Close-up of creamy spicy jalapeño cheddar soup topped with bacon, jalapeño slices, and gooey grilled cheese sandwich

Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers

by

Creamy, cheesy comfort with a kick 🌶️🧀🍞

Turn up the heat and cozy up with this Spicy Jalapeño Popper Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers 🔥 A creamy, cheesy bowl of pure comfort inspired by everyone’s favorite party appetizer the jalapeño popper! It’s rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with smoky spice, crispy bacon-style topping, and melty cheese. Paired with buttery grilled cheese dippers, it’s the ultimate soup-and-sandwich combo for chilly nights, game day, or weekend indulgence. The best part? It comes together in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have. Grab your spoon (and your toasties!) this soup is going viral for a reason! 😋

Time Breakdown

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Servings: 4

Ingredients List

For the Soup

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4–5 fresh jalapeños, seeded and chopped (leave a few seeds for extra heat 🌶️)
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup half-and-half or milk
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: ½ cup cooked smoked beef bits

For the Grilled Cheese Dippers

  • 8 slices sandwich bread
  • 4 slices cheddar or American cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free:

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Whisk
  • Immersion blender (optional for smoother soup)
  • Spatula

Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

  1. Sauté aromatics: In a large pot, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and jalapeños; cook another minute until fragrant. 🌶️
  2. Add broth: Pour in chicken or veggie broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
  3. Melt the magic: Stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth.
  4. Blend (optional): For a creamier texture, use an immersion blender to blend until silky.
  5. Add cheese & cream: Lower heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and half-and-half until the soup is thick, cheesy, and luscious. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Add smoky bits: Stir in your cooked smoked beef pieces for that savory “popper” flavor.
  7. Make the dippers: Butter one side of each bread slice. Sandwich cheese between two slices, buttered sides out. Grill in a pan until golden brown on both sides. Cut into strips.
  8. Serve & enjoy: Ladle hot soup into bowls, top with extra cheese or jalapeño slices, and serve with grilled cheese dippers for dunking heaven!

Pro Tips

  • Adjust heat: For mild flavor, use 2 jalapeños and remove all seeds. For extra spice, leave some seeds in or add a dash of cayenne.
  • Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low heat don’t boil!
  • Make it lighter: Use light cream cheese and low-fat milk.
  • Add crunch: Top with crushed tortilla chips or air-fried jalapeño slices.

Nutrition Table

Serving SizeCaloriesProteinCarbsFatFiberSugar
1 bowl + dippers52022g28g36g2g5g