Spicy Chicken Soup

This Spicy Chicken Soup is satisfying, with a perfect balance of warmth and flavor. In under 30 minutes, you can enjoy a hearty, delightful soup effortlessly(with simple ingredients).

Why You'll Love This Spicy Chicken Soup Recipe?

• Jalapeno's flavors and heat: The jalapeno heat in this spicy chicken soup is ideal for those who love a flavorful kick in their meals(like this spicy butternut squash soup).
• Customizable heat: The good news is that the spiciness of this spicy recipe is highly adjustable to your heat tolerance(similar to this jalapeno spaghetti). 
• Perfect for Cold Weather: On a cold winter day, there's nothing quite like a bowl of spicy chicken soup to warm you up from the inside out.
• Make Ahead and Freeze: This soup is an excellent freezer-friendly recipe. Cook a lot at once and freeze. When you need a quick meal, warm it up, and it's ready to eat.

The Ingredients

• Chicken Breast: This spicy chicken soup recipe uses skinless chicken breasts. Feel free to substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs or leftover rotisserie chicken(dramatically reducing prep time).
• Chicken broth:  You can choose either store-bought bone broth or homemade chicken broth.
• Olive Oil: Good to replace with vegetable or canola oil.
• Onion and garlic provide a depth of flavor. Leeks and shallots are equivalent alternatives in this soup. Freshly minced are always the best. 
• Jalapeno Pepper and Cayenne Pepper: The jalapeno and cayenne peppers make this spicy chicken soup recipe unique. They add heat and a rich flavor, making this spicy soup taste excellent. Remove the seeds and the white membrane inside the jalapeno pepper if you want the soup to be less spicy.
• Veggies:  Red bell pepper, carrots, celery, and corn kernels have a rich sweetness that counterbalances the soup's spiciness.
• Diced Tomatoes: I have used canned diced tomatoes; fresh tomatoes are perfect additions, too.
• Ground cumin: Provides warmth and earthiness.
• Fresh Cilantro: Provides refreshing flavors and an appetitive look. 

How To Make Spicy Chicken Soup?

1. Cook the chicken breasts in a large pot over medium-high heat until browned on both sides, then set them aside.

2. Sauté onion, garlic, jalapeno, red bell pepper, carrots, and celery in the same pot until soft.

3. Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and boil. Add the chicken breasts back in, reduce heat, and cook for 20 minutes until the chicken is done.

4. Shred the chicken, return it to the pot, add corn, and let the soup simmer for 5 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

How Spicy Is This Chicken Soup?

This spicy chicken soup has a pleasant heat; it does not taste fiery hot. The jalapeno pepper and spices like chili powder and cumin add moderate heat. However, carrots, corn kernels, and shredded chicken balance the heat.

You can also adjust the heat by adjusting jalapeño and cayenne pepper amounts. For a milder soup, remove jalapeño seeds and reduce the cayenne pepper. 

Add extra jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper for the intense heat. 

What To Serve With? 

• Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad is a perfect side dish to balance the heat of spicy chicken soup. Try simple salads like spicy kale or with grains like Indian quinoa salad. 
• Bread: Savory bread varieties, such as garlic bread (have you tried this jalapeno garlic bread?) or cornbread, are excellent additions to any soup. 
• Crackers & Chips: For a fun and crunchy side, serve with tortilla chips or crackers. 

Spicy Chicken Soup Variations

• Extra spicy: Add more cayenne pepper or swap with habanero or serrano pepper for different flavors.
• Creamy Spicy Chicken Soup: For a creamy, rich texture, stir in a cup of coconut milk or heavy cream just before finishing the cooking.
• Extra protein: To increase the protein content of this spiced chicken soup, stir in a can of black beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas(after draining and rinsing).
• Mexican-Inspired: Stir in lime juice and garnish with avocado slices, lime wedges, and tortilla strips.

Recipe Tips And Tricks

• Instant Pot: Use an instant pot or slow cooker to save time when making this soup. 
• Customize the heat: To adjust the heat level in this recipe, adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and paprika.
• Customize the texture: Stir in coconut milk or heavy cream.
• Garnish: Serve this spicy chicken soup with freshly chopped cilantro, green onions, and tortilla chips for added texture and freshness.