Best Ever Corn Chowder Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate policy here.
Corn Chowder will be loved by the whole family! A thick, rich, chunky chowder, with a pronounced corn flavor, and all round deliciousness and on the table in under 30 minutes.
Super easy to make, too!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Best Ever Corn Chowder Recipe
I always giggle when I come across a recipe that has the title “the best ever” and I think “what makes it “the best”? have you tried ALL of the recipes in the world of that particular variety of dish?”
You’ll note after reading this, that I still call THIS corn chowder recipe the “best ever” corn chowder recipe. That is because it’s my personal favorite version and I love this recipe!
I have NOT tried all the recipes in the world for corn chowder, but I’ve tried a lot. This one is the one that has evolved from making a lot of chowders, and tweaking the recipe until I got to the masterpiece (hehe) that is this recipe.
This chowder has just a few very simple, very easy to find ingredients. Which is perfect, because who wants to go hunting for specialized ingredients when you’re just trying to get dinner on the table? Ha.
I generally have these things in my fridge and freezer anyway, which means this a great recipe to make this pretty much any time you want to!
Into chowder and soup recipes? I have you covered! You’ll love this decadent New England Clam Chowder or this Broccoli Cheddar Soup!
FAQs
Ever wondered what the difference is between a cream soup and a chowder? ME TOO!
Before I learned to cook, I always thought they were the same thing, but I have since learned that to be called a chowder, it needs to use flour as a thickening agent and is generally chunky, vs a cream soup that is usually thickened using a roux/béchamel sauce and is smooth. Or you could call it both, like I do. Now you don’t have to wonder. You’re so welcome.
YES! Just cool completely and place in freezer-safe containers and freeze (leave a little room in the container because it will expand). To eat – thaw, and reheat gently in the microwave (don’t boil!)
Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead
Kylee’s Notes
Is there really SUGAR in this recipe? Yes! Leave it out if you are morally opposed, or you are using particularly sweet corn.
What kind of corn should you use? Fresh corn (corn on the cob) can be used, but you may need to blanch it slightly or cook for longer than you would if you use frozen corn, canned corn kernels or creamed corn.
Cook bacon while the chowder simmers!
What to do with leftovers
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat until it is piping hot!
Substitutions/Additions
Add a bay leaf for a subtle savory flavor
You may use chicken broth or chicken stock in place of the water. You will want to dial back the salt to account for it if you are using broth (which is already seasoned)
Freezing instructions
Cool chowder completely. Ladle into freezer safe containers. Seal, label and freeze up to 3 months.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
How to make this recipe
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
JumpGet prepped
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Peel and dice the potatoes (you’ll need 3 medium sized ones). Dice the onion and celery. Dice the bacon and cook until crispy (drain on a towel).
Make the chowder
Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat and add the onions and celery in butter – cook until softened.
Add potatoes, sweet corn, sugar, salt and pepper to taste (see notes) and water.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until potatoes are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Add in the half and half, and thickener
In a small bowl, mix the flour into 1 cup of half and half. Stir into the chowder.
Add remaining half and half.
Heat until it gets nice and thick, smashing some of the potatoes against the side of the pot, and stirring often.
Cool and stir through the bacon.
More Soup & Chowder Recipes
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup. Like comfort in a bowl. A recipe that is easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. It also freezes well!
- Quick & Easy Vegetable Soup. Very quick and simple, easy on the wallet, great on the stomach and adaptable to whatever you have on hand!
- Vegetable Barley Soup. A vegan/vegetarian bowl of deliciousness that appeals to the whole family! The barley makes it very filling, and the vegetables bring great color and rich flavor.
- Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup. Hearty and warming with just the right amount of spice, blended with cheese, topped off with jalapenos, cilantro, and crispy tortilla strips.
- Thick & Creamy New England Clam Chowder. A classic, but a good one!
Get free recipes in your inbox!
Find me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram.
If you make this recipe, please comment and let me know how it turned out and leave a star rating! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Update: This was originally posted in 2016, and has been updated to improve reader experience in January of 2022.
Best Ever Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/2 cup diced onions
- 1 cup diced celery
- 2 1/2 cups hot water
- 2 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
- 3 cups frozen corn
- 1 tablespoon white sugar optional
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoons cracked pepper
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half
- 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Cook 1/2 cup diced onions and 1 cup diced celery in 1/4 cup butter until soft. Add 2 1/2 cups hot water, 2 cups peeled and cubed potatoes, 3 cups frozen corn, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoons cracked pepper.1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup diced onions, 1 cup diced celery, 2 1/2 cups hot water, 2 cups peeled and cubed potatoes, 3 cups frozen corn, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoons cracked pepper
- Cover and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour into 1 cup of the2 cups half and half. Stir into the soup, then add remaining half and half.3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 cups half and half
- Heat until it gets nice and thick, smushing some of the potatoes against the side of the pot, and stirring often.
- Cool and stir through the 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon. Either serve now, with extra bacon, or cool, label, seal and freeze.
From frozen
- Thaw it and heat until hot, but don't boil. Top with bacon if desired.6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
Video
Would you like to save this recipe?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!
About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
Made it for the first time tonight and it turned out great. My husband loved it. It definitely made it into the dinner rotation.
Hi this can be frozen with potatoes? Made several times loved it every time but haven’t froze potatoes before with this recipe or any other. That for your recipe.
I absolutely freeze this recipe with the potatoes.
Yum! I didn’t measure things exactly, just chopped up an onion, some yellow potatoes and a frozen bag of corn. Ended up very tasty!
Easy to put together and delicious. I added some left over chicken breast.
What is half and half?
It is a mix of half milk and half cream