Description
This Creamy Stuffed Banana Pepper Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish that brings the taste of classic stuffed banana peppers into a warm, spoonable soup. It features a rich blend of Italian sausage, tender banana peppers, and a velvety cheese sauce, making it perfect for cozy dinners or game day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) hot or mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 banana peppers, cleaned, seeds removed, and chopped
- 4 cups (950ml) chicken broth
- 1 (8 oz / 225g) block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (60g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional garnish: extra cheese, parsley, croutons
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add aromatics and peppers: Stir in onion and garlic, cooking 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add chopped banana peppers and cook for another 5 minutes until tender.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in chicken broth, bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Stir in the creamy elements: Add cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar to the soup. Stir until fully melted and smooth. Reduce heat to low.
- Finish with cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring gently. Simmer for 5-10 minutes more, being careful not to let it boil.
- Taste and season: Add salt and pepper to taste. If you like a smoother texture, blend half the soup with an immersion blender or in batches.
- Serve hot: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with extra cheese or chopped parsley. Serve with fresh bread or croutons.
Notes
- Use gloves when handling banana peppers to avoid skin irritation.
- Soften cream cheese beforehand for easier melting.
- Simmer gently after adding dairy to prevent curdling.
- Balance the heat: if peppers are extra spicy, add more cream.
- Customize the meat: swap sausage for ground turkey or plant-based alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup, Comfort Food, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 95mg