This flavorful Keto Bacon and Shrimp Chowder is creamy, comforting, and filling all while being low-carb!
SOUP. We’re currently obsessed. This Keto Bacon and Shrimp Chowder is our latest creation and it’s delicious! We start by frying up the bacon and using the reserved bacon grease to cook the shrimp, then we add in butter (duh), onion + garlic, broth, turnips (to make it creamy!), and spices. At the end, we gave the chowder a splash of heavy cream and blended it up with an immersion blender before adding the bacon and shrimp back to the Dutch oven.
By blending the soup you get a perfectly creamy chowder. If you’re a fan of a brothy soup you can simply skip this step. Topping the soup off with some fresh chives is the icing on the cake, um soup.
Here are a few ways you can customize the chowder:
- Want to make this keto bacon and shrimp chowder spicy? Add in a diced jalapeño or serrano with the onions.
- Use cauliflower in place of turnips if you can’t find them.
- Add sour cream, jalapeños, and cilantro to the top for a Mexican-style chowder.
- If going the Mexican route, throw in some Rotel with the onions as well (sort of like our famous Chicken Queso Soup)
Keto Bacon and Shrimp Chowder
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 lb shrimp
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 ½ cups diced turnips
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 cups chicken bone broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup minced chives for topping
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add the shrimp to the pot and cook 1-2 minutes per side until cooked through, remove and set aside.
- Add the butter to the pot. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until softened but not browned. Add in the turnips and spices and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the bone broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook 15 minutes until the turnip is tender.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the soup in the pot.
- Pour in the heavy cream. Divide between bowls and top with bacon, shrimp, and chives. Serve immediately.
sarah says
This is a quintessential chowder. However, is there a suggestion for a good dairy replacement. My daughter has a medical condition that eliminates dairy and gluten from her diet. She is doing very well on the Keto/ lowcarb diet but need to be dairy free.
Thank you for any ideas.
Patricia Prudhomme says
I use canned coconut milk for most of my replacements for heavy cream and it works well. And I don't taste the coconut. Hope this helps. I think I will make some this weekend!
Christine Goodridge says
Hello! This recipe sounds amazing! Any way to reduce the carb count by substituting radishes for turnips? Thank you for all that you do!
Lisa says
Is there anything you can recommend as a substitute for turnips? Thanks!
Alex Lester says
You could try cauliflower or radish!
Patricia Prudhomme says
I have used rutabaga to sub for turnips. They don't have as strong of a flavor as turnips. I have also used chayote squash.
Hope this helps.
Pam Pavlick says
I'm not familiar with chicken bone broth. Can you purchase this or does it have to be home made.
castironketoadmin says
You can purchase bone broth at most grocers. Pacific Foods is our go-to.
Amy says
How many quarts constitutes a “large” Dutch oven? Thanks!
castironketoadmin says
5-quart
Paul says
Made it tonight. Not sure if it's my brand of cajun seasoning, but I think next time I'm skipping the salt. Also, do you have any tips for thickening it? Mine turned out a little runny.
Brandie says
maybe a little xanthum gum?
Stacy says
What size shrimp did you use for this? I just learned that shrimp come in different sizes. I am not accustomed to working with shrimp. It is new to me. Just bought one that looked good from the fish counter but now I’m worried that they will be too big for a chowder 😟
Cast Iron Keto says
Hi Stacy! We used large shrimp in this recipe but really, any size shrimp will work. If you fear that yours are too big you can simply give them a rough chop before cooking. Hope this helps!
Brandie says
What type of shrimp are you using?
Cast Iron Keto says
We like wild-caught pink shrimp but any type you like best will work!
Lo says
What do we do with oil the bacon releases before we add the shrimp to pot?
Cast Iron Keto says
Leave it in the pot as that's what you'll sear the shrimp with.
Dozer says
Sadly, this was not a hit with our family. Found it to be thin and needing some flavor enhancement that despite our conversation, we couldn’t identify. While cooking, had already added extra garlic and then salt but it just didn’t help. Not for us....
Shannen Rush says
Can you use Broccoli for the turnips instead?
Cast Iron Keto says
No, they are not similar at all. Broccoli also wouldn't jive with the flavors in this soup.
Kate says
I made this for dinner tonight and the soup is amazing!!! I used a peppered bacon so that kicked up the spiciness a bit however I reduced the Cajun seasoning to 1/2 tablespoon. I planned ahead for the carb count so very satisfied with my food intake today.
Wendy says
Would this be good for meal prep and reheated?
Cast Iron Keto says
Hi Wendy, personally, I don't find leftover shrimp to be the greatest and the bacon gets a bit soggy.