Spicy Chicken Soup – The Perfect Winter Soup Recipe

If you are looking for a quick and easy recipe to get you through a cold winter day or to help battle a wintertime cold, you are going to love this Spicy Chicken Soup Recipe. Tender pieces of chicken, sliced mushrooms and diced red bell peppers simmered in a lightly creamy broth that is infused with spicy seasonings.

With just one bite your senses will awaken and your body will become warm in minutes. However, the amount of spice that you add is totally up to you.

Feel free to add a lot to really get your taste buds dancing. Or lessen the heat so that you can enjoy the spicy flavor of the broth with a little less anticipation. Just be sure that you have a slice of crusty bread on hand to soak up the remaining broth in the bottom of your bowl.

Best Way To Cook Chicken Breast For Soup

When it comes to cooking chicken breasts for this Spicy Chicken soup recipe it is best to poach the chicken. This cooking method will make the chicken both tender and juicy.

Prep the Chicken: Trim off any fat from the chicken breast and discard.

Poaching: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a medium pot. Add salt and minced garlic. Then add enough water to the pot to cover the chicken 1⁄2 inch above the top of the breast.

Bring to a Simmer: Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat. Be careful not to boil the water, as boiling can make the chicken tough.

Cook the Chicken: Once the liquid is simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Let the chicken cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). It is best to use an instant read digital meat thermometer to check for doneness.

Remove from Heat: Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the pot using tongs or a slotted spoon.

Shred or Cube the Chicken: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes, then shred or cube it using forks or a knife.

Other Cooking Methods

Although poaching the chicken is an easy way to cook the meat, you can use a variety of other cooking methods. For instance, if you prefer you can make Chicken Breast In An Air Fryer, on a grill, or make Shredded Chicken In An Instant Pot.

However, if you want to get your Spicy Chicken Soup on the table even quicker, use the leftover meat from a rotisserie chicken or canned chicken. Although the flavor and texture will be slightly different, the soup will still taste wonderful.

What Vegetables To Include In Spicy Chicken Soup

Although the star of this recipe is the spicy broth, there are a few vegetables added to the soup which enhance the overall flavor of the dish.

1. Diced Red Bell Peppers – The sweetness of the red bell peppers compliments the spiciness of the broth.

2. Sliced White Button Mushrooms – Mushrooms provide an earthy and subtle flavor which helps balance out the taste of the other ingredients.

These two vegetables are all that are needed to make the soup take on a simple, yet complex flavor profile. However, feel free to add any other vegetables that you prefer.

Other suggested vegetables: diced onion, carrots, celery.

How To Make Spicy Chicken Soup

Once you have your chicken and vegetables ready, it is time to make the soup. Add the olive oil and chicken broth to the pan with the vegetables.

Then it is time to add the heat. Add the chili powder and your favorite red pepper chili flakes to the liquid and stir. However, be sure to test the level of heat as different brands of spices hold different levels of heat.

Therefore it is best to start with half of the amount listed. Then add more until the heat level that you desire is reached.

I have generic hot red pepper flakes from Kroger and they are spicy! Although I have had other red pepper flakes that the heat is barely noticeable. So be cautious and know what amount of heat you are adding to your Spicy Chicken Soup.

Allow the mixture to boil for 10 minutes so that the heat can infuse the broth. Then add the cooked chicken pieces to the pot.

Finally, it is time to make the soup slightly creamy with the addition of heavy cream. The cream will help balance out the heat, making the soup absolutely to die for!

How To Prevent Cream From Curdling

When adding dairy products to a hot boiling liquid it can begin to curdle. However, with higher fat content, such as whipping cream and heavy cream, it is less prone to do so.

In addition, it has more flavor and richness than milk. Therefore it would be best to use heavy cream in this recipe.

However, for those who prefer to use milk, it is vital that you decrease the heat to low and let the pot sit and cool down before stirring in the milk. This will ensure that the broth remains smooth.

Spicy Chicken Soup Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large chicken breast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• 2 cups water
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup sliced white button mushrooms
• 1⁄2 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon chili flakes, more or less to taste
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder, more to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Poach The Chicken: Place the chicken in a medium pot and add the salt and chopped garlic. Pour water over the chicken, adding more if needed to cover the chicken.

Place the pot over medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes carefully remove the chicken from the pot and check the internal temperature with an instant read digital thermometer. The chicken is done when it reaches a temperature of 160°F in the thickest section of the breast.

Place the chicken on a cutting board and shred it with two forks or cut it into chunks. Set aside. Discard the water in the pot and clean out the inside when it is cool enough to handle or use a second pot.

Saute The Vegetables

2. While the chicken is cooling, place a medium pot over medium-high heat and add in the butter. When the butter has melted, add in the chopped red bell pepper and sliced mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes.

3. After 5 minutes, stir in the olive oil and then add the chicken broth and mix again. Then add the chili flakes and chili powder to season the Spicy Chicken Soup and mix until incorporated. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the diced or shredded chicken and the heavy cream. Mix well and let it lightly simmer for 5 minutes.

5. Taste the soup and add more chili flakes, chili pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

If this recipe is too spicy for you, make my Small Batch Chicken Noodle recipe instead.

Enjoy! Mary

Follow My Facebook Page For Great Recipes For Two! I Cook For Two Facebook Page

To receive FREE recipes delivered directly to your email, be sure to sign up for the iCookfortwo newsletter. A sign up form is located in the middle of this article. If you have any questions, comments, or want to submit an idea for a recipe for two, feel free to email at mary@icookfortwo.com