This easy Corn Chowder recipe is hearty, flavorful, and loaded with fresh corn, bacon, potatoes, green chilies, and chipotle peppers! It is the perfect comfort meal on a cold night, and is a family favorite!
I doubt you’ve ever tasted Corn Chowder as packed full of flavor as this recipe! It’s absolutely delicious, and slightly unique with addition of green chiles and a hint of smokiness from chipotle peppers in adobe. It’s to DIE for; I know you’re going to love it!
How to make Corn Chowder:
Cook bacon in a large soup pot over medium heat.
Add diced onion and celery and stir, cooking 3 to 4 more minutes. Add butter and stir until melted.
Add corn. Stir and cook for one minute.
Add potato, green chilies, and chipotle chilies. Slowly pour in chicken broth and half & half. Add salt and stir. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to low.
Thicken: Ladle some of the soup broth into a bowl and stir 3 tablespoons of cornmeal into it, stirring until smooth. Pour into the soup pot. Cover and cook for 15 minutes over low heat. (If chowder needs more thickening, add another tablespoon of cornmeal mixed with a little broth.)
If you’re feeling extra fancy, serve it in a yummy homemade bread bowl!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Corn chowder tastes great up to one week later, so it’s a great soup to make ahead of time!
To Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, I recommend waiting to add the potatoes and half and half until after thawing and heating the frozen soup.
Possible Recipe Variations:
- Potato: russet or yukon gold will work. I even use canned diced potatoes or diced frozen potatoes when I’m in a hurry.
- Chicken Corn Chowder: Add shredded chicken, or swap it out for the bacon.
- Cornstarch: I love the texture the cornmeal provides, but to thicken chowder with cornstarch, make a cornstarch slurry by whisking together 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir the slurry into the soup. Cook for a few minutes to allow it to thicken.
- Slow Cooker: Follow directions as listed, but before adding the half and half, place in slow cooker on low for up to 6 hours. Add half and half and thicken right before serving.
Serve With:
- Artisan No Knead Bread
- Homemade Bread Bowls
- Best Homemade Rolls
- Apple Pecan Salad
- Orange Pomegranate Salad
- Mixed Green Salad with Berries
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Recipe
Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 3-4 slices bacon , chopped
- 1 yellow onion , diced
- 2 ribs celery , chopped
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cups corn , fresh or frozen (about 5 ears)
- 1 large potato* , peeled and chopped
- 1-2 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce* , finely diced
- 4 ounce can mild diced green chiles , undrained
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups half and half , cream, or whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3-4 Tablespoons cornmeal
Instructions
- Add bacon pieces to a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the diced onion and celery and stir, cooking 3 to 4 more minutes.
- Add butter and stir until melted. Add corn. Stir and cook for one minute.
- Add chopped potato, green chilies and chipotle chilies.
- Slowly pour in chicken broth and half & half. Add salt and stir. Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat to low.
- Ladle some of the soup broth into a bowl and stir 3 tablespoons of cornmeal into it, stirring until smooth. Pour into the soup pot. Cover and cook for 15 minutes over low heat.
- If chowder needs more thickening, add another tablespoon of cornmeal mixed with a little broth.
- Serve in a yummy homemade bread bowl!
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe October 2013. Updated October 2019 and September 2021.
Sooooo good! I took a few liberties with the recipe (added some shredded chicken, shredded carrots, garlic powder, and topped with extra bacon bits & fresh parsley). Because of the chipotle pepper, this had a kick that I was pleasantly surprised by (first time using chipotle peppers in adobo sauce). I’ll be making this one many times this winter!
Great stuff! I made a batch with crab and another batch with chicken.
So delicious!! Family loved. Wouldn’t change a thing.
The recipe calls for cornMEAL, but the additional notes mention cornSTARCH. Which is it? 🙂
It’s cornmeal. You can use cornstarch as a substitute if, for any reason, you don’t want to use cornmeal.
Perfect Antidote to a chilly night! I made this exactly as written and it was very, very good! Served it with shredded honey chipotle chicken – yummy! I thickened with cornstarch and needed a bit more than suggested based on my own personal preference on thickness. Really great tasting and easy recipe! Try it!
Made this tonight, it was delicious! Even my hubby said it’s a keeper! Thanks Lauren
Great recipe Lauren! Just needs to be updated to include the half & half & the corn in the cooking process.