Easy New England Clam Chowder

Cozy up with this easy clam chowder recipe, featuring creamy potatoes, crispy bacon, and rich clam broth, it’s perfect for soup season.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: heavy cream, russet potatoes, russet potatoes, heavy cream, salty bacon, winter soup recipes, Christmas comfort food, gluten-free friendly, salty bacon, winter soup recipes

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 1

Servings: to 10 servings

Calories: 510kcal

Author: Jennifer Locklin

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Ingredients

4 10 oz cans Whole Baby Clams, with juice
4 slices bacon diced
1 onion diced
3 pounds russet potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
4 cups clam juice
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 cloves garlic minced and mashed
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste

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Instructions

Prepare the Base

Sauté bacon in a large soup pot until crisp.
Remove bacon with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate; set aside
Add a pat of butter and onion to the pot, and continue to sauté until the onion is soft but not browned.

Add Garlic and Potatoes

Stir in garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, ensuring it doesn’t brown.
Add potatoes and clam juice to the pot. If the potatoes are not covered by at least 1 inch of liquid, add water to make up the difference.

Cook the Potatoes

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low for a gentle simmer.
Partially cover the pot and cook on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

Incorporate Clams

Stir in the clams along with their juice.

Thicken the Soup

In a small bowl, whisk together milk and flour until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
Gradually stir the milk-flour mixture into the soup, mixing well to combine.

Final Simmer

Simmer the soup for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Gently stir in the cream and continue to simmer until heated through, ensuring the soup does not boil.

Season and Serve

Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve warm, optionally paired with oyster crackers for added texture and flavor.

Nutrition

*Nutrition information is automatically calculated based on ingredient data and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient options are provided, the first listed is used for calculation. Optional ingredients and garnishes are not included in the nutrition analysis.