This warm and hearty Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup packs the same bold flavors of a classic jalapeño popper into a cozy bowl of comfort. With tender chicken, smoky bacon, creamy cheese, and a touch of spice, it makes the perfect easy weeknight meal.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup

• Rich bold flavor
• Tender shredded chicken
• Smoky bacon and jalapeño peppers
• Creamy texture
• Easy to make in just 30 minutes

There’s just something irresistible about jalapeño poppers. Whether it’s the crispy, cheesy bite of a Classic Popper, the gooey goodness of a Jalapeño Popper Casserole, or the creaminess of Jalapeño Popper Dip, that combo of cheese, spice, and bacon is completely addictive.  

This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Soup takes all those crave-worthy flavors and transforms them into a warm, satisfying bowl of hearty, homemade soup. With every spoonful, you get tender chicken, rich cream cheese, and smoky bacon, with just the right amount of spice from fresh jalapeños. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare but tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.

The chicken stock this recipe calls for is this Chicken Stock made in an Instant Pot, which was easy and only takes an hour to cook. If you’re in a hurry you can always use store bought. The shredded chicken that I use for this recipe was this quick and easy Instant Pot Roasted Chicken. It has the most amazing flavor and is super easy to make!  

🛒 Ingredients for Jalapeño Popper Soup

• Chicken stock
• Cooked chicken
• Jalapeño peppers
• Cream cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Uncured bacon
• Onion
• Chili seasoning
• Salt and pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Dutch oven or large pot

🔪 How to Make Jalapeño Popper Soup

Cook the bacon over medium heat in a pot until crisp.

Remove the bacon and most of the grease, leaving behind about a tablespoon.

Sauté the onion and jalapeño peppers for a few minutes, with a little salt and pepper.

Add in the chili seasoning and allow to toast for about 10 seconds, while stirring.

Add in the chicken stock and chicken, remaining salt and pepper.

Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, uncovered.

To make this soup extra creamy and velvety, add in the shredded cheddar and cream cheese, then stir until melted.

When you’re ready to serve it, top with a healthy garnish of cheddar cheese, bacon and chopped jalapeño peppers.

You can serve this soup with my Jalapeño Cheddar “Cornbread”.  It has great texture and flavor and it is the perfect companion with this Keto chicken soup.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

🍴 What to Serve with Jalapeno Popper Soup

This soup has plenty of flavor and protein to make it a complete meal-in-one. But, you can never go wrong with serving it with a warm slice of Keto-friendly Braided Herb Bread or Dinner Rolls. If you prefer a little crunch these Everything Bagel Crackers or even these Tortilla Chips are a delicious addition.

💡 Tips for Making Jalapeño Popper Soup

• Save your bones: If boiling the chicken, save the carcass, and throw it in the freezer to use later to make chicken stock! Just throw in some celery, onion, carrots, fresh herbs and water and you will have the most flavorful homemade stock.  See how to make it here!

• Wear kitchen gloves: When chopping jalapeños, it’s a good idea to wear kitchen gloves to protect your skin from the pepper’s heat. This can help avoid any irritation, especially if you accidentally touch your face afterward!

• Stir often: Once you add the cheese, you’ll want to keep an eye on the soup and stir it often. Before it melts, it can settle on the bottom of the pan and burn.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Broth: I used my Homemade Chicken Stock, but you can use any Keto friendly store bought stock.  If you’ve never made your own stock before, you wouldn’t believe how easy it is.

• Chicken: For a shortcut you can use rotisserie chicken, boil your own or use this easy Roasted Chicken.

• Cream cheese: Swap some of the cream cheese and add a little mascarpone cheese to add more creaminess and healthy fat.

• Cheddar: Cheddar cheese was my choice for this soup, but you can use any good melting cheese that you like instead, like Monterey Jack or Colby.  You can even use pepper jack, if you want to kick up the spiciness a little.

• Seasoning: This recipe calls for homemade chili seasoning mix, but you can use your own mix or any store bought version that you like.

What are the Carbs in Jalapenos?

Jalapenos pack great flavor with just a few carbs. A half cup only has 3 grams of carbs. Let’s be honest though, people seldom eat a half a cup at at time. And jalapeño peppers have an extremely low glycemic load, which is great for Keto because they create little to no insulin response.

Can I Freeze Jalapeno Popper Keto Soup?

This Jalapeño Soup recipe is perfect for meal prep. Freeze it in the serving size you prefer and thaw when you’re ready to serve! If you would like even more meal prep ideas, check out this article, 25 Keto Meal Prepping Tips.

Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup Spicy?

The peppers give it a little kick. If you want a milder version, make sure to remove all the seeds and the membranes. You can also swap them for green bell peppers for a much milder flavor.

Can I Make This Soup in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can! To adapt this recipe for the slow cooker, cook the bacon on the stovetop first, then add everything except the cheese and cream cheese to the slow cooker. Let it cook on low for 4–6 hours, stirring in the cheeses in the last 30 minutes to melt.

🍽️ More Keto Soup Recipes

• Tuscan Chicken Soup
• Keto Italian Wedding Soup
• Keto Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup
• Easy Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Thai Coconut Curry Chicken Soup
• Smoked Sausage and Cauliflower Cheddar Soup

*Originally published on December 12, 2018, updated on November 19, 2024 with improvements to the recipe, new photos, new recipe information and helpful tips.