Description
Chicken Corn Chowder is a creamy, hearty one-pot soup made with tender chicken, sweet corn, Gold potatoes, smoky bacon, peppers, and a rich seasoned broth. Partially blending the chowder creates a thick, velvety texture while leaving plenty of chicken, corn, and vegetables in every bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 strips uncooked bacon, chopped
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 cup), diced
- 1 red bell pepper (about 1 cup), diced
- 1 tablespoon jalapeño, diced with seeds and ribs removed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon table salt, plus more to taste
- 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dry ground mustard
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 pound Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken breast and thighs
- 2 1/2 cups sweet corn, fresh, frozen, or drained canned corn
- Optional toppings: crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, crackers, or corn chips
Instructions
- Add the chopped bacon to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Cook over medium heat until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Remove excess bacon grease from the pot, leaving approximately 2 tablespoons behind.
- Add the butter to the remaining bacon grease and allow it to melt.
- Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until completely incorporated. Cook for another 30 seconds to remove the raw flour taste.
- Stir in the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and dry ground mustard.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring or whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the water, whole milk, heavy cream, potatoes, chicken, and sweet corn. Stir to combine.
- Bring the chowder to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces. Keep it warm while blending the chowder.
- Using an immersion blender, carefully puree approximately half of the soup, leaving plenty of whole potatoes, corn, and vegetables for texture.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot and stir until evenly distributed. Taste and adjust the salt and black pepper as needed.
- Ladle the Chicken Corn Chowder into bowls and serve warm with crispy bacon and your preferred toppings.
Notes
- Fresh sweet corn offers excellent seasonal flavor, but frozen corn can be added without thawing and canned corn can be used after draining.
- Gold potatoes do not need to be peeled. If using russet potatoes, peeling them first is recommended.
- About 1 pound of precooked shredded or diced chicken can replace raw chicken. Add cooked chicken after partially blending the chowder and heat until warmed through.
- If omitting the bacon, use approximately 5 tablespoons of butter instead of 3 tablespoons, although the chowder will have less smoky flavor.
- If you do not have an immersion blender, carefully puree approximately half of the chowder in a standard blender in batches. A potato masher can also be used for a more rustic texture.
- For crisp bacon, keep the cooked bacon separate and sprinkle it over individual servings instead of stirring it into the pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop and add a splash of milk or chicken broth if the refrigerated chowder becomes too thick.
- Freezing is not recommended because cream-based soups can separate after thawing and develop an uneven texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 554 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 1239 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 131 mg