Corn Chowder

Corn Chowder

This soup is one of our favorites and is always a HUGE hit anytime we serve it.  You can make it with fresh corn on the cob or frozen corn, and the combination of real corn meal, and chipotle and green chilies gives it a subtle, wonderful smokey flavor.  Also, don’t worry about the chilies making this dish too spicy–they just add great flavor!

If you’ve never made chowder before, chowder is a type of cream soup that is slightly thicker and chunkier (thanks to small chunks of potato, corn, and bacon).  The chunks are what make it different from a bisque.  Some chowder recipes have seafood (think Clam chowder) but vegetable chowders like corn or potato chowder are also really popular and date back to Boston in the late 1800’s.

6 Steps to Creamy Corn Chowder:

• Cook bacon and onion.  Cook bacon pieces in a large soup pot for 3-5 minutes. Add the diced onion and celery and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes.
• Add butter and corn.  Stir in the butter until melted and add the corn. Stir and cook for one minute.

• Add potatoes, green chilies and chipotle chilies.
• Add broth and cream.  Slowly pour in chicken broth and half & half. Add salt and stir.
• Boil.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low.
• Thicken.  Combine cornmeal with water. Pour into the chowder. Cover and cook for 15 minutes over low heat.

Serve in a yummy homemade bread bowl!

Thicker Chowder?

Chowder’s are not meant to be overly thick, but the starch from the potatoes should give it a slightly thick texture and body.

This corn chowder recipe is also thickened slightly with cornmeal.  I like to use cornmeal because I love the texture it adds to the soup. You could also use cornstarch to thicken the soup.  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.

Serve Corn Chowder in a Homemade Bread Bowl!

These Homemade bread bowls are so easy to make and don’t require any special equipment or ingredients.!

Consider trying one of these classic soup recipes:

• Taco Soup
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• French Onion Soup
• Chile Verde Soup

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Corn chowder with Chilies

An easy and delicious Corn Chowder recipe made with bacon, mild green chilies, chipotle peppers and potatoes in a creamy flavorful sauce. 

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 272kcal

Author: Lauren Allen

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon , chopped
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 yellow onion , diced
• 2 ribs celery , chopped
• 4 cups corn , fresh or frozen (about 5 ears)
• 1 large russet or yukon gold potato , peeled and chopped
• 1-2 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , finely diced*
• 4 ounce can 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 Tablespoons cornmeal
• 1/4 cup water

US Customary - Metric

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 boil. Reduce heat to low.
• Combine cornmeal with water. Pour into the chowder.
• Cover and cook for 15 minutes over low heat.
• If chowder needs more thickening, add another tablespoon of cornmeal mixed with a little water. Cook for another few minutes.
• Serve in a yummy homemade bread bowl!

Notes

*Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce can be found at your local grocery store in the Mexican food aisle. Spoon out one or two of the whole chilies (depending on spice preference), dice them and add to the soup.

 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 512IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe October 2013. Updated October 2019.

Recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman.