Clam Chowder

The best Clam Chowder recipe is thick and creamy and full of clams, potatoes, and veggies.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Servings cups

Calories 337 kcal

Equipment

pot
fine-mesh strainer

Ingredients

4 cans chopped clams 6.5 ounce cans
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 240g
1.5 pounds Russet potatoes peeled and diced (about 3 medium potatoes)
3 bay leaves
4 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
3 ribs celery (about 1 cup), diced
0.5 red bell pepper diced
0.5 green bell pepper diced
2 cloves garlic finely minced
0.5 cup all-purpose flour 63g
1 cup milk 249g
1 cup half and half 227g
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

Drain the clams, adding the juice from the cans to a large stock pot. Set the clams aside.
Add chicken broth and diced potatoes to the pot (the liquid should just barely cover the potatoes). Bring to a simmer, add the bay leaf, and cook until the potatoes are barely fork tender, about 5-6 minutes.
While the potatoes cook, in a second pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the onions, celery, bell peppers and garlic and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
Stir in the flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually stir in the milk and half and half, whisking as you add them to break up any clumps of flour. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir the creamy mixture into the potatoes. Stir in the salt, pepper, vinegar, and reserved clams. Cook for 5 more minutes.

Notes

Yield: About 8 cups of soup. Serving Size: 1 ⅓ cup. Make Ahead Instructions: I like to chop the veggies ahead of time and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It makes this soup come together so quickly! Or the entire easy clam chowder recipe in advance and refrigerate until ready to heat and serve. To Freeze: I don't recommend freezing soup with potatoes because the potatoes get soft and mushy, and creamy soups like this can have little bit of a different texture after thawing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.33cupsCalories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 8gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 524mgPotassium: 759mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 887IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 2mg

Keyword chowder, Clam Chowder, comfort food, quick, seafood, soup