This cream of cauliflower soup recipe has smoky bacon and is gluten free (no roux!), low carb, keto, and really easy to make.
The Best time to write about Cream of Cauliflower Soup is when you're eating a big bowlful. That's what I think anyway. This low carb soup is creamy and delicious. Such a perfect and easy soup.
I used to loathe cauliflower. I absolutely thought it was disgusting...I'm sure some of you can relate. I was never fed cauliflower as a kid; probably because kids hate vegetables (I was no exception), and cauliflower hadn't yet come into stardom as it has now.
This cream of cauliflower soup is not made with a roux, but it is still thick enough to be a good creamy, low carb soup, without being so thick that it weighs you down. The small amount of onion gives so much flavor that I think it is absolutely necessary, but if you would like to leave it out to lower the carb count a little more, I wouldn't hold it against you.
This cream of cauliflower soup is really easy to pull together. You can make it even easier by buying already chopped cauliflower. You can buy the riced cauliflower, but I prefer my soup a little more chunky and the riced cauliflower would give you a smoother soup.
I am a lover of all soups including my Keto Tomato Soup!
HOW TO MAKE CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Firsts things first, slice your bacon into lardons (that's just a fancy word for strips), and chop your onion.
“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
You want to saute your bacon strips in a heavy bottom pot until they are crispy. Remove some of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving 2 tablespoons. Now you can choose to remove the bacon from the pan and add it back later, or you can leave it in the whole time the soup cooks. I chose to leave my bacon in and the bacon gets soggy through the cooking process of the soup. I don't mind that, but if you do, you should remove it.
Add your chopped onion to the bacon grease and let them cook on medium low until tender.
Add your chicken broth and cauliflower to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and let the cauliflower cook until it is tender. Now you can choose to leave your soup a bit chunkier, or you can use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower a bit more and make it a true cream of cauliflower soup.
Now for the fun part...adding the cream and the cream cheese! Cut your cream cheese into smaller squares so it will melt into the soup faster. Your cream cheese will look grainy, but be patient and it will melt into your soup beautifully.
Doesn't that look scrumptious!
My Low Carb Zuppa Toscana Soup, Instant Pot Chicken Soup, and Low Carb Chicken Soup are 3 other lovely low carb soups I love!
Cream of Cauliflower Soup
This post may contain affiliate links
Tip: Hitting your 20–30g protein per meal goal helps you stay full and supports muscle.
Ingredients
- 12 oz Cauliflower, , chopped
- 5 slices thick bacon cut into lardons
- 2 tablespoon reserved bacon fat
- ½ a small onion, , diced
- 6 cups chicken Broth
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz cream cheese
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute bacon over medium-hi heat in a heavy bottom pan until crispy
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and bacon, if desired
- add onion and saute over medium heat until soft
- add chicken broth and chopped cauliflower, bring to a boil
- Reduce to simmer and let the cauliflower cook until fork tender
- mash the cauliflower with a potato masher, if desired
- add heavy cream and cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese is completely melted
- season with salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish with reserved sautéed bacon, yummy!
Notes
- If you want to add a little more flavor to the cauliflower, you could roast it in the oven on a sheet pan and then add it to the soup. Place the florets on a sheet pan and toss with salt and a tablespoon of oil. Roast at 450F for about 20 minutes.
- You could freeze this cauliflower soup but it may separate a bit after defrosting.
- Cut your cream cheese into smaller squares so it will melt into the soup faster. Your cream cheese will look grainy at first, but be patient and it will melt into your soup beautifully.
Nutrition per serving
⭐ Did you make this Cream of Cauliflower Soup recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Carol says
Lovely soup...best cauliflower soup I ever had!
Jocelyn says
What can I substitute for bacon to make vegan friendly????
Jennifer Banz says
You can leave it out or use a vegan bacon...there are alternatives that are very little carbs. You would also need to replace the cream and cream cheese but I am sure you are already aware of that.
Lisa Launius says
Even after adding cornstarch (we don't eat keto) it was pretty thin. The taste is really good but next time I'll use more cauliflower or less broth.
Kelley says
This soup is delicious! Jennifer, you make it so easy to stay on keto!
Thank you for all you do!
Melissa Panter says
I made this soup with some changes and it was delicious! I drizzled melted butter over my cauliflower and sprinkled with curry powder and S&P and roasted at 450 for 20 mins. I followed the recipe but added celery and garlic to my onions. I took the bacon out and used for garnish. I wasn’t sure how it would go with the curry but it was good! I put sambal in my individual serving and it was excellent. Very satisfying while trying to get through the early phase of low carb!
Pam says
Absolutely delicious! My family loved it!
Mel says
So good!!! And not as heavy as some I’ve had... will definitely become a winter staple
Aarthi says
Nutrition fact of the soup- I loved your soup recipe and have made it twice now. But I am confused when it comes to nutrition facts- how much is 1 serving that amounts to 247 calories? Could you clarify this?
jenniferbanz says
Nutrition os for 1/6th of the soup
Dee says
One week ago today, my doctor diagnosed me with diabetes 2. Ironically, I had already started keto to lose weight, doctor approved. I just made this soup minus the bacon and it's still delicious, but I left off the bacon because I'm reading that it's NOT a good choice for keto because it's "processed", like salami and pepperoni. I'm about to quit keto because there's SO much conflicting, confusing info on the Internet about what is and is not keto! Any advice on good books? Thanks!
Michelle Small says
So good! I added shallots and topped with a little sour cream and bacon and cheddar. Delicious! I'm loving your recipes!
Michelle Small says
I made this soup last night. So awesome!! The bacon gives it a nice kick. Love the sour cream addition. I used shallots and onion as well.
carla says
I’m to going TO try this .we love califlower .WE ARE NEW TO low carb. my husband found out he was diabetic for 5 years about a month ago .SO we learning changing our whole diet our any bread or bun receipes I need really any help I’d appreciate.
Lisa says
I have been fighting a cold for 10 days now. When I am sick, my mom would make me a delicious potato soup, but trying to stay on KETO, I can't have potatoes. I had a head of cauliflower in the frig and came across this recipe. This soup hit the spot AND I didn't have to change my WOE. I would say that this will be my new go-to comfort soup recipe. From what I could taste (my head is so stuffed up), it was delicious. Thank you for posting it.
Michele says
Just made this soup. It is delicious! I didn't find it to be very creamy but it was definitely very flavorful!!!
Allison Sellers says
Perfectly written, easy to follow and most certainly..... Delicious! Thank you!
Jaki says
The soup is easy and fabulous. Thanks.
jenniferbanz says
so glad you liked it!
Debbie dericks says
Jennifer, the bacon I buy is medium thickness and very long, maybe 10 inches. So should I still use 5 slices? Also on the onions, a half small onion I thought would be around 1/4 cup.....?????? I am new at Keto and I don’t think I should give myself any wiggle room lol.
jenniferbanz says
I would do 1/4 cup of chopped onions. I would pick a stack of bacon about an inch thick.
Carla says
Thanks for the easy recipe...it was yummy!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
How can you go wrong with bacon, onions, and cauliflower? YUM!
jenniferbanz says
My thoughts exactly ?
megan says
I absolutely love cauliflower soup! This recipe looks amazing and of course I love the bacon in there! Can't wait to try it!
jenniferbanz says
I could eat bacon 24/7 ?
Beth says
Man, that looks delicious! I am a huge fan of cauliflower, as is my husband. I'm definitely giving this a try!
jenniferbanz says
I wish my husband was a fan. He scoffs at any vegetable ?
Rae says
I also hated cauliflower when I was a kid, mostly because my dad would bring anything they were growing at the ranch home in big, ginormous flat cases and I'd have to eat it all week. I probably would have eaten this, though, just because there's bacon in it. I'll be sure to try it when I get my next cauliflower delivery! 🙂
jenniferbanz says
I would love cauliflower delivery. That sounds amazing!
Sue Hall says
Sounds terrific... However, you do not say how many carbs are in a serving (average bowl) of this soup. Not all " low carb" recipes are equal! Thanks.
jenniferbanz says
I have added this info to the post
Kim - The Hypertufa Gardener says
I have not tried cauliflower for a soup and this sounds really good. I can't wait to try it. I like a soup because it is easy and can make lunch and dinner easy for me to grab on the go.
Stacey says
I love love loveee cauliflower soup! This looks fantastic!!
natasha says
I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower but this looks AMAZING!! I'm following you now and saving this!
jenniferbanz says
Thank you Natasha!