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Bowl of thick and creamy New England Clam Chowder with clams, potatoes, and bacon.

Clam Chowder

A rich and creamy clam chowder that's perfect for cold nights, loaded with tender potatoes and clams, and easy to make without any fuss.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients
  • 4 slices Bacon (optional) Adds smoky flavor
  • 2 tablespoons Butter For sautéing
  • 1 medium Onion, diced For flavor base
  • 2 stalks Celery, diced Adds freshness
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Adds depth of flavor
  • 2 cups Potatoes, diced (Yukon Gold or Russet) Provides creaminess
  • 1 tablespoon Flour For thickening
  • 1.5 cups Clam juice From canned clams plus additional if needed
  • 1 cup Milk For creaminess
  • 0.5 cup Heavy cream Adds richness
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme (optional) For added flavor
  • 2 cups Canned clams with juice Main ingredient

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the bacon (if using), chopped into small pieces, in a pot until crisp. Remove bacon but leave some fat.
  2. Add onion and celery to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic for the last 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in butter if the pot looks dry and sprinkle flour over the veggies. Stir constantly for 1 minute.
  4. Slowly pour in clam juice while stirring to keep it smooth, then add the remaining clam juice and enough water to cover the potatoes.
  5. Add diced potatoes and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  6. Lower the heat and stir in milk and a splash of cream. Warm gently, avoiding a hard boil.
  7. Finally, stir in clams and warm through for a couple of minutes.
  8. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Crumble bacon on top, and garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

Reheat gently on low to avoid separating the dairy. For thicker chowder, mash some potato chunks. Use fresh clams for a more authentic taste if desired.