Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published October 1, 2022. Updated October 2, 2022

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Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder – A rich and creamy soup made with tender rotisserie chicken, hearty potatoes, flavorful peppers, sweet corn and crisp bacon finish. It’s a fall staple!

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (1)

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

This is the coziest of soups! It’s loaded to the max with delicious, fresh ingredients and it’s that creamy broth and salty bacon that will keep you craving more.

It has a handy shortcut of pre-cooked chicken, which can be from a rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken.

From there it’s just a bit of chopping, sautéing and allowing enough time on the stovetop to simmer to perfection.

Serve it with cornbread or 1-hour dinner rolls for an ideally comforting meal.

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (2)

Chicken Corn Chowder Soup Recipe Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts or thighs)
  • 8 slices cooked bacon, chopped
  • 1/4 cup butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (1 1/4 cups)
  • 1 – 2jalapeños, seeds and ribs removed for less heat if desired, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 medium (22 oz) russet potatoes, peeled and chopped slightly less than 1/2-inch thick (3 cups)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt andblack pepper, to taste
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
    Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (3)

How to Make Chicken Corn Chowder

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add red bell pepper, onions, jalapenos and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Stir in flour, and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  • While stirring, slowly pour in chicken broth. Add potatoes, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Add in cooked chicken, corn and half and half and simmer, uncovered 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve warm topped with cooked bacon and optional green onions and cheese.

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (4)

Possible Substitutes and Variations

  • Alternate potatoes: Red potatoes or Yukons would work here as well. The soup just won’t be quite as thick since the potatoes aren’t as starchy.
  • Mild soup: If you aren’t a fan of heat you can omit the jalapeño.
  • Use up the bacon fat: Instead of using butter you can replace it with rendered bacon fat by cooking the bacon beforehand.
  • Sub ham for bacon: For a cheaper alternative you can finish the soup with chopped cooked ham instead of bacon. This is a great option if you have some left from a ham roast.
  • Herbs: For an herby soup you can mix in some thyme, rosemary and parsley.

Recommended Toppings

We like to serve this with:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese (medium or sharp)
  • Chopped green onions
  • Crushed tortilla chips or oyster crackers

Storage

  • It will keep in the fridge in an airtight container up to 3 days.
  • Freezing this soup isn’t recommended. The potatoes would become mushy and broth would end up separated and thinned.

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (5)

More Delicious Chowders To Try;

  • Coconut Chicken Corn Chowder
  • Summer Corn Chowder
  • Creamy Mexican Corn Chowder

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (6)

4.95 from 60 votes

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Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

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This chowder will quickly become a go-to recipe! It's loaded with chicken, veggies and rich creamy broth. Delicious comfort food!

Servings: 3

Prep15 minutes minutes

Cook40 minutes minutes

Ready in: 55 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add red bell pepper, onions, jalapenos and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.

  • Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Stir in flour, and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.

  • While stirring, slowly pour in chicken broth. Add potatoes, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Bring mixture to a simmer stirring frequently, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

  • Add in cooked chicken, corn and half and half and simmer, uncovered 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

  • Serve warm topped with cooked bacon and optional green onions and cheese.

Notes

  • *If cooking your own chicken begin with about 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs. You can cook it in the soup with the potatoes, just cook to 165 degrees in center.
  • Recipe makes about 14 cups.

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

Amount Per Serving

Calories 497Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 94mg31%

Sodium 388mg17%

Potassium 1103mg32%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 27g54%

Vitamin A 1090IU22%

Vitamin C 32.9mg40%

Calcium 88mg9%

Iron 2.3mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken Corn Chowder, chicken corn chowder recipe

Author: Jaclyn

Photos updated Oct 2022. Recipe adapted with some changes from BHG

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to thicken corn chowder? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

Can I use cream of celery instead of cream of chicken? ›

You can use cream of celery instead of cream of chicken in any recipe. The taste will be slightly different, but an equal substitution will work great because the consistency will be the same. . You can always add a chicken bouillon cube to the cream of celery soup if you need it to have more of a chicken flavor.

What is chicken corn chowder made of? ›

This Chicken Corn Chowder recipe has juicy chicken, potatoes, and corn in the most flavorful, seasoned broth! It's garnished with bacon and green onions and is loaded with flavor! You can make this with fresh or leftover/rotisserie chicken!

How to thicken seafood chowder? ›

Flour: Thicken the chowder up with all-purpose flour. Seasonings: Season the fish chowder with Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Evaporated milk: Evaporated milk makes the chowder even thicker and richer.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What is usually a main thickening agent of chowder? ›

A roux is the most common thickener for sauces and soups and comes in three colors and strengths: white, blond, and brown.

How do you make cream of chicken thicker? ›

How can you thicken up cream of chicken soup without using flour or cornstarch? Cook some potatoes, puree them and add to soup. You can also use instant potatoes the same way - just add a tablespoon at a time and stir.

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream for chicken? ›

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream.

Can I use sour cream instead of cream of chicken? ›

Can you substitute sour cream for cream of chicken soup? If you're short on time and you don't have a can of cream of chicken soup, sour cream works just fine! It won't have a chicken-forward flavor, but one cup of sour cream creates the same texture and body as a can of cream of chicken soup.

Why does my corn chowder taste bland? ›

Corn has the potential to be bland so the key to using it in chowder is to maximize its flavor, since it's the main ingredient. It goes without saying that it's best to use the freshest corn you can get, so this soup is ideal during peak corn season.

What two ingredients must be present for the soup to be called a chowder? ›

Chowder is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc. Some cream-style chowders do not use cream, and are instead prepared using milk and a roux to thicken them.

Is Mexican street corn chowder the same as summer corn chowder? ›

The main difference is the addition of blue corn tortilla strips and an overall spicier flavor profile. More specifically, the soup is made up of sweet corn, fire-roasted poblano peppers, russet potatoes, chile powder, lime juice, and cilantro all topped with crunchy Blue Corn Tortilla Strips.

When to add heavy cream to chowder? ›

I start by simmering the veggies in seafood or chicken broth for great flavor and then add in the seafood and cream to cook at the end! Chowders can sometimes be thickened using a roux and in the case of this seafood chowder recipe, the potatoes also provide quite a bit of starch to help it thicken it!

How much cornstarch to add to chowder? ›

How Much Cornstarch to Thicken Soup? Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly.

Should chowder be thick or thin? ›

While soups can be thin and light, a chowder is characterized by being rich and thick. Like stew, it contains large chunks of meat or seafood and vegetables, notably potatoes.

How do you thicken watery chowder? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How do you thicken cream of corn soup? ›

The answer to thick and smooth creamed corn

If you're short on time, add a tablespoon of rice flour straight into the runny mix and stir to combine. If rice flour isn't available, cornstarch, potato starch, or flour are also great thickeners.

What is chowder soup typically thickened with? ›

Chowder is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc. Some cream-style chowders do not use cream, and are instead prepared using milk and a roux to thicken them.

Will heavy cream thicken chowder? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

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