Spicy Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup (Printable)

Creamy soup with shredded chicken, jalapeños, and cheddar. Inspired by popper flavors.

# What You 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

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken breasts or thighs in a large pot and pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
02 - Remove chicken from the pot and shred with two forks. Set aside.
03 - In the same pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, and red bell pepper. Sauté over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften.
04 - Add the shredded chicken back into the pot. Stir in smoked paprika, cumin, black pepper, and salt.
05 - Lower the heat and add the cream cheese. 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 the soup is creamy and flavors are well combined.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with cooked bacon, extra cheddar, sliced green onions, and additional jalapeños as desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The spice hits you first then that creamy richness follows like a warm blanket
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day if they last that long
02 -
  • Do not rush the cream cheese melting step, low and slow is the only way to avoid grainy texture
  • The soup will continue thickening as it sits, so add more broth than you think you need
  • Taste the heat level before serving, jalapeños vary wildly in spiciness
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken works perfectly fine and cuts your prep time in half
  • Use an immersion blender if you want a smoother texture without all the vegetable chunks
  • Double the bacon because you will inevitably snack on it while cooking

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