7 Creamy Chowder Recipes You’ll Crave Again and Again

7 Cozy Chowder Recipes are exactly what you need when the weather turns chilly, your socks don’t match, and all you want is a steaming bowl of comfort. Seriously, is there anything more soul-soothing than a creamy, hearty chowder? Whether it’s packed with corn, potatoes, seafood, or veggies, a good chowder feels like a warm hug from the inside. So grab your spoon (and maybe a cozy blanket) — we’re diving into seven delicious chowder recipes that’ll make your kitchen smell amazing and your heart (and belly) full. 🙂

1. Classic New England Clam Chowder

Let’s start with the OG of all chowders — New England Clam Chowder. This creamy classic is rich, briny, and filled with tender clams, potatoes, and smoky bacon. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’re sitting in a seaside diner watching the waves crash.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 4 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cups diced potatoes
• 1 can (10 oz) chopped clams with juice
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. Add butter to the pot, then sauté onion and celery until soft.
3. Stir in potatoes and clam juice. Simmer until potatoes are tender (about 10–12 minutes).
4. Pour in milk and cream, then add clams. Heat gently — don’t boil!
5. Season with salt, pepper, and top with bacon and parsley.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

Ever wondered why clam chowder feels like home? It’s that mix of cream and sea — cozy meets coastal.

2. Corn and Potato Chowder

If clams aren’t your thing (no judgment!), Corn and Potato Chowder brings all the cozy vibes without any seafood drama. It’s sweet, creamy, and packed with hearty chunks of potato. Bonus: it’s ridiculously easy.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups diced potatoes
• 2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 ½ cups milk or cream
• Salt and black pepper
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Chopped green onions for garnish

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pot, sauté onion and garlic.
2. Add potatoes, corn, broth, and paprika. Simmer for 15 minutes until tender.
3. Stir in milk and simmer for 5 more minutes.
4. Season and serve hot with a sprinkle of green onions.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

You’ll love this one on a lazy Sunday when you want comfort food without any heavy lifting.

3. Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

Ever had one of those nights when you want soup but also… not soup? That’s when Chicken and Corn Chowder swoops in. It’s thick, satisfying, and tastes like home.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons flour
• Salt, pepper, and thyme to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pot and sauté onion and carrot.
2. Stir in flour, then slowly whisk in broth to thicken.
3. Add chicken, corn, milk, and cream. Simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Serve warm.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

FYI: this chowder reheats like a dream — perfect for meal prep or lazy leftovers.

4. Smoky Bacon and Cheddar Chowder

Let’s be real: bacon and cheese make everything better. This chowder is smoky, cheesy, and hearty enough to make even your grumpiest friend smile.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cups diced potatoes
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chives for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon in a pot until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, sauté onion in butter.
3. Add potatoes and broth. Simmer until soft (about 12 minutes).
4. Stir in cream and cheese until melted.
5. Season, top with bacon and chives, and serve hot.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

Ever wondered if happiness could fit in a bowl? Yeah, it looks like this.

5. Seafood Chowder

If you’re a seafood lover, this one’s for you. Seafood Chowder is rich, creamy, and loaded with shrimp, fish, and scallops — like a vacation in a bowl, minus the sand in your shoes.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups diced potatoes
• 1 cup shrimp, peeled
• 1 cup white fish, cubed
• 1 cup scallops
• 3 cups seafood stock or broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt, pepper, and parsley

Instructions:

1. Melt butter and sauté onion and garlic.
2. Add potatoes and stock. Simmer until potatoes are soft.
3. Stir in seafood and cook for 5–7 minutes.
4. Pour in cream and heat gently.
5. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins

IMO, this one tastes even better with crusty bread for dipping. Just saying.

6. Roasted Veggie Chowder

Here’s a fun twist for vegetarians (or anyone trying to eat a little cleaner without giving up comfort food). Roasted Veggie Chowder is smoky, creamy, and bursting with flavor — no meat, no problem!

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 potato, diced
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk or coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Toss veggies with oil and roast at 400°F for 20 minutes.
2. In a pot, add roasted veggies and broth. Simmer 10 minutes.
3. Blend half the soup for creaminess, then stir in milk and season.
4. Serve hot, topped with a drizzle of olive oil.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins

Who said vegetarian food had to be boring? This bowl proves otherwise — big time.

7. Loaded Potato Chowder

Last but not least — the king of comfort: Loaded Potato Chowder. It’s basically a baked potato in liquid form, and yes, it’s as indulgent as it sounds.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 cups diced potatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt, pepper, and green onions

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté onion and garlic in the bacon fat (because flavor!).
3. Add potatoes and broth. Simmer until soft.
4. Stir in milk, sour cream, and cheese until creamy.
5. Top with bacon and green onions.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins

This one’s perfect when you want to impress people without trying too hard. Because let’s be honest — nobody’s sad about melted cheese and bacon.

Tips for Making the Perfect Chowder

You don’t need to be a chef to nail a good chowder — you just need a few tricks up your sleeve:

• Use fresh ingredients: Better produce = better flavor, always.
• Don’t boil after adding cream: Boiling will make it curdle, and nobody wants grainy soup.
• Thicken smartly: Mash a few potatoes or use a bit of flour instead of dumping in cornstarch.
• Taste and adjust: Chowder is all about balance. A pinch of salt or a dash of lemon can totally level it up.

Ever noticed how your second bowl always tastes better? That’s because chowder thickens and deepens in flavor as it rests — the magic of leftovers.

Wrapping It Up

So there you have it — 7 cozy chowder recipes that’ll keep you warm, happy, and full no matter what’s happening outside. From the seaside comfort of Clam Chowder to the veggie-loaded goodness of Roasted Veggie Chowder, there’s something here for everyone (even your pickiest eater).

The best part? Each recipe is easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for a weekend dinner. So grab your biggest pot, a spoon that can handle the job, and make yourself a bowl (or three). You deserve it. 😉

Because when life gets chilly, you don’t need a blanket — you just need chowder.