This New England clam chowder is a creamy, comforting soup packed with tender clams, smoky bacon, and velvety potatoes, bringing a taste of the coast to your kitchen. It’s a perfect winter dish that’s surprisingly easy to make, taking less than 30 minutes to prepare. With its rich flavor and hearty ingredients, this chowder is sure to become a favorite in your home.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped clams (fresh or canned, drained)

• 4 cups clam juice or seafood stock

• 4 slices bacon, diced

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 2 potatoes, diced

• 3 tbsp butter

• ¼ cup flour

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 tsp thyme

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook the Bacon: In a large pot, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy (about 5 minutes). Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon fat in the pot.

2. Sauté the Veggies: Add butter to the pot with the bacon fat, then sauté the onions and celery for about 5 minutes until they become soft and fragrant.

3. Prepare the Base: Sprinkle in the flour, stirring constantly for about 1 minute to cook it off.

4. Add the Liquids: Gradually pour in the clam juice while stirring to avoid lumps. Once smooth, add the diced potatoes and simmer for 15 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender.

5. Finish the Chowder: Stir in the chopped clams, heavy cream, thyme, salt, and pepper. Heat gently, ensuring the chowder doesn’t boil, and cook for another 3 minutes.

6. Serve: Ladle the chowder into bowls and top with crispy bacon. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrients (Estimated per serving, 1 bowl)

• Calories: 420 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 25g

• Fat: 28g

• Saturated Fat: 16g

• Protein: 15g

• Fiber: 2g

• Sodium: 800mg

A Taste of the Coast: The Ingredients That Make It Special

The beauty of New England clam chowder lies in its simplicity. With just a handful of key ingredients, this chowder delivers a depth of flavor that’s rich and comforting. Let’s break down the key components:

• Clams: The star of the dish, clams bring a briny, ocean-fresh flavor that’s the foundation of the chowder. Whether you use fresh clams or canned clams (drained), both options will work perfectly in this recipe. The clams infuse the broth with a delicate seafood essence that defines New England chowder.

• Bacon: The smoky, crispy bacon adds a depth of flavor that contrasts beautifully with the creamy broth and tender clams. Its savory richness is essential in balancing out the soup’s natural sweetness.

• Potatoes: Diced potatoes give the chowder its heartiness and texture. The potatoes soak up the flavorful broth and add a satisfying bite to each spoonful, making this soup more filling and comforting.

• Heavy Cream: The rich, creamy base of the soup is what makes New England clam chowder so decadent. Heavy cream provides the perfect velvety texture that coats the clams and potatoes, creating a smooth, satisfying soup.

• Clam Juice or Seafood Stock: To make the broth, clam juice or seafood stock is used as the liquid base. This adds even more depth and seafood flavor to the chowder, enhancing its richness without overwhelming the delicate taste of the clams.

• Vegetables: Celery and onions offer a subtle sweetness and freshness, balancing the richness of the cream and bacon. These vegetables help create a full-bodied flavor that’s well-rounded and aromatic.

• Seasonings: Fresh thyme, salt, and pepper season the chowder, giving it a warm, herbaceous depth that enhances the other ingredients.

This combination of ingredients results in a chowder that’s savory, creamy, and deeply satisfying—a true comfort food classic.

Quick and Easy Preparation

One of the best things about New England clam chowder is that it’s surprisingly quick and easy to make. In under 30 minutes, you can have a pot of creamy, flavorful chowder ready to serve. The steps are simple, and the process is forgiving, making it a perfect recipe for busy weeknights or for when you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.

• Step 1: Cook the Bacon: The first step involves rendering the bacon, which is cooked until crispy. This not only adds flavor to the soup but also provides crispy bits of bacon to garnish the finished dish.

• Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables: In the same pot, you sauté the onions and celery in the rendered bacon fat, which adds even more depth to the flavor. These vegetables are cooked until soft and fragrant, infusing the base of the chowder with savory goodness.

• Step 3: Make the Base: After adding the flour to create a roux, you gradually whisk in the clam juice or seafood stock, creating a smooth, creamy base for the soup. Once the base is smooth, the diced potatoes are added and simmered until fork-tender.

• Step 4: Add the Clams and Cream: The chopped clams and heavy cream are added last, along with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. The chowder is then gently heated, allowing the flavors to meld together.

• Step 5: Serve and Enjoy: Once the chowder is done, it’s ready to be ladled into bowls. Top each bowl with a generous sprinkling of crispy bacon and fresh parsley, and you’re ready to serve this delicious dish.

Despite its simple preparation, the resulting chowder is rich, flavorful, and comforting—just like the ones you’d find at a seaside clam shack in New England.

Perfect for Winter and Special Occasions

New England clam chowder is perfect for those cold, wintery days when you need a warm, satisfying meal. Its creamy texture and hearty ingredients make it incredibly comforting, and the addition of crispy bacon gives it a cozy, indulgent feel. Whether you’re enjoying it with family at home or serving it as part of a holiday meal, this chowder will keep everyone feeling content and satisfied.

In addition to being ideal for winter, New England clam chowder is also great for special occasions. Serve it as a starter at a dinner party, or pair it with a simple salad and crusty bread for a satisfying lunch or dinner. Its comforting, crowd-pleasing flavors make it a great dish to share with friends and family, and it’s sure to become a go-to recipe for many occasions.

Nutritional Information: Comfort Without Compromise

While this chowder is undeniably indulgent, it doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure. With a balance of hearty potatoes, protein-rich clams, and the richness of cream, it provides a satisfying meal that’s full of flavor. Each bowl contains approximately 420 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 15 grams of protein, making it a filling meal without going overboard. Plus, with 2 grams of fiber per serving, it provides a good amount of nutrients along with its comfort.

For those watching their sodium intake, be mindful of the clam juice or seafood stock you use, as it can be high in sodium. You can opt for a lower-sodium version to keep the dish a bit lighter.

Conclusion: A Classic Comfort Food

New England clam chowder is more than just a soup—it’s a warm, comforting dish that brings the taste of the coast right into your home. With tender clams, smoky bacon, velvety potatoes, and a rich cream base, this chowder is the perfect winter meal. It’s easy to make, full of flavor, and sure to become a favorite in your household. Whether you’re enjoying it on a cold day or serving it for a special occasion, New England clam chowder is a comforting classic that never goes out of style.