Does Cream of Crab Soup Have Carbs? A Detailed Look at This Delicious Soup’s Nutritional Profile

Cream of crab soup is a delicious, creamy soup made with crab meat and vegetables in a rich, creamy broth. It’s a popular appetizer or lunch dish, especially in coastal regions known for fresh seafood. But if you’re watching your carb intake, you may be wondering – does cream of crab soup have carbs?

The short answer is yes, cream of crab soup does contain carbohydrates. However, the amount can vary greatly depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the nutrition facts of cream of crab soup and break down its typical carb content.

A Breakdown of the Typical Ingredients in Cream of Crab Soup

Cream of crab soup recipes can vary, but most versions contain the following core ingredients:

• Crab meat – This provides protein and flavor Both imitation crab and real crab meat contain minimal carbs.

• Cream or milk – The creamy base is usually made with heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk. All of these contain lactose, which counts as a carb.

• Onions, celery, and bell peppers – These aromatic veggies add crunch and flavor Onions and celery contain some carbs, while bell peppers have very few

• Flour or starch – Many recipes use flour, corn starch, or potato starch as a thickener. Flours and starches are high in carbs.

• Butter – Adds richness. Contains minimal carbs.

• Chicken or seafood stock – Provides moisture and flavor. Stocks contain barely any carbs.

• Herbs and seasonings – Ingredients like parsley, thyme, Old Bay seasoning, and black pepper add flavor with no carbs.

As you can see, some ingredients like crab, butter, and stock are very low in carbs, while others like flour and dairy contain substantially more carbs. This means the carb content can range quite a bit depending on the specific amounts of each ingredient.

Analyzing the Carb Count of Cream of Crab Soup

To get a better idea of the carb content, let’s analyze the nutrition facts of a typical cream of crab soup recipe.

According to the USDA FoodData Central, one cup of prepared cream of crab soup contains:

• Total carbs: 7g
• Fiber: 0.5g
• Sugars: 0.8g
• Added sugars: 0g

So in a one cup serving, total carbs makes up around 7g. Since fiber doesn’t count toward net carbs, if we subtract the 0.5g of fiber, the net carbs comes out to approximately 6.5g per cup.

This lines up with the nutrition information on sites like MyFitnessPal, which list a 1 cup serving of cream of crab soup as containing 6g of net carbs.

Compared to some other creamy soups, this puts cream of crab on the lower carb end of the spectrum. For example, 1 cup of cream of mushroom soup typically contains around 12g net carbs, almost twice that of cream of crab.

Tips for Reducing the Carbs in Cream of Crab Soup

If you’re aiming to cut carbs, there are a few simple substitutions you can make to reduce the carb content in cream of crab soup:

• Use milk instead of flour/starch to thicken – Swap out flour or corn starch for cold milk or cream that has been whisked into the hot soup to thicken it. This removes the carbs from the flour.

• Increase the amount of crab – Bulking up on extra crab and minimizing the amount of cream or milk can help reduce carbs.

• Use low-carb dairy – Opt for heavy cream or full-fat milk over half and half or low-fat milk, which often have more carbs from added milk solids.

• Skip starchy veggies – Onions and celery add carbs. For lower carb soup, stick to bell peppers, mushrooms, and leafy greens.

• Garnish with fresh herbs – Parsley, chives, dill, and other fresh herbs add flavor with no carbs. Use them generously.

• Spice it up – Boosting flavor with spices and seasonings allows you to use less cream and milk, lowering the carb amounts.

With a few simple substitutions like these, you can easily make a delicious low-carb cream of crab soup that fits into a keto or low-carb eating plan.

The Bottom Line

So does cream of crab soup have carbs? The answer is yes, a typical one cup serving contains around 6-7g net carbs. This comes mainly from dairy ingredients like cream or milk, as well as thickeners like flour or starch.

However, the carb content can vary quite a bit based on the specific recipe. By using low-carb substitutions like heavy cream instead of flour to thicken, you can reduce the carbs and make a keto-friendly version of this creamy, flavorful soup.

At the end of the day, cream of crab soup can absolutely be enjoyed as an occasional treat, even when restricting carbs. Just be mindful of portion sizes and the other carbs you consume with your meal. With a few tweaks, you can also transform this soup into a low-carb meal that fits into a healthy ketogenic or low-carb eating pattern.