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Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 116 reviews

This Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup is a rich and creamy blend of crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and fiery jalapeños. Inspired by the flavors of jalapeño poppers, this comforting soup is made with a hearty base of chicken broth, cream cheese, and heavy cream, garnished with green onions and served alongside crispy grilled cheese dippers. Perfect for spice lovers and cozy meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 medium jalapeño peppers, seeds removed, finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup (31 g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups (32 ounces) chicken broth
  • 1 cup (238 g) heavy whipping cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cubed
  • 2 cups (226 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish

Grilled Cheese Dippers

  • 8 slices sandwich bread
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook Bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon onto a plate, reserving 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pot; discard the rest.
  2. Sauté Onion and Jalapeños: Add the diced onion and jalapeños to the reserved bacon grease in the pot. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add Flour: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the vegetables, stirring continuously to combine until no dry spots remain.
  5. Add Broth and Cream: Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream while stirring constantly. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, about 5 minutes.
  6. Incorporate Cream Cheese: Reduce the heat to low. In a heatproof bowl, whisk the cubed cream cheese with ½ cup of hot broth mixture until smooth. Pour this mixture back into the pot and stir well.
  7. Add Cheddar Cheese: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until melted and the soup becomes smooth and creamy.
  8. Season Soup and Add Bacon: Season the soup with kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Fold in half of the cooked bacon, reserving the rest for garnish. Keep the soup warm on low heat.
  9. Prepare Grilled Cheese Dippers: Butter one side of each slice of bread with the softened butter. Place two slices of cheddar cheese between two bread slices, buttered sides out.
  10. Cook Sandwiches: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the sandwiches 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
  11. Slice and Serve: Let sandwiches cool slightly, then slice into strips to serve as dippers.
  12. Serve Soup: Ladle the soup into bowls, top with sliced green onions, sprinkle reserved bacon on top if desired, and serve alongside the grilled cheese dippers.

Notes

  • Remove seeds from jalapeños to reduce spiciness, or leave some seeds for extra heat.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth and omit bacon; consider using smoked paprika for smoky flavor.
  • Use sharp cheddar cheese for best flavor and meltability.
  • Grilled cheese dippers can be made ahead and reheated gently to keep crisp.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spice level of the soup.
  • Ensure cream cheese is softened for smooth incorporation.

Keywords: jalapeño popper soup, spicy soup, bacon cheese soup, creamy jalapeño soup, grilled cheese dippers, comfort food, appetizer soup

Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/spicy-jalapeno-popper-soup-with-grilled-cheese-dippers-recipe/