65 of the Best Chowder Recipes to Keep You Warm

Contest-Winning New England Clam Chowder

This is the best New England clam chowder recipe, ever! In the Pacific Northwest, we dig our own razor clams and I grind them for the chowder. Since these aren’t readily available, the canned clams are perfectly acceptable. —Sandy Larson, Port Angeles, Washington

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Creamy Vegetable Chowder

This rich, comforting soup recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. You can lower the fat content by using turkey bacon, vegetable broth and skim milk. It's delicious either way. —Suzanna VandeBrake, Peyton, Colorado

Mushroom Corn Chowder

Chock-full of veggies, ham and cheese in every spoonful, this thick, creamy chowder will take the chill off even the nippiest of fall evenings. Serve it with crusty French bread. —Elaine Krupsky, Las Vegas, Nevada

Simple Shrimp Chowder

Shrimp fans will be bowled over by this tasty take on chowder. The creamy broth is chock-full of vegetables. Chop up leftover cooked potatoes or use canned ones. —Carolyn Schmeling, Brookfield, Wisconsin

Ramen Corn Chowder

This tastes so good—as if it simmered for hours, but it’s ready in 15 minutes. I thought the original recipe was lacking in flavor, so I jazzed it up with extra corn and bacon bits. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Cheddar Seafood Chowder

Shrimp and scallops make this thick, cheesy and chunky chowder extra special. It’s packed with veggies, and the crispy bacon makes a yummy garnish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Creamy Asparagus Chowder

Although this soup is best when made with fresh asparagus, you can use frozen or canned. I like to blanch and freeze asparagus in portions just right for this recipe so I can make our favorite chowder all year. —Shirley Beachum, Shelby, Michigan

Pumpkin Clam Chowder

When autumn arrives, I'm eager to celebrate with warm and cozy comfort food like this pumpkin clam chowder. Use fresh clams if they are available. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island

Halibut & Potato Chowder

Several times a year I invite both my retired and current teaching friends to a dinner party with their spouses. I've served this halibut chowder at those parties, and it's always a big hit. —Teresa Lueck, Onamia, Minnesota

Mexican Street Corn Chowder

Corn is one of my all-time favorite vegetables, so when it's in season, I always make this super easy soup in the slow cooker. —Rashanda Cobbins, Food Editor, Taste of Home

Best Seafood Chowder

My husband is an avid fisherman. When a family get-together was planned and we had to bring something, we created this recipe using fish from our freezer. The chowder got rave reviews from the relatives! —Heather Saunders, Belchertown, Massachusetts

Carrot Chowder

My husband's grandmother passed this recipe on to us, and it's just wonderful—especially with a basket of warm, fresh bread on the side. This soup freezes well. —Wendy Wilkins, Prattville, Alabama

Coconut Shrimp Chowder

After eating a coconut soup at a Thai restaurant, I added coconut milk in my fish chowder recipe. The fresh, simple ingredients allow the seafood to shine. —Michalene Baskett, Decatur, Georgia

Seafood Chowder with Seasoned Oyster Crackers

Chock-full of fish, shrimp and scallops, this comforting chowder has been pleasing my family for many years. The seasoned oyster crackers add a bit of spice.—Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida

Cheesy Chicken Chowder

I like to serve this hearty chowder as a meal with garlic bread and a salad. It's a wonderful dish to prepare for any occasion. The rich, mild flavor and the tender chicken and vegetables appeal even to children and picky eaters. —Hazel Fritchie, Palestine, Illinois

Rustic Fish Chowder

President John F. Kennedy's affinity for fish chowder was likely inspired by his love of sailing off the coast of New England. In my version, I use fresh halibut my brother-in-law, a commercial fisherman, catches in Kodiak, Alaska. Top servings with grated Parmesan, minced green onions or a few drops of hot sauce.

Loaded Broccoli-Cheese Potato Chowder

For anyone who loves baked potatoes or broccoli-cheese soup, this is the best of both worlds. If you have bacon lovers, offer crumbled cooked bacon as a topping. Then everyone is happy, carnivore or not! —Vivi Taylor, Middleburg, Florida

Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder

My 10-year-old son and I devised the recipe for this rich and comforting soup. Now it's a family favorite. —Terrie Sowders, Carthage, Indiana

Instant Pot Clam Chowder

Clam chowder is especially tasty when it's served with a sprinkle of fresh thyme, bacon crumbles and crispy oyster crackers on top. If you like your chowder on the thick side, add another tablespoon of flour after it is done in the pressure cooker. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Bean Counter Chowder

This hearty chowder is one of our favorite vegetarian dishes. Loaded with beans, noodles and bright herbs, it's so comforting on a chilly day. —Vivian Haen, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Chorizo Sausage Corn Chowder

The spiciness of the sausage in this chowder is a wonderful counterpart to the corn's sweetness. Let this soup warm you up. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

Traditional New England Clam Chowder

I left a cruise ship with a great souvenir...the recipe for this splendid chowder! It's a traditional soup that stands the test of time. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Corn Chowder with Dumplings

This is a spiced-up version of my favorite corn chowder. The first time I added dumplings, my husband declared them awesome! —Shannon Kohn, Simpsonville, South Carolina

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Priscilla's Vegetable Chowder

This is the perfect soup to warm up with on a cold fall or winter day. Serve it in a bread bowl to make it extra special. —Rhodes Bake-N-Serv, Jenna Jackson, Salt Lake City, Utah

Country Fish Chowder

You'll think you're on Cape Cod when you taste this thick, wholesome chowder made from a recipe I've treasured for many years. It's one of my husband's favorites. He likes it more and more because over the years I've "customized" the basic recipe by including ingredients he enjoys. —Linda Lazaroff, Hebron, Connecticut

Broccoli Chowder

Sue Call of Beech Grove, Indiana serves this comforting soup on chilly stay-at-home evenings. Nutmeg seasons the light creamy broth that's chock-full of tender broccoli florets and diced potatoes.

Slow-Cooked Manhattan Clam Chowder

I came up with this simple, delicious soup years ago when my husband and I both worked. It's easy to dump all the ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning...and wonderful to come home to the aroma of dinner ready. —Mary Dixon, Northville, Michigan

Rich Seafood Chowder

This creamy, delectable soup is even better the next day. It also works well with scallops or a flaky whitefish. Substitute half-and-half or heavy cream for all or part of the milk to make this soup even richer. —Anita Culver, Royersford, Pennsylvania

Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

I like to make this smooth, creamy soup when company comes to visit. Its zippy flavor is full of southwestern flair. My family enjoys dipping slices of homemade bread in this chowder to soak up every bite! —Susan Garoutte, Georgetown, Texas

Crab Corn Chowder

No time to make a homemade soup? Think again! You'll be ladling out steamy bowls of satisfying chowder in no time. Canned corn and crab blend beautifully in this creamy, colorful soup. —Sarah McClanahan, Raleigh, North Carolina

Chicken Chili Chowder

One chilly April afternoon, I craved a hearty soup but had less than an hour to prepare a meal. I came up with this chowder that uses pantry ingredients, and everyone thought it hit the spot. —Jenna Rempe, Lincoln, NE

Hearty Quinoa & Corn Chowder

My grandmother lived in the Appalachian Mountains and always served straight-from-the-garden corn and beans. I updated her dish with quinoa and herbs. — Kari Napier, Louisville, Kentucky

Veggie Chowder

Packed with potatoes, carrots and corn, this soup is a great healthy dinner choice. It's not too heavy, so it also makes a nice light partner for a sandwich. —Vicki Kerr, Portland, Maine

Cheddar Potato Chowder

I only made this soup occasionally because the original recipe was quite high in fat. I doctored it up a bit, using healthier ingredients, and now we eat this rich flavorful chowder more often.—Ellie Rausch of Goodsoil, Saskatchewan

Corn Chowder with Potatoes

I developed this soup out of two others to create my own low-calorie recipe. It turned out so well that I entered it in my county fair and won a blue ribbon. —Alyce Wyman, Pembina, North Dakota

Spring Salmon Chowder

You can’t help but fill up on this creamy salmon chowder. Veggies make it a whole meal in a bowl. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Beefy Bacon Chowder

Rave reviews are sure to follow when this creamy chowder appears on the table. Bacon makes it rich and hearty. It's a favorite with my whole family. —Nancy Schmidt, Center, Colorado.

Cheeseburger Broccoli Chowder

I invented this soup accidentally! Actually, it came about when I was new to cooking, and didn't know that "chowder" was a kind of soup—so I made mashed potatoes to go with the dish I was making. We ended up dunking our mashed potatoes into the soup as "gravy"—and it was delicious!—Karen Davies, Wanipigow, Manitoba

Chicken Fajita Chowder

This south-of-the-border chowder is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes, and it's a winner at family dinners and potlucks alike. We like ours topped with fresh avocado, shredded cheddar cheese and chili cheese corn chips. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Potato Soup

I decided to add some character to a basic potato chowder with a jar of roasted red peppers. The extra flavor gives a deliciously different twist to an otherwise ordinary soup. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma

Hearty Manhattan Clam Chowder

This veggie-packed clam chowder is savory and satisfying. Butter up some crusty bread and you'll have yourself a complete meal. —Carol Bullick, Royersford, Pennsylvania

Potato Chowder

One of the ladies in our church quilting group brought this savory potato soup to a meeting, and everyone loved how the cream cheese and bacon made it so rich. It's easy to assemble in the morning so it can simmer on its own all day. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, Indiana

Cheesy Ham Chowder

My five children all agree that this soothing recipe is wonderful. The soup is full of potatoes, carrots and ham. The best part is that I can get it on the table in only a half hour of hands-on time. —Jennifer Trenhaile, Emerson, Nebraska

Zippy Chicken and Corn Chowder

Gently spiced corn chowder is always a good option for kids, but feel free to rev up yours with hot pepper sauce. This chowder’s a lifesaver on busy weeknights. —Andrea Early, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Cheesy Ham & Corn Chowder

When the day calls for a warm bowl of chunky soup, we make a big pot of the goods—potatoes, corn, ham and cheese. —Andrea Laidlaw, Shady Side, Maryland

Potato Clam Chowder

I ran across this recipe in one of my antique cookbooks. It's a timeless classic I like to prepare for friends and family throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. —Betty Ann Morgan, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Curried Chicken Corn Chowder

This recipe is close to one my mom used to make for us kids when the weather turned cold. Hers called for heavy cream, but I came up with a slimmer version that I think is pretty true to the original! —Kendra Doss, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Smoky Cheddar, Ham and Corn Chowder

When I'm making a pot of Smoky Cheddar Corn Chowder, no one misses dinner. Smoked cheese the flavor to another level. —Danielle Crawford, Pelzer, SC

Southwest Chicken Barley Chowder

Mashed squash helps make this chowder creamy but not heavy, and it's a favorite way to get barley on the table. My kids even ask for leftovers for lunch. —Pamela Cleghorn, Campbellsburg, Indiana

Bacon-Potato Corn Chowder

I was raised on a farm, so a warm soup with homey ingredients, like this corn chowder with bacon, was always a treat after a chilly day outside. My hearty chowder nourishes the family. —Katie Lillo, Big Lake, Minnesota

Fresh Corn & Potato Chowder

This corn chowder recipe was one of my favorites as a child in upstate New York, and I still love it today. For extra depth, place the spent cob in the soup, simmer, then remove. —Tracy Bivins, Knob Noster, Missouri

Chicken, Asparagus & Corn Chowder

Chicken and asparagus make a light, comforting soup that’s easy to do with common ingredients. If we have rotisserie chicken, it goes into this soup. —Jennifer Vo, Irvine, California

Potato Bacon Chowder

This chowder is like a bacon-topped baked potato in a bowl. On cold winter days, my family is thrilled to see this meal on the table.—Jacque Manning, Burbank, South Dakota

Shrimp Chowder

I simmer my rich and creamy shrimp soup in the slow cooker. Because the chowder is ready in less than four hours, it can be prepared in the afternoon and served to dinner guests that night. —Will Zunio, Gretna, Louisiana

Grandma's Seafood Chowder

My grandmother makes this every year for Christmas morning—the only time we ever had it. Why wait, when you can enjoy this satisfying chowder anytime? It's also delicious topped with biscuits! —Melissa Obernesser, Utica, New York

Ham & Potato-Rutabaga Chowder

The ingredients in this dish are a nod to my mother's tasty potato and rutabaga side dish, which was always paired with baked country ham; dishes she served during the cold months when I was a child. Whenever I make this chowder it brings me back to a time when life was just a little bit simpler. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina

Bacon-Cheeseburger Chowder

The taste of a good bacon cheeseburger is hard to beat until you try this cheeseburger chowder! It's hearty, convenient and family-friendly. —Kristin Stone, Little Elm, Texas

Easy Chicken Corn Chowder

When I haven’t planned for dinner, I often play around with ingredients in my pantry instead of running to the store. This recipe was a happy experiment. Cut some fat by omitting the bacon—it’s still tasty. —Barbara Banski, Fenton, Michigan

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Instant Pot Corn Chowder

Enjoy this chowder’s rich, slow-simmered flavor in record time by using an Instant Pot. Corn chowder is a classic staple, with its hearty flavors of creamy sweet corn, bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped parsley. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best Ever Chicken Fajita Chowder

Warm up weeknights with bowls of this thick, cheesy soup that captures the zippy flavors of the Southwest. —Beverly Matthews, Pasco, Washington