Clam chowder has been a New England staple for centuries and is often served at New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The most traditional New England clam chowder recipe includes clams, potatoes, onions, celery, salt pork or bacon.
The ingredients are simmered in milk and cream until the potatoes are tender. Some recipes also call for flour to thicken the soup before serving it with crackers or raw vegetables on top of each bowl.
Some restaurants will offer their own signature variations using lobster instead of clams or adding extra vegetables like carrots and broccoli florets to make it more colorful as well as tastier!
This hearty dish is perfect any time of year but especially during colder months when you’re looking for something warm and comforting.
What is clam chowder?
Clam chowder is a type of soup that typically contains clams, potatoes, onions, and celery simmered in milk or cream. This New England-style dish is hearty and filling, making it the perfect meal for a cold winter day.
There are many different variations of clam chowder, but the most popular version is New England clam chowder. This creamy soup is made with milk, cream, potatoes, onions and clams.
Some recipes also call for flour to thicken the soup before serving. Clam chowder is often served with crackers or raw vegetables on top of each bowl.
Ingredients
- 6 strips of bacon, diced
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 (8 oz) bottles clam juice
- 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
- 2 (10 oz) cans minced clams, undrained
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
2. Add onion and celery to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add clam juice and potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
5. Add clams, milk, and cream. Simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with bacon on top of each bowl.
Enjoy!
Nutrition facts
- Servings: 8
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated fat: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg
- Sodium: 1068 mg
- Potassium: 544 mg
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
Common pairings
There are many different ways to enjoy clam chowder. Here are a few of our favorite ways to serve this delicious soup:
- Serve it with crackers for a simple and satisfying meal
- Add some raw vegetables on the side for a crunchy contrast
- Serve baked potatoes on the side for a hearty and filling meal
- Add a salad on the side for a light and fresh addition
- Serve with cornbread for a classic New England-style meal
No matter how you choose to enjoy it, we hope you love our best clam chowder recipe!
Recipe variations
As we mentioned before, there are many different variations of clam chowder.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- New England Clam Chowder: This creamy soup is made with milk, cream, potatoes, onions, and clams.
- Manhattan Clam Chowder: This variation uses tomatoes instead of milk or cream and is typically less thick and hearty than New England clam chowder.
- New York Clam Chowder: This variation is similar to Manhattan clam chowder but uses a combination of milk and cream instead of just one or the other.
- Rhode Island Clam Chowder: This broth-based soup is made with clear broth, potatoes, onions, celery, diced bacon, and clams. It is typically lighter in color than other clam chowders.
- Connecticut Clam Chowder: This creamy soup is made with milk, potatoes, onions, celery, diced bacon, and clams.
Whether you like your clam chowder thick and creamy or light and broth-based, there’s a variation for everyone!
Tips for making the best clam chowder
Now that you know all about clam chowder and some of our favorite variations, it’s time to learn how to make the best clam chowder recipe!
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect batch of soup:
- Use fresh clams if possible. If you can’t find fresh clams, canned clams will work just as well
- Be sure to drain the clams before adding them to the soup so that you don’t end up with a watery soup
- Cut the vegetables into small pieces so that they’re easy to eat in one bite
- Use low-fat milk or cream if you’re looking for a lighter version
- Add some extra seasoning like Old Bay or thyme for a flavor boost
- Let the soup sit for a few minutes before serving so that the flavors can meld together
- Serve with crackers, raw vegetables, or a salad on the side
Storage and reheating
Clam chowder can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat until warmed through.
Clam chowder can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove over low heat until warmed through.
Is clam chowder better the next day?
Most soups are actually better the next day because the flavors have had time to develop and blend together. This is especially true for clam chowder!
So if you have leftovers, be sure to save them for another meal. Just reheat the soup until it’s hot and enjoy!
Final thoughts
There really isn’t a wrong way to enjoy clam chowder. Whether you like it thick and creamy or light and broth-based, there’s a variation for everyone.
We hope you enjoy our easy recipe and tips on how to make the best clam chowder!
Now that you know everything there is to know about clam chowder, it’s time to get cooking.
We hope you enjoy our best clam chowder recipe. Happy cooking!
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