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Chilly days call for warm bowls of sweet, smoky Corn Chowder. This incredible soup can be made any time of year and comes together quickly, thanks to frozen corn.
Chowder may be my favorite way to enjoy sweet corn. As soon as I down one bowl, I’m aching for another. This recipe is made with bacon and diced potatoes, and they add a heartiness that I absolutely love.
To make things even easier, I use frozen sweet corn. It’s easy to find and plentiful year round. But if fresh whole corn is still popping up at the market, fresh corn wins.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Bacon: Chopped bacon adds a smoky counterpart to the sweet corn. Corn chowder with ham is is just as fabulous.
- Turmeric: This golden-hued spice boosts the yellow color of soup naturally and adds a subtle flavor.
- Potatoes: Look for the thin-skinned new baby potatoes of any color.
- Corn: To substitute fresh corn, bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add 12 ears of corn (you may need to work in batches) and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Submerge ears in a large bowl of ice water. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob and proceed with the recipe.
- Half and half: Substitute 4 ½ teaspoons melted butter plus enough whole milk to equal 1 cup for the half and half.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a large stock pot or Dutch oven or medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and reserve. Add onions and butter and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in flour and turmeric and cook 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth, potatoes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in corn, half-n-half, cheese, and bacon.
- Cook until corn is heated through and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper). Garnish with chives if desired.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Corn Chowder recipe makes a lot of soup: 16 cups or 4 quarts, enough for 8 generous servings of 2 cups each. For a party or buffet with other main dishes, plan on 1 cup of soup per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Soups with dairy may have a grainy texture and separate when you thaw them out. So, I don’t recommend freezing this soup.
- Spicy: Dice up some fresh jalapeños or serranos and add with the corn in step 3, and serve with plenty of hot sauce.
- Seafood: Don’t skip the bacon! Just add some peeled, deveined baby shrimp or lump crabmeat in with the corn and cook until just tender.
Recipe FAQs
Soups can vary in texture and be thin and brothy, while a chowder is thick, hearty, and rich.
Corn chowder is excellent with sandwiches like grilled cheese or BLTs. Or, serve with chunks of bread or rolls for dipping.
To substitute fresh corn, bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add 12 ears of corn (you may need to work in batches) and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Submerge ears in a large bowl of ice water. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob and proceed with the recipe.
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Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon chopped (see note 1)
- 2 large onions chopped (about 3 cups)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric (see note 2)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound thin-skinned potatoes unpeeled and diced (see note 3)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds frozen corn (see note 4)
- 1 cup half-and-half (see note 5)
- 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated
- chopped fresh chives for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large stock pot or Dutch oven or medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and reserve. Add onions and butter and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in flour and turmeric and cook 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth, potatoes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in corn, half-n-half, cheese, and bacon. Cook until corn is heated through and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper). Garnish with chives if desired.
Notes
- Bacon: Chopped bacon adds a smoky counterpart to the sweet corn. Corn chowder with ham is is just as fabulous.
- Turmeric: This golden-hued spice boosts the yellow color of soup naturally and adds a subtle flavor.
- Potatoes: Look for the thin-skinned new baby potatoes of any color.
- Corn: To substitute fresh corn, bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add 12 ears of corn (you may need to work in batches) and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Submerge ears in a large bowl of ice water. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob and proceed with the recipe.
- Half and half: Substitute 4 ½ teaspoons melted butter plus enough whole milk to equal 1 cup for the half and half.
- Yield: This Corn Chowder recipe makes a lot of soup: 16 cups or 4 quarts, enough for 8 generous servings of 2 cups each. For a party or buffet with other main dishes, plan on 1 cup of soup per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Soups with dairy may have a grainy texture and separate when you thaw them out. So, I don’t recommend freezing this soup.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
This is such a delish soup! I’ve made it 3 times now since discovering your website last year. I do not make any changes to the recipe except to cut all quantities in half for my husband and I. We get 2 meals each with generous portions. Serving it tonight with your apple walnut salad to make a perfect first day of fall dinner. I will say that I prefer it with fresh sweet corn. I have made it with frozen and that is very good too, but for me the fresh snappy corn adds that little sumthin’ sumthin’ that puts it over the top. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi Nancy, what a lovely first day of Fall dinner! It’s always so lovely to use fresh corn when it is in season. Paired with the apple salad sounds dreamy! You’re so welcome, I’m glad you and your husband loved it. Take care! – Meggan
Yum!! Perfect and easy recipe for a chilly and rainy day.