Clam Chowder Recipe
This New England Clam Chowder recipe has a creamy broth that’s loaded with delicious clams, savory bacon, simple seasonings, and perfectly cooked potatoes. You’ll think this came from a restaurant!
Be sure to pair this with my crusty, airy, No Knead Bread for dipping!
Clam Chowder
I am a New England native, so it is my honor and privilege to present this incredible, restaurant-worthy clam chowder to you. If you’re new to this recipe, don’t worry. The process is simple. (I promise!)
I’ve outlined how to use fresh OR canned clams in this recipe, and I swear- the canned clam version is great. Using canned clams is not only super easy, but it allows you to put a plentiful amount of clams in the chowder without spending a ton of money.
It’s really easy to control the consistency of this chowder too, I know some people like their chowder to be super thick, and others, not so much. The longer this soup simmers, the thicker and more concentrated it will be.
New England Clam Chowder vs. Manhattan Clam Chowder
- New England Clam Chowder is white and creamy, (as shown in this post). Manhattan Clam Chowder has a tomato base with no cream.
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cook bacon and set aside, reserve bacon drippings. Chop bacon once cooled.
Add bacon drippings, butter, onions, and celery to the pot and soften for 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Cook for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and half and half in small splashes, stirring continuously.
Add the chicken bouillon, clam juice, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Simmer and reduce for 20 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, 20-25 minutes.
Add the clams and heat through for 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Garnish with parsley, chopped bacon, and freshly cracked pepper. Serve!
Using Fresh Clams
- 1 heaping cup of chopped fresh clams can be used in this recipe along with 1.5 cups of clam juice. (1.5 cups = the 8 oz. jar + reserved juices from the can.)
- Make sure the clams are cleaned and steamed prior to chopping.
Pro Tips
- Clams: I use Bar Harbor Chopped Clams and Clam Juice for this recipe.
- Potatoes: I use Yukon Gold potatoes for this recipe because I love their creamy consistency, but red potatoes are always a great candidate for soups and chowders because they hold up the best. Russet potatoes may also be used, but they’re also the starchiest, which makes them more prone to falling apart.
- Bacon: Salt Pork can be used instead of bacon if preferred!
- The longer this soup simmers, the thicker it gets, so you can control the consistency with that in mind. I always let it simmer, reduce, and concentrate for at least 20 minutes before I add the potatoes. Once you add the potatoes, you don’t have as much flexibility with cooking time, as you don’t want to overcook them.
- The Hot Sauce is a flavor enhancer that you can’t taste outright and it won’t make the soup spicey. I use Frank’s Hot Sauce.
- The Worcestershire Sauce adds umami and also can’t be tasted in this soup. Soy sauce can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Be sure to pair this with my crusty, airy, No Knead Bread for dipping!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days. The flour in this soup helps it maintain it’s original consistency a little bit better when reheated.
- While you can freeze this soup, it likely won’t restore back to it’s exact consistency as dairy-based soups don’t reheat as well. (But that doesn’t stop me from freezing it.)
- It’s best to let it thaw completely in the fridge before reheating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Make sure you don’t overcook the potatoes if you plan on freezing it, as you don’t want them to be crumbly when reheated.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 4.5 Quart Dutch Oven– This is the one I use that’s pictured in this recipe.
- Food Storage Containers– These are what I use to store leftovers!
- Better Than Bouillon– This is what I always use for broth in my recipes. It takes very little space and makes it easy to measure out customized amounts of broth.
- Silicone Spatula– To “clean” the pot throughout cooking, which incorporates flavor into the broth. It’s nice and gentle on the surface of your cookware.
- Measuring Spoons– I have these magnetic ones which stay nice and organized in my utensil drawer.
- Pinch Bowls– For measuring seasonings, etc. ahead of time.
- Soup Ladle
- 16 oz. storage containers I use these to store/freeze my soups. They have 8 oz. sizes as well. They’re stackable, leak proof, and dishwasher/microwave safe.
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Clam Chowder Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon, can sub salt pork
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or ½ tsp tabasco sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 cups Half and Half
- 8 oz. clam juice
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ¼ lbs. potatoes, see notes
- 3 (6.5 oz. cans) chopped clams, juices reserved
- Fresh parsley & Freshly cracked pepper, for serving
Seasonings
- ½ teaspoon EACH: dried oregano, dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon EACH: dried thyme, salt
- 1/8 teaspoon EACH: smoked paprika, pepper
Instructions
Prep Work
- Cook the bacon in a 4.5-quart soup pot slowly over low heat. (I cut my bacon in half, it’s easier to fit it in the pan and have it cook evenly.) While the bacon cooks, measure out remaining ingredients. Once the bacon is cooked, set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Chop once cooled and reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings.
- Wipe any dark spots from the pot but leave as much bacon remnants as you can, as that will add flavor to the soup.
Make the Soup
- Add reserved bacon drippings and butter to the pot over medium heat and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the pot. Add the diced onions and celery. Toss to coat and soften for 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring continuously, until the raw flour smell is gone.
- Add the chicken broth in small splashes, stirring continuously, and wiping the pan “clean” again as you do so. Add the half and half in the same manner.
- Stir in the chicken bouillon and add the bay leaf. Add the juice from the canned clams to the soup, but don’t add the clams yet. Stir in the additional ( 8 oz.) clam juice.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer, so that its just gently bubbling. Simmer for 20 minutes, partially covered. Stir occasionally as it cooks.
- Peel and dice the potatoes and add them to the soup. Bring back to a very gentle bubble and let the potatoes cook through for 20-25 minutes, until fork tender. Reduce heat to low.
- Stir in the clams and let them heat through, about 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
- Ladle soup into serving bowls and garnish with roughly chopped parsley, freshly cracked pepper, and chopped bacon.
Notes
- Clams: I use Bar Harbor Chopped Clams and Clam Juice for this recipe.
- Using Fresh Clams: 1 heaping cup of chopped fresh clams can be used in this recipe along with 1.5 cups of clam juice. (1.5 cups = the 8 oz. jar + reserved juices from the can.) Make sure the clams are cleaned and steamed prior to chopping.
- Potatoes: I use Yukon Gold potatoes for this recipe because I love their creamy consistency, but red potatoes are always a great candidate for soups and chowders because they hold up the best. Russet potatoes may also be used, but they're also the starchiest, which makes them more prone to falling apart.
- Bacon: Salt Pork can be used instead of bacon if preferred!
- The longer this soup simmers, the thicker it gets, so you can control the consistency with that in mind. I always let it simmer, reduce, and concentrate for at least 20 minutes before I add the potatoes. Once you add the potatoes, you don't have as much flexibility with cooking time, as you don't want to overcook them
- The Hot Sauce is a flavor enhancer that you can't taste outright and it won't make the soup spicey. I use Frank's Hot Sauce.
- The Worcestershire Sauce adds umami and also can't be tasted in this soup. Soy sauce can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Be sure to pair this with my crusty, airy, No Knead Bread for dipping!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per cup. There are approximately 9 cups in this recipe.
I wouldnt of change anything but we are watching our carbs and we love radishes cooked instead of potatoes in soup as you do not know the difference but the carb content is very very low. What an absolute amazing recipe. Better than any I have ever had. If I could do 10 stars then I would.
I am soooooo happy that you love the recipe Loni!! What a great tip about the radishes as well, thank you for sharing that and for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie ❤️
Outstanding! My mother said it was better than what we had when we visited Boston! Bacon fat is key. Highly recommend making.
I’m so happy your mother said that Robin, thanks so much!🩷
My new Clam Chowder recipe pick! I’ve been making clam chowder with my MILs recipe for years, and this recipe is similar, but takes it to the next level! Adding the clams at the end just to heat through keeps them tender instead of tough and chewy. Thanks so much! My 5 yo Grandson chose this as his favorite meal for his 6th birthday dinner!
Hi Rebecca!! That is SOOOO amazing, you made my day, and I’m so happy that your grandson chose this as his birthday dinner, how special is that?! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie ❤️
Fantastic!! I was a little leery about some of the spices, but this is hands down the best clam chowder I ever had. Used fresh and canned clams and of course the Yukon gold potatoes. Cant wait to take some in Monday for my work son. Thank you so much for this recipe.
I’m soo happy that you loved it Kelly!! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review as well, you’re the best! 🙂
The best clam chowder recipe! My family went back for seconds. It’s full of flavor.
Wahoo! That makes me so happy, thanks so much!🩷
I would love to have the recipe clam chowder
Hi! Please see the recipe card in the blog post, you scrolled past it to leave this comment 🙂
Making this on Superball Sunday and I have two questions. Can I use heavy cream instead of half and half or both? And will 4 cans of minced clams (6.5 oz) be enough?
Hi Cindy! 🙂 You can use heavy cream, (or a combination of heavy cream and half and half!)- 4 cans of clams is enough, the recipe calls for 3 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Oh my goodness. I love clam chowder but have never made it until I came across this recipe. Let me say that this is the best I have ever had! The creaminess and flavor was out of this world. Hubby raved over it as well.
I am soooo happy to hear that the chowder was a hit Sharon!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
Made it this afternoon. It is amazing!! The only change I made was adding an extra can of clams. I needed to get them off my shelf!
Nice work Becky! I’m so happy you liked it with the extra clams. Thanks so much for the review!💖
Turned out delicious.
I’m so happy to hear that Kellon, thank you!🩷
This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever made. Thank you!
Wahooo! Nice work Michelle, I’m so happy it was such a success. Thanks so much for the review!❤️
I made this for “Sunday Soup” dinner. Followed exactly as written. I love NE Clam Chowder and this is ranked right up there with the best I’ve had. This was my first time making it and I highly recommend! A+
Sunday Soup Dinner is my kind of meal! I’m so happy you liked it so much Rebecca! Thanks so much!💗