A Creamy, Quick, Easy Clam Chowder Recipe
Clam chowder is a real classic. You might have favorite places to order it—a small coastal restaurant that specializes in it, or maybe a local spot that features clam chowder every Friday night? We love to order clam chowder out—particularly at the beach—it’s also really satisfying to make at home. It’s comfort food for a lot of use and it’s surprisingly great dinner party food, too. It even tastes better after a day or two—the briny flavors develop and cohere in a really wonderful way—so surprise! Clam chowder is the make-ahead dinner party super star recipe you’ve never thought of before.
What is Clam Chowder?
Trying to define exactly what “chowder” means can be a surprisingly hairy task. Manhattan clam chowder—brothy, light, tomato-based—is so different from New England clam chowder—creamy, hearty, stew-like—that they seem hardly related at all, save for the inclusion of clams. Today we’re focused purely on what most people probably think of as classic clam chowder, that is to say the New England variety, which is super rich and cream and filled with meaty, briny clams and potatoes. Who knew that something that can fairly be described as a chunky, cream-laden shellfish stew could taste as good as clam chowder objectively does?!
Classic, Simple Fresh Clam Chowder Ingredients
Our super easy clam chowder recipe just so happens to also be quite adaptable. You know we love a creamy soup with a kick—hellooooo salmon chowder!—but the jalapeños are very optional here. In the midst of all the butter, bacon fat and cream, they don’t end up adding much heat. But if you prefer your chowder salty, smoky, briny and sans spice, just leave them out. If you don’t have easy access to good fresh clams (or want to save yourself a little work) just use canned clams in place of fresh. The clam chowder will be ever so slightly less delicious, but delicious nonetheless. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy clam chowder recipe:
Fresh or canned clams
Unsalted butter
Bacon
Scallions
Garlic
Yukon Gold potatoes
Cornstarch
Frozen corn
Heavy cream
Stock (you’ll only need this if you decide to use canned clams instead of fresh)
How to Make Clam Chowder
So the easiest clam chowder is one made with canned clams. Yes, we admit it! And yes, you can make this recipe with canned clams. However, if you’re willing to do just a little bit more work—and we do mean just a little—and use fresh clams, the chowder will be better. Why? Because you cook the clams in water and thus make a clam stock of sorts with which to flavor your clam chowder base! And boy oh boy, does it pay off! So let’s assume you’re going to use fresh clams. Here’s how to make the absolute best clam chowder you’ve ever tasted:
Cook the clams! Any clams that don’t open happily on their own in the heat of the pot should be thrown out—they’re no good.
Save the clam cooking water. Pop the clam meat out of the shells and throw out the shells, or clean them and let your kids play with them. Or line your garden with them! If you want to feed your soil with the shells, crush them up and add them to your flower beds—shells can be a good source of beneficial minerals for the garden.
Make the chowder base! Fry the bacon in butter—don’t you love recipes that include that directive?—and then cook the aromatics in the butter-bacon fat mixture. Then in goes the clam cooking water, bacon and potatoes.
Add a cornstarch + water slurry to thicken the chowder.
At the last minute, you’ll add cream, corn and clams. Give the corn a minute to thaw, but don’t cook the chowder too long after adding the clams and cream—just a quick 3 minute simmer is all that’s needed.
Serve!
Try This Wicked Good Chowder Recipe, Ya Chowda Heads!
You’re going to feel really proud of yourself when you make this clam chowder, we just know it. It can feel really exciting to replicate a favorite restaurant dish and clam chowder isn’t really hard to make. If you make our New England clam chowder recipe, let us know how you like it! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!