Want the best seafood chowder recipe? This is hands down my favorite! It's super creamy, hearty, and delicious.
Every year, my husband and I host Christmas dinner at our house.
While we always make a different main course each year, there are a few favorites that return each Christmas. This includes the best seafood chowder recipe ever.
What makes this the best seafood chowder recipe
This delicious seafood chowder sits simmering on our stove while we prepare the side dishes and desserts. What makes it the best, in my humble chowder-loving opinion?
- 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.
- This seafood corn chowder is hearty and satisfying, topped with crispy, salty, mouthwatering bacon.
Seafood Bacon Chowder Video
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 for Making Seafood Chowder
- 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!
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.
More Dinner Recipes
Best Instant Pot Chili Recipe- Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken: Make Once, Eat Twice Recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Loaded Nachos- Instant Pot BBQ Ribs with Homemade BBQ Sauce
Honey Bourbon Wings- Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs
Best Seafood Chowder Recipe
Seafood Bacon Chowder
Ingredients
- 8 strips of bacon chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 cup carrots finely chopped
- ¾ cup celery finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme OR ½ tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 7 cups yellow corn
- 2 cups bottled clam juice
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 2.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 14.5 oz chicken stock
- 3 medium baking potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
- ½ pound of ready-to-eat 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
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.
Thanks so much to Kroger for sharing my recipe and holiday story. I was compensated for the video and recipe development, but as always, all opinions and recipes are my own.
Meredith {MarthaChartreuse} says
Wishing you a very, very happy holiday season!! Save some of the chowder for me?
Lauren @ Wicked Spatula says
That video is so fun! The chowder looks delicious!
Erin @ Platings and Pairings says
The chowder looks amazing! I love that it has crab in it - So decadent!
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says
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!
Kimberly Ann says
This looks incredible! Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is a staple in our family, especially around the holidays. :)
Erin says
Yum! Seafood chowder is one of my all-time faves. Looks delicious. Have a great Christmas, Marlynn!
Joanie @ Zagleft says
A hearty seafood chowder is a favorite of mine. Great video too!
Adrianne says
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!!
Farah Abumaizar says
I love seafood chowder! you make it seem so easy, can't wait to try it!
Alisha Rodrigues says
We love anything seafood. I'd love to have this for dinner. It's creamy, delicious and loaded with flavor. Loving the recipe
Michelle says
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.
Paula Montenegro says
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!