Spicy Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup
Make this Spicy Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup in 45 minutes! A creamy, cheesy chicken soup with jalapeños, bacon, and cream cheese. Perfect comfort food recipe.
Equipment
- large pot or Dutch oven
- knife
- cutting board
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- whisk
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless chicken pieces
- 2 tablespoons pure olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 fresh jalapeño peppers seeded and finely diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 8-ounce block cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 0.5 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 0.5 cup cooked and crumbled bacon for garnish
- 2 green onions thinly sliced for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of pure olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken pieces and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate and shred it into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- In the same pot over medium heat, add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft and translucent. Stir in the diced jalapeño peppers and cook for 1 more minute.
- Pour 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth into the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the shredded chicken, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Gradually whisk in the cubed, softened cream cheese until it is fully melted and the soup is smooth. Gently stir in 1/2 cup of room-temperature sour cream and 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese until the cheese is melted and the soup is creamy. Be careful not to let the soup boil once the dairy is added.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top each serving with crumbled bacon and sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Be careful not to let the soup boil once the dairy is added.