This comforting Creamy Sweet Pepper Soup is made in one pot using a savory mix of sweet peppers, chicken broth, and white rice. It’s an easy meal that always comes in handy when you end up with too many peppers.
Easy sweet pepper soup
It’s inevitable… peppers just seem to accumulate in my house and I always have way too many! It’s a great problem to have when I’m craving Stuffed Peppers or a Cheesy Green Pepper Bake, but for the lazier days, this Creamy Sweet Pepper Soup is always the perfect solution.
Made with yummy sweet peppers, chicken broth, and white rice, every slurp of this easy soup is savory and comforting. Whip it up in just one pot for a healthy family dinner or when you’re prepping your lunches for the week. It’s ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Not only is this sweet pepper soup recipe naturally creamy and healthy, but it’s even gluten free and easy to make vegetarian. As a bonus, the white rice added at the end gives each spoonful extra body and texture. The combination of peppers and rice (like this Cabbage & Pepper Casserole) is such a classic and I think you’ll really love it!
What kind of peppers should you use?
Any type of sweet pepper is best for this creamy soup. Most grocery stores carry bags of mini sweet peppers but bell peppers work just as well (or use a combination of both).
The finished soup should taste sweet and savory instead of smoky or spicy, which is what would happen if you were to use spicy chili peppers. There is, however, one jalapeno pepper in the soup for just a touch of spice (very mild!), but that’s it!
How to make sweet pepper soup
This bell pepper soup is extremely easy to make in just one pot. You can puree it with a blender when it’s done or leave the soup with lots of texture if that’s what you like! Here’s how it’s done:
Add the sweet peppers and jalapeno to a soup pot over medium heat. Stir until they soften, then add in the garlic and thyme.
Pour the chicken broth and red pepper flakes into the pot and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.
Puree the soup using an immersion blender or in batches using a regular blender.
Pour the soup back into the pot and stir in the cooked rice. Portion the soup into bowls, serve with croutons on top, and enjoy!
What to serve with bell pepper soup
A hearty bowl of vegetable soup always needs fresh bread or rolls on the side. To transform it into the most comforting meal, serve each bowl with a green salad or roasted vegetable sandwiches.
Variations:
Think of sweet pepper soup as a blank canvas. There’s plenty of room for customizations, add-ins, and new fun flavors. Make the recipe your own with the help of these tasty variations:
- Add meat – Like ground beef, chicken, or turkey, or throw in pre-cooked shredded chicken or leftover ham.
- Add vegetables – Celery, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, or butternut squash.
- Instead of white rice – Stir in cooked quinoa, barley, basmati rice, or cauliflower rice.
- Vegetarian soup – Simply replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth to make vegetarian bell pepper soup.
- Extra creamy – Stir in heavy cream or coconut milk after pureeing the soup to make it extra creamy and filling.
- Toppings – Top each bowl with croutons, chives, parsley, shredded cheese, parmesan cheese, red chili flakes, or roasted peppers.
Storing sweet pepper soup
If you plan on enjoying the leftovers the next day, don’t add the rice until it’s time to reheat the batch. Rice will soak up the moisture as it sits, leaving you with a soup filled with soggy rice.
To store: Keep the leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.
To freeze: When the soup is cool, transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or container. It freezes well for up to 3 months.
More comforting vegetable soups to try
- Cabbage Soup
- Tomato Rice Soup
- Fresh Tomato Soup
- Cream of Broccoli Soup
- Red Lentil Dal Soup
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Pin for later:
Creamy Sweet Pepper Soup
PrintIngredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds sweet peppers chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed, minced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
- 6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups cooked white rice
Instructions
- Pour olive oil in pot over medium-high heat. Add sweet and jalapeño peppers and sauté for 10 minutes until they soften up, continue stirring during this time.
- Add garlic and thyme, stirring for 4 more minutes while the garlic browns.
- Pour chicken broth and red pepper flakes in. Stir to combine and continue heating for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to blend until creamy and smooth. You can also use a regular blender, but do this in batches, being careful as it's very hot.
- Add cooked rice and stir to combine. Serve and enjoy with toasted croutons on top (optional but delicious)!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Oh man, this look fabulous. I’ve been absolutely dying for soup lately, since it’s been so dreary here. This would hit the spot!
Joanne says
I am definitely soup-obsessed as well! And the thought of all your homegrown sweet peppers in this soup definitely has me drooling and craving comfort!
Mr. & Mrs. P says
WHat a beautiful color this soup has!! Can beat the flavor of fresh peppers!!
Nora @ Buttercream Fanatic says
Oh my gosh, I love love love soup, and I am always looking for new veggie soup recipes. I’m sure we’ll be eating a lot of this as long as the CSA peppers hold out.
Aimee / Wallflower Girl says
I loooooooooooooove soup. I feel better just thinking about soup. And this one sounds gorgeous! Although, I’ve never had it with rice before, usually just some bread (sourdough is my favourite with soup) but I’ll give the rice a try next time 😉
Pamela says
Sourdough sounds delicious with it too! YUM!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Your idea of a perfect evening sounds idyllic to me! As does this soup. So comforting!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Yes, I too could eat soup at every meal. I just love it. Soup year-round. I don’t even need the snow. I don’t like snow – or being cold. Maybe that’s why I love soup. It keeps me so warrrrmmmm!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Sometimes I wish it would snow for a day.. and then melt just so I could celebrate the exact day you described… exact I would have a dog involved 🙂 Soup looks great.
Pamela says
A pup would be a great soup partner too Laura! 🙂
The Squishy Monster says
I could totally eat THIS soup every meal! Looks divine! I found ya on FB too, btw =)
Pamela says
Thank you!
Ashley says
I love soup too – I would eat it all the time if my husband would : ) And your perfect evening does sound perfect. Except for me it would be my snuggly little beagle instead!
Pamela says
A beagle sounds like a nice lap partner too. 🙂
holly ; the hobbit kitchen says
pepper soup is my absolute favourite – i love this recipe! and your photography is so lovely as well 🙂
http://thehobbitkitchen.blogspot.co.uk x
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Love soup!! It’s not even really cold here yet but I’m still in a soup mood lately 🙂
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
This soup sounds exactly what I need right now to beat this cold!
Pamela says
Bummer to hear you’re sick Nicole, wishing you well!
Juliana says
Pamela, such a pretty and tasty soup…I never thought in making soup with the sweet peppers…
Hope you are enjoying your week 😀
Sophie33 says
A wonderful soup that I just made & both my husband & I love it so much! The added jalapeno pepper & red pepper flakes make the soup come alive,…woehoe!
Pamela says
Glad you liked it Sophie!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
If soup looked so good, I could eat it everyday. I really really like how you’ve added a bit of rice to the soup. I am a big fan of rice, and need at least a little bit everyday, so you definitely got my vote for this yummy dish.
byeGeorge says
Oh brother…that reads like a real winner…will by trying soon…thx
Pam says
I love sweet pepper soup. Great idea to add rice to it to make it hearty and more filling. It looks amazing.
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
Our pepper plant only quit a couple days ago … we have a TON on our counter. This would be perfect for lunch today! Thanks Pamela! It looks incredibly creamy and comforting. And your description of the perfect evening truly sounds perfect to me, too!
Shundara@SavyNaturalista says
I love the color the soup looks so delicious; I have already put my Christmas pajamas on.. Great for cozy weather.. 🙂
Pamela says
It’s never too early for Christmas pajamas!
Jaclyn says
That sounds like a perfect evening to me too! I look forward to the first snow like I look forward to Christmas morning.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Pinned! Could this be any easier? 100% making this soup!
Pamela says
Enjoy Davida!
Francine says
Damn, girl, why you so good to me? This looks great. The dude hates peppers but that just means more for me! (Also, I made a pretty rocking soup last night that I’m proud of. Mushroom and quinoa soup, with carrots, celery, onion, spinach and a little kale. So hearty and delicious. I love me some soup!)
Pamela says
That soup sounds delicious Francine!
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
Your perfect evening definitely sounds like my perfect evening 🙂 I so wish we’ll get some snow this year but I’m afraid with global warming, it’ll never be the same as we remember it from our childhood 🙁 This soup looks delicious. Love that you added rice- definitely sounds like you’ve got the start to your perfect night!
Pamela says
I saved snow from some of the past record breaking snowstorms in NYC, so if you need snow, I’m your girl to relive the memories! 😉
Kelly says
I love soup especially when the weather starts getting cooler. This sweet pepper soup looks amazing and I love the vibrant pop of colors. I could definitely go for a big bowl of this comforting soup, thanks for sharing 🙂
The Café Sucre Farine says
This sounds perfect for the kind of day we’re having in NC today, cold, damp and generally yucky. But a great day to be inside with a bowl of your yummy soup! Love that photo of the pepper scraps, it looks like a piece of artwork!
Pamela says
Thank you! Hoping the weather brightens up a bit in NC for you!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
Oh, that sounds perfect – so comfy and comfortable, especially the kitty part 😉 This soup sounds amazing!
Pamela says
A kitty in the lap is always a happy time! 🙂
Madison says
YUMMMM-o! I love sweet peppers so I’m sure I would love this soup. Thanks for sharing!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Oh, my! Pamela, you had me at “plush socks, pajamas pants, creamy soup, a good book, plenty of cats” and, “cat on your lap, looking at the window and seeing snow”. Sheer heaven! And, your sweet pepper soup looks dreamy. Must add it to our menu asap…seriously! Gorgeous photos, too. Thanks for sharing, girl!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Your idea of a perfect evening sounds amazing to me! Bring on the fluffy socksand soup, specially if it looks as tasty as this one! I’ve still have lots of homegrown peppers left, so you bet I’ll be making this soon. Sounds so cosy and comforting! 🙂
Pamela says
Enjoy this soup Consuelo, especially with those fluffy socks on!