This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This easy and flavourful low carb Fajita Chicken Soup is a family pleaser. Hearty and delicious, you can make it in your pressure cooker or your slow cooker with minimal effort and practically no prep work! This post is sponsored by Harmony Books.
First let me just say that this soup is truly delicious. Second let me just say that it’s incredibly easy to make, either in your slow cooker or in your pressure cooker. Third let me just say that everyone in my family loved it and so did the other family to whom I gave most of it. Finally, let me just say that this is not my recipe. Nope, it’s not. It’s a fabulous low carb family recipe from the new Trim Healthy Table cookbook by the lovely women behind Trim Healthy Mama.
If you haven’t heard of it, Trim Healthy Mama is a diet plan created by two sisters, Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison. It uses the concept of eating real whole foods in an alternating pattern of low carb, high fat (S Recipes) and higher carb, lower fat (E Recipes). And a great many women have found success losing weight and regaining health on this plan. My recipes have been very popular as S Recipes with the THM crowd for quite some time. So I was delighted and flattered to be given the opportunity to review their gorgeous new cookbook. It’s hot off the presses, and just released on September 12th! It contains over 300 recipes, wonderful tips on eating healthy, meal prep, and smart kitchen shortcuts. And it’s a delightful read because it also includes THM success stories at the start of every chapter. It’s heartwarming all around.
These ladies are prolific, let me tell you. They’ve already released a diet plan book, a cookbook, and a meal plan book. But the Trim Healthy Table is very family-meal focused, which as a mother of three myself, I can fully appreciate. Many of the recipes serve 6 to 8 people but almost all of them can easily be halved for smaller families. But then they also have a section called Hangry Meals for One, which cracks me up. Perfect for the mom who’s been running around doing things for her family all day and really just needs to feed herself and do it quickly.
And the recipes really are family friendly. Pearl and Serene have 18 children between them (oh my!) and so they know the challenges of feeding picky eaters. There are so many great recipes packed with nutrition but that also appeal to kids’ tastebuds. The recipe I made, this delicious low carb chicken fajita soup, was a home run for my kids. My son even ate some as an after school snack.
I actually made this recipe for TWO families, mine and a friend’s. See, my friend had surgery for breast cancer recently and I signed up to bring her family a meal. And the moment I saw this recipe, I knew it fit the bill. It made a lot of soup and could easily have served 10, but it also cuts in half nicely to feed 4 or 5. And it’s beyond easy. It’s one of those “dump and run” slow cooker or Instant Pot recipes, where you just toss everything in and turn on your machine and walk away. And the recipe gives a neat little shortcut for using what the Trim Healthy Mamas call “frozen small cut seasoning blend”…pre-chopped, frozen onions, peppers, and celery from your grocery store.
I admit I actually chopped the celery and onion myself, only because I happened to have some fresh at home that I didn’t want to waste. But I did grab a bag of frozen sliced peppers and that simplified the process considerably. Frozen veggies are a great way to cut your prep time and they are just as healthful as the fresh variety…sometimes more so because they are frozen at the peak of nutrition. And even with the hand chopping, the start to finish time was all of 30 minutes. It gave me a chance to use my brand new Instant Pot but there are instructions for the slow cooker too.
Huge thumbs up to this recipe and it will definitely enter my arsenal as a really great kid-friendly low carb meal. And another thumbs up to a great cookbook that is perfect for hungry families looking to eat more healthfully. With so many great recipes, there is something for even the pickiest eater to love!
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Soup
This easy and flavourful low carb Fajita Chicken Soup is a family pleaser. Make it in your pressure cooker or your slow cooker, with minimal effort and practically no prep work!
Print
Pin
Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Trim Healthy Mama
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 quarts chicken broth
- 1 10- ounce can Ro-tel style diced tomatoes and green chiles
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 10 ounces frozen small cut seasoning blend see notes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chile powder
- ¾ teaspoon chipotle powder or more chile powder
Instructions
Pressure Cooker Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a pressure cooker. Seal and cook on high with the vent closed for 25 minutes (I used the soup setting on my Instant Pot).
Let the pressure naturally release on its own before opening the pressure cooker.
Remove the chicken thighs and shred, then return to the pot.
Serve with lime wedges, sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro and avocado, if desired.
Notes
Frozen “small cut seasoning blend” is simply a store-bought mix of frozen chopped onions, celery and peppers. I could not find this exact item so I simply used ¼ of a large onion, chopped, 2 stalks of celery, chopped and a bag of frozen sliced peppers. Using less onion also kept the carb count down a bit.Reprinted from Trim Healthy Mama; Trim Healthy Table. Copyright ©2017 by Pearl P. Barrett and Serene C. Allison. Published by Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 346
Calories from Fat 136
% Daily Value*
Fat 15.1g23%
Carbohydrates 8.1g3%
Fiber 1.93g8%
Protein 35.07g70%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keto Short Rib Chili
Bean-free keto chili made with braised beef short ribs. So easy to make and the perfect low carb comfort food. This keto chili recipe is paleo, dairy-free, and Whole 30 approved! And it can be made ahead and frozen so it’s ideal for keto meal planning.
There’s a definite chill in the air. Can you feel it? Well, maybe not in some parts of the country, but here in the Pacific Northwest, autumn is on its way, if not already here.
The best part of fall is the comfort food and there is no food more comforting than this short rib chili. Well, maybe my Shrimp and Bacon Chowder. Or perhaps my keto Cream of Mushroom Soup. And my Buffalo Chicken Soup is also pretty darn spectacular.
But this keto chili recipe definitely makes the short list.
Chili is and always has been one of my favorite foods, because even not very good chili is pretty darn comforting when you’re cold and hungry. How can you go wrong with meat cooked slowly in rich spices and a thick tomato broth? You can’t, that’s all. You can’t go wrong.
And the crazy part is that while I make chili all. the. time, I don’t actually have a good keto chili recipe here on All Day I Dream About Food. Until now, that is.
What makes the best keto chili?
Well, what really makes good chili is a matter of opinion and taste. And probably a few feuds as well. Everyone has their own take on the best way to make chili.
In my experience, a slow simmered chili recipe is best, as it allows the flavors to develop and intensify over time. So don’t be fooled by promises of “fast and easy”. Good chili is usually easy to make but it takes time to cook.
Keto chili should be devoid of any higher carb items like beans, though. That goes almost without saying, because beans are high in carbs and many consider them inflammatory. Onion needs to be kept to a minimum as well, since it’s surprisingly high carb.
Tomato sauce, paste, and puree can also send the carb count up if used too liberally. I like to keep my chili to less than 5g total carbs per serving, so I use a single can of diced tomatoes. Fire roasted tomatoes help bring out the best flavor.
But the focus of a good keto chili recipe should always be the meat and the spices. Use beef with a high percentage of fat for a satisfying meal, and be generous with the chili, cumin, and garlic.
Can you make keto chili ahead of time?
I find myself wanting to answer this question with a smart ass comment like “Is the pope Catholic?”. Because chili is perhaps the best make ahead meal on the planet.
It’s one of those dishes that seems to actually get better when it’s eaten the next day or even a few days later. And one of the benefits of keto chili is that there are no beans to get mushy as they sit and soften. So it’s just as good or better than the day you made it.
So go ahead and make a huge pot of this short rib chili. This particular recipe serves 10 people. Let it cool to room temperature and then split it up however you see fit. You can do individual servings, or portion it out for your family size.
The chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. We froze our leftovers back in May and I just fed my family the second portion about a month ago!
Because it contains acidic ingredients like tomatoes, I recommend storing in glass containers if you have them. If not, good BPA-Free tupperware works too.
Tips for making Short Rib Chili
Short ribs are ideal for comfort food dishes like this, because they are fatty and rich, and become incredibly tender with slow braising.
Always brown the ribs first: This step adds 10 minutes or so, but it’s worth it. Browning the meat in lard or oil helps bring out the best flavor, before the liquids are added. Otherwise, you are essentially just eating stewed meat. Transfer the ribs to a plate while making the rest of the chili.
Sweat the onions and other veggies: While I do keep the onion to a minimum, it definitely helps add flavor. So add the onion and green pepper to the pot and sauté in the oils and fats with a little bit of salt. This will help them release their juices and flavor.
Add the spices into the hot oil: Before adding any liquids into the pot, you want to briefly sauté the garlic, jalapeño, and spices in the hot oil. This enhances and intensifies the flavor.
Adjust the heat to your liking: My husband and I like our chili pretty spicy but our kids have more tender palates. So we keep the heat at a medium level. I always add the seeds from the jalapeño but you can leave them out if you want less spice. You can also leave out the cayenne. Or you can add more jalapeño and cayenne too.
Now add the liquids and the meat: Once the spices and garlic are fragrant, stir in the diced tomatoes and broth and bring to a simmer before adding the meat.
Slow braise in the oven: You’re looking at a good two to three hours of cooking, but this time is completely inactive. You can be doing lots of other things during this time. Slow braising makes the meat from the short ribs fall off the bone and shred more easily.
Doesn’t this keto short rib chili sound like the perfect comfort food?
Check out my Keto Soups & Stews cookbook for more delicious comfort food recipes.
Keto Short Rib Chili
Bean-free keto chili made with braised beef short ribs. So easy to make and the perfect low carb comfort food. This keto chili recipe is paleo, dairy-free, and Whole 30 approved! And it can be made ahead and frozen so it’s ideal for keto meal planning.
Print
Pin
Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: keto chili, keto chili recipe, short rib chili
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 428kcal
Ingredients
- 3 lb bone in short ribs
- Salt and pepper
- ¼ cup bacon fat, lard, or other high-heat oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 large green pepper chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper minced (leave the seeds in for more heat)
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 15 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
- ⅓ cup beef bone broth
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300F and season the short ribs all over with salt and pepper.
In a large dutch oven over medium heat, melt the bacon fat or lard. Once hot, add half the short ribs and brown on all sides. Remove to a plate and brown the remaining short ribs. Transfer to the plate.
Add the onion and pepper to the pot, sprinkle with salt, and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne, and cook another minute, until fragrant.
Stir in the roasted tomatoes and bone broth and bring to a simmer. Add the short ribs back into the pot, cover and transfer to the oven.
Cook 2 to 3 hours, until the meat is very tender. Remove the ribs, shred the meat and return the meat to the pot. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve with your favorite chili toppings.
Nutrition Facts
Keto Short Rib Chili
Amount Per Serving (1 serving = about 1 cup)
Calories 428
Calories from Fat 319
% Daily Value*
Fat 35.4g54%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1.2g5%
Protein 22.6g45%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Join the Conversation (0)
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
- Calories N/A
- Total Fat N/A
- Saturated Fat N/A
- Cholesterol N/A
- Sodium N/A
- Total Carbohydrates N/A
- Protein N/A
Hi, I'm Alex!
I love sharing easy, healthy, and family-friendly recipes that anyone can make at home.
Be the first to comment on this recipe!