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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Soup Recipes » Seafood Bacon Corn Chowder Recipe

    Published: December 17, 2015 / Updated: November 4, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Seafood Bacon Corn Chowder Recipe

    35 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    bowls of seafood bacon corn chowder with title text overlay.

    Want the best seafood bacon corn chowder recipe? This seafood chowder recipe is rich and creamy, with crunchy bacon and sweet corn. It is hands down my favorite!

    seafood chowder

    Going to college in Boston, I fell in love with New England clam chowder. Every bowl was so rich, creamy, and satisfying. Unlike Manhattan clam chowder, which has a tomato base, New England chowder has a rich cream base.

    Over the years, I've recipe tested many different versions of chowders. My family loves our Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder version, which is fast and easy to make at home.

    But this seafood bacon chowder recipe is still my favorite to this day! Even after having to go dairy-free, I've learned to adapt it while retaining the luscious creamy smooth chowder and hearty, satisfying nature of chowder. (See recipe card notes for how to make this recipe dairy free).

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you will love this seafood chowder recipe
    • 🎥 Seafood bacon corn chowder video
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Cooking tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving ideas
    • Wine pairings for chowder
    • More soup recipes
    • Seafood Bacon Corn Chowder

    ❤️ Why you will love this seafood chowder recipe

    Seafood Bacon Corn Chowder

    This delicious seafood chowder is everything you want in a New England-style chowder.

    • It's packed with yummy, healthy veggies.
    • You can make this as creamy as you like by pureeing it in a blender.
    • If you're dairy-free like me, you can easily substitute dairy-free alternatives for the cream.
    • Use your favorite seafood. You don't have to use clams! I use crab meat, which we love and are fortunate to have in abundance here in the Pacific Northwest.
    • This seafood corn chowder is hearty and satisfying, topped with crispy, salty, mouthwatering bacon.

    🎥 Seafood bacon corn chowder video

    Seafood Chowder recipe

    I was so honored to share my recipe with Kroger as part of their holiday recipes video series. This series featured nine bloggers from different parts of the country, including yours truly representing the Pacific Northwest!

    Here's the video sharing what the holidays mean to me. I also share a little more about what makes this particular chowder recipe so special.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Cooking tips

    • If you're using frozen corn kernels, thaw them to room temperature beforehand.
    • Cut the potatoes as uniformly as possible, in cubes of similar size, to ensure they cook evenly.
    • If you don't have clam juice, you can use more chicken broth instead.
    • I use ready-to-eat crab meat from my grocery store deli for this recipe. However, I have also used fresh lobster, shrimp, and salmon in lieu of crab and it is just as delicious!
    • If you want the chowder to be creamier, increase the amount of soup you puree in the blender by anywhere from half a cup to a full cup more. It's really up to you how creamy or chunky you want this chowder to be!

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you freeze seafood chowder?

    Unfortunately, cream-based chowders do not freeze well. You can keep this chowder in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. However, I do not recommend freezing this soup.

    What's the best way to store leftover seafood chowder?

    Allow the soup to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    Serving ideas

    Serving this chowder as a main course with any of these side dishes:

    • Homemade French Bread
    • Instant Pot Green Beans
    • Air Fryer Garlic Bread
    • Garlic Parmesan Knots
    • Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad

    Or serve this seafood chowder as a starter course to compliment any of these main dishes:

    • Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
    • Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
    • One-Pan Sirloin Tip Roast
    • Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
    • Air Fryer Paprika Chicken

    Wine pairings for chowder

    glass of white wine

    A rich, creamy chowder or creamy soup needs a crisp white wine to balance out the richness. Pair this seafood chowder with a Sauvignon Blanc for an elevated dining experience.

    More soup recipes

    • bowl of dairy free mushroom soup.
      Dairy Free Mushroom Soup
    • lentil soup, pumpkin soup, cauliflower soup, and lemon chicken rice soup with title text "35 Dairy Free Soup Recipes."
      35 Dairy-Free Soup Recipes
    • bowl of Tuscan kale and white bean soup
      Tuscan Kale and White Bean Soup
    • bowl of pumpkin soup with sausage, greens and cheese.
      Pumpkin Soup with Sausage

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    bowl of bacon corn seafood chowder with bacon crumbles on top.

    Seafood Bacon Corn Chowder

    5 from 5 votes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
    Total Time: 45 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    A seafood chowder with bacon and corn, so creamy and delicious!
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 869kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • 1 large pot

    Ingredients

    • 8 strips of bacon chopped
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 3 garlic cloves, minces
    • 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
    • 1 cup finely chopped carrots
    • ¾ cup chopped celery
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme OR ½ tablespoon dried thyme
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 7 cups yellow corn kernels
    • 2 cups bottled clam juice
    • 2 cups milk
    • 2½ cups heavy cream
    • 1 can (14.5 ounce can) chicken stock
    • 3 medium baking potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
    • ½ pound crab meat
    • 3 tablespoons thinly sliced basil optional

    Instructions

    • Cook the bacon in a large (6 or 8 quart) pot over medium heat. Stir bacon occasionally and cook until crisp. Transfer to paper towels. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of the bacon for garnish, leaving the remainder in the pot.
    • Add butter, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, thyme, and bay leaf, to the pot. Cover and cook for about 6-8 minutes, until the onions are soft and lightly golden. Be sure to stir occasionally.
    • Add the corn, clam juice, milk, heavy cream, chicken stock and potatoes to the pot. Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
    • While ingredients are simmering, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add crab meat. Sauté for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.
    • Check the large pot of ingredients simmering and when potatoes are tender, discard the bay leaf.
    • Transfer about 4 cups of the soup to a blender and puree.
    • Pour the puree back into the chowder and stir to blend and thicken.
    • Garnish each serving with bacon, a generous spoonful of crab meat, and chopped basil (optional).

    Notes

    Makes approximately 6 to 8 servings.
    If using frozen corn kernels, thaw to room temperature before using.
    Make it dairy-free:
    • Substitute 2 cups of 1% milk with 2 cups of almond milk.
    • Substitute heavy cream with 2 cups full-fat coconut milk or, for a creamier chowder, 1 cup coconut milk plus 1 cup coconut cream.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 869kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 945mg | Potassium: 1461mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 6105IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 235mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Michelle says

        May 13, 2022 at 5:06 am

        5 stars
        This chowder is simply delicious! It's perfectly creamy and so full of flavor, the whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

        Reply
      2. Paula Montenegro says

        February 09, 2020 at 7:39 am

        5 stars
        It looks gorgeous and sounds delicious, just like a great chowder should! I can't wait to try my hand at this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
      3. Alisha Rodrigues says

        February 09, 2020 at 4:52 am

        5 stars
        We love anything seafood. I'd love to have this for dinner. It's creamy, delicious and loaded with flavor. Loving the recipe

        Reply
        • Gisela Redmon says

          October 15, 2022 at 2:56 pm

          Pl give me the amount of all items for 8 People..thank you..mainly the seafood..

      4. Farah Abumaizar says

        February 09, 2020 at 4:34 am

        5 stars
        I love seafood chowder! you make it seem so easy, can't wait to try it!

        Reply
      5. Adrianne says

        February 09, 2020 at 3:17 am

        5 stars
        Oh yum!! The chicken broth suggestion is a good one and I will take note of it. This looks SO good and I almost drooling at the thought of it. Seafood AND Bacon, yes please!!

        Reply
      6. Joanie @ Zagleft says

        December 18, 2015 at 2:12 pm

        A hearty seafood chowder is a favorite of mine. Great video too!

        Reply
      7. Erin says

        December 18, 2015 at 1:30 pm

        Yum! Seafood chowder is one of my all-time faves. Looks delicious. Have a great Christmas, Marlynn!

        Reply
      8. Kimberly Ann says

        December 18, 2015 at 10:10 am

        This looks incredible! Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is a staple in our family, especially around the holidays. :)

        Reply
      9. Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says

        December 18, 2015 at 9:53 am

        I love a good chowder, and I love how chock full of yummy seafood this one is. I love holiday traditions, and I admit to getting cranky if we don't do most of them! LOL Our big one is lasagna for Christmas Eve dinner. When I was a kid, my mom could make/freeze it ahead of time, and the pop it in the oven to bake while we were at Christmas Eve services. When we got home, dinner was ready! I have to have it every year now!

        Reply
      10. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        December 17, 2015 at 5:01 pm

        The chowder looks amazing! I love that it has crab in it - So decadent!

        Reply
      11. Lauren @ Wicked Spatula says

        December 17, 2015 at 3:40 pm

        That video is so fun! The chowder looks delicious!

        Reply
      12. Meredith {MarthaChartreuse} says

        December 17, 2015 at 1:35 pm

        Wishing you a very, very happy holiday season!! Save some of the chowder for me?

        Reply
      5 from 5 votes

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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