This Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder is so creamy but still light, and it’s Whole30, keto/low-carb, GAPS, paleo, gut-healthy, and FULL of fiber-rich veggies. Get this hearty and nourishing Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder on the table in under 30 minutes!

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Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder is my idea of the perfect warm weather or cold weather soup!

All that fresh lime and cilantro brightens it up and makes me feel like I should be eating at a beachside resort instead of fighting back tears because we got six inches of snow in mid-April! (Which actually happened. And, I actually tested this recipe during that blizzard…) 🙂

I love that I can take raw chicken, a really ugly root vegetable, and nourishing bone broth (along with a few other delish ingredients) and concoct a creamy but light chowder that’s Whole30, keto/low-carb, paleo, gut-healthy, and FULL of fiber-rich veggies!

Plus, this soup makes A LOT. Like 12 servings.

For my family of four, that means 3 full meals! Feel free to halve the recipe or freeze the leftovers for later!

What?? A Keto Chowder?

Chowders are usually made with potatoes… And, there’s nothing wrong with potatoes, except…

• They’re out if you’re low-carb/keto.
• No potatoes if you’re working on healing your gut because they’re too starchy.
• Potatoes are nightshades, which many people are highly sensitive to.

What’s a chowder without potatoes?!

Well, actually, it’s still a chowder!

Because… celeriac!

Or celery root, as it’s also called.

This is the ugliest vegetable you’ll ever find. It’s brown and dirty with gnarled roots. But it’s the BEST potato substitute, especially in soups!

(I also use celeriac as the potato stand-in in my Instant Pot Clam Chowder, Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Stew, Low-Carb No-Tato Salad, and Instant Pot Fish Chowder!) Celeriac is WAY lower in carbs than potatoes, so it’s the perfect substitute for starchy potatoes in chowders!

Chowders are typically made with copious amounts of heavy cream. I have nothing against heavy cream, but for those of you who are dairy-free, heavy cream poses a problem.

So, to cut the dairy in this dairy-free green chile chicken chowder, I used another of my favorite veggies — cauliflower!

A quick cauliflower “cream” gets stirred into the finished chowder, thickening it to perfection and adding even more valuable plant fiber to this meal.

And yes, this chowder definitely stands on its own… especially if you load up on the toppings!

Because there’s no dairy in this chowder and it’s made with nourishing, low-carb veggies, this Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder recipe is paleo, keto, low-carb, and Whole30-friendly!

You Want All The Toppings for Your Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder!

My favorite thing to do is to make a giant pot of this chowder and then lay out a spread of various toppings so everyone can mix and match their own toppings and create custom bowls of yumminess!

Here are our favorite toppings. Adjust these for your dietary needs and pile ’em on your nourishing chowder!

• grated raw cheddar (if dairy is tolerated)
• cultured sour cream (if dairy is tolerated)
• wedges of lime
• fresh cilantro
• slices or cubes of avocado
• guacamole
• pico de gallo
• diced red onion
• extra salsa verde
• fermented jalapeno peppers

Ingredient Subs & Recipe FAQs

This recipe makes a LOT. Can I freeze leftovers?

Absolutely! I like freezing this chowder in a gallon-size zip-top freezer bag. Make sure you label it with the name of the recipe and date. It will be good in the freezer for 6 months!

I don’t have/don’t like celery root/celeriac; can I use potatoes?

Yep, you can sub potatoes for the celery root! Use an equal amount or half and half. Whatever works for you!

What salsa verde do you use?

Though I make my own salsa, I don’t make salsa verde very often. We go to Trader Joe’s once or twice a year and stock up on their salsa verde. Most store brands contain added sugar, so read your ingredients!

Can I use heavy cream if I don’t want to use cauliflower cream?

Because I don’t eat dairy, I have not tested this recipe with heavy cream. So, I can’t say how it will perform for you. But take a look at the comments and see how many people have made it with the cauliflower cream and LOVED it!

I don’t have chicken breast. Can I use a whole chicken?

Cooking a whole chicken is part of my weekly meal prep. If you have the meat from a cooked chicken, you can totally use that! Simply cook the soup without adding the deboned chicken. Once the soup is cooked, stir in the shredded or diced chicken meat and serve.

And now, see how easy it is to make a nourishing, homemade Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder!

4.72 from 7 votes

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Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder

This Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder is so creamy but still light, and it's Whole30, keto/low-carb, paleo, gut-healthy, and FULL of fiber-rich veggies. Get this hearty and nourishing all-weather soup on the table in under 30 minutes!

CourseMain Dish, Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 196 kcal

Author Lindsey Dietz

Ingredients

Cauliflower "Cream":

• 2poundsfrozen cauliflower florets
• 1cupbone broth

Green Chili Chicken Chowder:

• 3tablespoonsnourishing fat of choicelard, tallow, butter, ghee, coconut oil, etc.
• 7cupspeeled and diced celeriac - 1/4" cubescelery root
• 3cupsdiced onion
• 2-1/2poundsorganic/pasturedboneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3cupsbone broth
• 1tablespoonsalt
• 1tablespoonground cumin
• 2teaspoonsgarlic powder
• 1-1/2teaspoonsdried oregano
• 1teaspoonchipotle powder
• 1/2teaspoonwhite pepper
• 1cupsugar-free salsa verdehomemade or jarred, just read ingredients
• 26oz. cans diced green chiles
• 2limeszest and juice
• 1/2cupfinely chopped cilantro

Instructions

For The Cauliflower "Cream":

1. Add the frozen cauliflower and broth to the stainless insert of your Instant Pot. Place the lid on the pot, seal the vent, and press the "Manual" button. Adjust the time to 2 minutes on high pressure.
2. When the pot beeps, immediately release the pressure.
3. Open the Instant Pot and carefully transfer the all of the cooked cauliflower and broth to a blender. Then, blend on high speed until smooth.
4. Set aside.

For The Chowder:

1. Now, don't even wash the Instant Pot! Press the "Saute" button and add 3 tablespoons fat of choice to the stainless insert pot.
2. Then add the diced celery root, onion, and all seasonings. Stir to combine.
3. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Next, add the chicken thighs — don't cut them up; add them whole — and the remaining 3 cups bone broth.
5. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, seal the vent, and press "Keep Warm/Cancel". Next press the "Manual" button and adjust the time to 13 minutes on high pressure.
6. When the pot beeps, immediately release the pressure.
7. Using tongs, carefully remove the chicken thighs and shred with 2 forks (or use your stand mixer).
8. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot, along with the Cauliflower "Cream", salsa verde, green chiles, lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro.
9. Stir everything together, taste, adjust seasonings if necessary.
10. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Topping Suggestions:

• fresh lime wedges
• chopped cilantro
• grated raw cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
• sliced or cubed avocado
• cultured sour cream
• a sprinkle of chipotle powder
• crushed blue corn chips
• crushed cassava flour chips 
• pico de gallo, salsa, or salsa verde
• guac
• chopped black olives

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder

Amount Per Serving

Calories 196Calories from Fat 40

% Daily Value*

Fat 4.4g7%

Saturated Fat 2.3g14%

Cholesterol 53mg18%

Potassium 231mg7%

Carbohydrates 17.5g6%

Fiber 4.2g18%

Sugar 3.4g4%

Protein 23.6g47%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Do you love a good chowder, even without potatoes and cream? Will you give this paleo, keto, Whole30 Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken Chowder recipe a try?

Originally published May 6, 2018. Updated with new text and images on April 21, 2020.