around 12-15g net carbs per cup. Cream of potato tends to be a bit higher at 17g. Broccoli and asparagus are the lowest carb options.
You can use the same substitutions mentioned above to lower the carb counts in any creamy condensed soup recipe. Replacing half with broth and using low-carb thickeners reduces carbs while maintaining a silky texture.
Homemade Lower Carb Cream Soups
Making your own creamy soups from scratch is an easy way to control the carb count. Here are some recipes and tips:
– For the base, use meat or vegetable broth plus heavy cream, half and half, full-fat coconut milk, or unsweetened non-dairy milk.
– Thicken and make it creamy with a starch like arrowroot powder, cornstarch, xanthan or guar gum, or psyllium husk powder. Use sparingly, just enough to reach desired consistency.
– Add cheese like cream cheese, cheddar, parmesan, or velveeta. Melting cheese into hot soup makes it lusciously creamy.
– To lower carbs, avoid using flour, potatoes, or milk as thickeners.
– Puree cooked cauliflower florets as an extra low-carb way to thicken and add body.
– Stir in herbs, spices, garlic, onion, and veggie sautees for flavor.
– Saute chopped mushrooms in butter or olive oil for an easy umami-rich addition.
– For protein, add cooked chicken, turkey, ham, sausage, bacon, or seafood.
With a simple broth and cream base plus your favorite spices and mix-ins, you can easily whip up a delicious keto-friendly cream soup.
Condensed vs Prepared Cream Soups
When looking at soup labels, you’ll see two main types:
Condensed – This is the extra thick, highly concentrated canned soup usually used in casserole recipes. A 1 cup serving has around 13-17g net carbs.
Prepared – This ready-to-eat soup simply needs to be warmed. It contains roughly 1/2 the amount of condensed soup per cup at 7-10g net carbs.
Prepared cream soups are a convenience option, but condensed soup tends to be more versatile for cooking and baking. Just watch the portions since the carb counts can add up quickly.
To make 1 cup prepared soup from condensed, simply stir in 1 cup milk, broth, or water. This dilutes the carbs and yields 2 cups total.
Cream Soup Alternatives for Special Diets
Here are some condensed cream soup substitutions for other special diets:
Gluten-Free: Check labels carefully to find gluten-free cream soup options. Some brands marked “gluten-free” include Progresso and Campbell’s. Homemade with gluten-free broth is safest.
Dairy-Free: Use coconut milk or an unsweetened dairy-free milk blended with chicken or veggie broth. Thicken with arrowroot, cornstarch, or xanthan gum. Pureed potatoes can provide creaminess without dairy.
Vegetarian and Vegan: Opt for cream of mushroom, celery, broccoli, asparagus, or potato soup. Make your own using vegetable broth and unsweetened non-dairy milk or lite coconut milk. Puree cauliflower or white beans to thicken.
Low-Sodium: Look for low-sodium soup varieties with 50-140mg per serving or make your own with unsalted broth and seasonings.
Cream Soup Recipe Inspiration
Ready to put that cream soup to work? Here are just a few delicious recipes to try:
– Chicken Pot Pie – Flaky crust topped with chicken, veggies, and creamy filling.
– Green Bean Casserole – Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions.
– Chicken Enchiladas – Shredded chicken, cheese, salsa, and creamy sauce, baked in tortillas.
– Cheeseburger Macaroni – Ground beef, pasta, cheddar cheese sauce, and a crispy bread crumb topping.
– Broccoli Cheese Soup – Pureed broccoli, onions, broth, cream, and melted cheddar.
– Chicken and Dumplings – Fluffy dropped biscuit dumplings in creamy chicken stew.
Don’t forget dessert! Creamy sweet puddings and fruit pies pair perfectly with cream soup too.
Get creative in the kitchen with condensed cream soups. Just be mindful of portions and balance with vegetables and lean protein to keep carbs in check.
Conclusion
Cream of chicken soup contains around 13-15g net carbs per 1 cup condensed serving. Exact counts vary slightly by brand. Look for reduced carb options with 5-8g carbs or make homemade soup using heavy cream or almond/coconut milk. With smart substitutions, you can still enjoy the creamy flavor of traditional cream soups on a low-carb or keto diet.
Other condensed cream soups have similar carb contents in a 1 cup serving. Making adjustments to the overall recipe can help reduce carbs, such as adding more non-starchy veggies or substituting half the soup for broth or cream. Enjoy classic comfort foods like pot pies, casseroles, gravy, and chowders with a low-carb twist.
