Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers
A creamy and spicy jalapeño popper soup perfect for a chilly evening, served with crispy grilled cheese dippers for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Equipment
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Skillet
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Soup Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 pound Cream cheese softened
- 1 10 ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies) undrained
- 1 15 ounce can Cream-style corn
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 1 cup Milk or half-and-half
- 4 Jalapeños seeded and minced
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper optional
- to taste Salt and black pepper
- 0.5 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.25 cup Green onions chopped, for garnish
Grilled Cheese Ingredients
- 4 slices Bread sourdough or your favorite
- 2 tablespoons Butter softened
- 2 slices Cheddar cheese
Instructions
Soup Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in softened cream cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add Rotel, cream-style corn, chicken broth, milk (or half-and-half), jalapeños, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and flavors have melded.
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
- Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped green onions.
Grilled Cheese Instructions
- Spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice.
- Place two slices of bread butter-side down in a skillet over medium heat. Top each with a slice of cheddar cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices, butter-side up.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cheese is melted and gooey. Cut each grilled cheese sandwich into sticks or squares for dipping.
Notes
Adjust the amount of jalapeños to your preferred spice level. For a thicker soup, you can simmer uncovered for a longer time to reduce the liquid. You can also use other types of cheese in the soup and grilled cheese.