Spicy Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup (Printable)

Creamy chicken soup with spicy jalapeños, cheddar, and bacon in 50 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 4 jalapeño peppers seeded and chopped
03 - 1 small yellow onion diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper diced
06 - 2 green onions sliced for garnish

→ Dairy

07 - 8 oz cream cheese softened and cubed
08 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
09 - 1 cup heavy cream

→ Liquids

10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp cumin
13 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
14 - 1 tsp salt or to taste

→ Optional Toppings

15 - 4 strips cooked bacon crumbled
16 - extra shredded cheddar cheese
17 - sliced jalapeños

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place chicken in a large pot with chicken broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
02 - Remove chicken from pot and shred using two forks. Set aside.
03 - In same pot, sauté onion, garlic, jalapeños, and red bell pepper over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until softened.
04 - Return shredded chicken to pot. Stir in smoked paprika, cumin, black pepper, and salt.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add cubed cream cheese and stir continuously until melted and thoroughly combined.
06 - Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and heavy cream. Add additional broth if soup is too thick.
07 - Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soup is creamy and flavors meld.
08 - Serve hot topped with crumbled bacon, extra cheddar, sliced green onions, and additional jalapeños as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese creates the most velvety texture without needing flour or heavy thickeners
  • You get all those bold jalapeño popper flavors but in a cozy, spoonable soup form
  • It reheats beautifully and actually tastes better the next day
02 -
  • The cream cheese will try to stick to the bottom, so keep the heat low and stir constantly while it melts
  • Using already cooked rotisserie chicken cuts the prep time in half if you're in a rush
  • The soup thickens as it cools, so thin it with a little more broth when reheating
03 -
  • Cube your cream cheese straight from the fridge for even melting
  • Taste and adjust seasonings after the cheese is fully incorporated

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