Description
This Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup combines the comforting flavors of a classic jalapeno popper with a hearty chicken soup. Packed with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, creamy cheeses, and a touch of smoky bacon, this rich and spicy soup is perfect for cooling down on chilly days or satisfying your craving for bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Dairy
- 4 slices raw bacon, chopped
- 2 cups shredded cooked or rotisserie chicken breast
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup half-and-half
Vegetables
- 1/2 sweet or white onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Pantry
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat and set aside.
- Saute Veggies: Using the bacon drippings left in the Dutch oven, sauté the diced onions, celery, green and red bell peppers, and chopped jalapenos until the vegetables are just tender and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add Flour & Broth: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour evenly over the sautéed vegetables, stirring constantly for about one minute to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the minced garlic and stir briefly, then slowly whisk in the low-sodium chicken broth, ensuring no lumps form. Pour in the half-and-half and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Melt Cheeses: In a separate bowl, whisk the hot broth mixture with the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Pour this cheese mixture back into the Dutch oven and add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until all cheeses have fully melted and combined into the soup.
- Finish Soup: Stir in the shredded chicken and most of the reserved crispy bacon, saving some bacon for garnish. Heat through until the soup is hot and flavors are well combined. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the remaining bacon and any additional desired garnishes like extra shredded cheese or chopped jalapenos.
Notes
- For less heat, remove seeds and membranes from jalapenos before chopping.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut or cook and shred chicken breast yourself.
- Feel free to substitute half-and-half with whole milk or light cream depending on desired richness.
- To make it gluten-free, replace all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend for thickening.
- Garnish options can include chopped green onions or a dollop of sour cream to balance spiciness.
