Description
This Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers is a quick and comforting weeknight meal. It combines the creamy, cheesy, and spicy flavors of jalapeño poppers into a delicious soup, perfect for busy evenings. The grilled cheese dippers add a delightful crunch and extra cheesy goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 4–5 fresh jalapeños, seeds removed, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cubed
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 slices sandwich bread
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the chopped bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Add the diced jalapeños and cook for another minute.
- Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually add the chicken broth, whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
- Stir in the heavy whipping cream and softened cream cheese until fully incorporated.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Butter one side of each bread slice. Place one slice, buttered side down, in a pan. Top with a slice of cheddar cheese and another bread slice, buttered side up.
- Cook until golden brown and flip to cook the other side.
- Serve the soup hot with grilled cheese dippers.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Adjust the heat level by using more or fewer jalapeños.
- For an ultra-creamy soup, use an immersion blender to partially purée the soup.
- Reserve bacon drippings to brush on the bread for the grilled cheese dippers.
- The grilled cheese dippers are best made fresh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups soup with 1 dipper
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg