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Clam chowder in a gray stoneware bowl.
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New England Clam Chowder Recipe

Easy New England Clam Chowder Recipe: Such a comforting, satisfying dish! Creamy, thick, & robust, with tons of ocean-y flavor!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Snack, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: clam chowder, clam chowder recipe, how to make clam chowder, New England clam chowder, what is clam chowder
Servings: 4
Calories: 953kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, roughly chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
  • 1 onion (medium), roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 8 ounces clam juice
  • 3 russett potatoes (medium), roughly chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups cream
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 19.5 ounces minced clams (3 cans)

Instructions

  • Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat, until crisp.
  • Remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon, allowing it to drain on paper towels.
  • Cook the celery and onions in the bacon fat until translucent and tender.
  • Add the butter and let it melt.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir it in until a thick paste forms.
  • Stir in the clam juice. (As it cooks, it should form a very thick liquid.)
  • Stir in the potatoes, salt, and pepper,
  • Add the milk and cream, a little at a time, stirring to prevent lumps.
  • Turn the heat down to low, add the bay leaf and thyme sprigs, and allow the soup to simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  • Stir in the clams in their juice, ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish.

Video

Notes

To make this chowder even thicker, use a stick blender to blend some of the veggies into the broth, while still leaving plenty of chunks.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25batch | Calories: 953kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 69g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 200mg | Sodium: 1413mg | Potassium: 1210mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 2497IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 288mg | Iron: 3mg