Easy slow cooker corn chowder recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Full of potatoes, bacon, corn, ham, herbs and lots of vegetables. Rich and creamy and makes a very filling meal.
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This hearty, flavorful, homestyle dish is perfect for the whole family. I love it on a cool Fall day when it's time to snuggle up inside for the evening. And if you enjoy this soup, I think you will also want to try my Slow Cooker Corn Dip, Slow Cooker Creamed Corn, and Slow Cooker Jalapeno Cornbread (With Jiffy).
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Key ingredients
- Bay leaves- Added in the beginning for classic flavor.
- Vegetables- Including potatoes, carrots, celery, corn, onions, and garlic.
- Bacon and ham- Brings a tasty savor as well as added protein.
- Broth- I like to use low sodium chicken broth for this recipe.
- Butter- Be sure it is unsalted for best results.
- Dried Herbs- This includes rosemary, thyme, and basil.
- Heavy Cream- Makes the soup so creamy.
- Salt and pepper- Adjust according to personal preference.
- Parsley- Fresh gives nice color and aesthetic appeal.
- Cornstarch- Used as a thickening agent.
Variations
- Make it cheesy- By adding in your favorite shredded cheese at the end, like cheddar, mozzarella, or gouda. Melt until fully incorporated and enjoy.
- Use a different protein- Such as leftover Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken or shrimp
- Try other vegetables- Like zucchini, peppers, cabbage, or spinach.
- Add some spice- Toss in some chopped jalepenos, sprinkle in cayenne pepper, or just up the amount of pepper you use.
- Toss in some cooked pasta- For added heartiness and texture, similar to my Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup.
- Make it hearty- By adding your favorite beans like navy beans or kidney beans. If you enjoy that you may also like my Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas (With Sausage and Ham).
- Mix in some sour cream- For a more tangy flavor and creamy consistency.
How to make easy slow cooker corn chowder recipe from scratch?
1. Cook bacon until crispy- And keep aside and also discard half the grease.
2. Melt butter and saute vegetables- Along with spices and herbs.
3. Cook until onions are translucent- And the garlic is fragrant.
4. Stir in the rest of the ingredients- Then cover and cook until potatoes are tender.
5. Make the cornstarch slurry- And stir it into the soup to thicken it.
6. Continue to cook uncovered- Until chowder is thick and creamy.
What to serve with creamy chowder?
- Breads- Like Slow Cooker Jalapeno Cornbread {With Jiffy}, rolls, biscuits, garlic bread, crackers, or breadsticks.
- Green salads- Use a variety greens like kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, and more.
- Simple sandwiches- Like sliders or grilled cheese.
Tips and techniques
- I use a multifunctional slow cooker- Which has the "Saute" feature and allows me to cook the bacon and even saute the veggies. This means less pots and pans to clean later.
- If you need to change the consistency- Add more water to thin it out or add more cornstarch slurry to thicken it.
- Be sure to brown the meat first- Because it gives better flavor and texture overall.
- Discard bay leaf before serving- They are great for adding the right flavor, but you don't want to actually consume the leaf.
- Use low sodium ingredients- Including the butter and broth so that your soup doesn't become too salty.
- Adjust herbs and seasonings- Based on your family's preferences.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but you will want to make sure and add them in at the end so that they don't become mushy.
Add more cornstarch slurry until it reaches the desired consistency. If it gets to thick just add some milk or broth to balance it out.
Simply remove the bacon and enjoy with all the vegetables. You can even add beans or other veggies to make it more hearty.
Storage
- Refrigerate- Place in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freeze- It can be done, but I don't recommend it. The cornstarch slurry may cause it to separate when thawed and the potatoes get all mushy.
- Reheat- In the microwave or on the stove top.
More crockpot soup recipes
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup
- Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
- Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Recipe
Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
Video
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Ingredients
- 4 slices Bacon
- 2 tablespoon Butter Unsalted
- 1 cup Onion Finely chopped
- ½ cup Celery Diced
- ½ cup Carrots Peeled, Diced
- 3 cloves Garlic Finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon Dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon Dried basil
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
- 2 Bay leaves
- 3 cups Chicken broth Low sodium
- 2 Potatoes Large, Peeled, Diced
- 1 cup Ham Cooked, Cut into cubes
- 1.5-2 cups Corn Frozen, Adjust according to your preference
- ¼ cup Cornstarch
- 1 cup Half and half Or ¾ cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley Finely chopped, Or you can use chives, For garnish
Instructions
- In a multi-functional slow cooker that has the "Saute" feature or something similar to that, add bacon and cook until brown and crispy.
- Transfer to a plate, lined with paper towel.
- Discard half the grease.
- Add butter and let it fully melt.
- Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, thyme, rosemary, basil, salt, pepper, bay leaves and saute for a few minutes until onions become translucent and garlic is fragrant.
- Mix in cooked bacon, broth, potatoes, ham, corn. Note: Instead of mixing in bacon in the soup, you can keep it aside and use it as a topping, prior to serving.
- Cover and cook on High heat for 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.
- Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing together cornstarch with half and half in a small bowl. Pour this in the crockpot.
- Mix until combined.
- Let it continue cooking uncovered for 30-45 minutes on High heat, stirring occasionally, until chowder is thick and creamy.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or chives and enjoy.
Notes
- Instead of ham, you can use shredded or diced rotisserie chicken.
- Topping options include fresh herbs like parsley, chives, basil or dill or freshly shredded cheese such as cheddar or mozzarella. Try crunchy toppings like classic oyster crackers or even croutons.
- Reserve the cooked bacon and use it as a crispy topping rather than mixing it in with the rest of the ingredients.
- For tanginess, you can mix in some sour cream or enjoy a dollop as a topping before serving.
- If chowder is too thick, mix in some broth. If it is too thin, continue cooking on High heat uncovered until excess liquid is reduced via evaporation.
- Add some red chili flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
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