Easy Clam Chowder
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Clam chowder is easier to make than you think – and the homemade version is unbelievably creamy, flavorful and chockfull of clams!
Soup season has come and gone, but a bowl of clam chowder can really be eaten in any kind of weather, especially when it comes to the homemade version.
If you didn’t know, clam chowder is actually a very simple soup to prepare with a few pantry ingredients. Now some recipes call for fresh clams but I actually prefer to use canned clams for several different reasons.
1. It’s certainly easier – all you have to do is open up the can. Done.
2. It’s budget-friendly at $2.99 per can versus $9.99 per pound.
3. Last but not least, it brings in a lot more flavor when you use both the canned clams and juices, not to mention the abundance of clams as well, something you don’t really get when you order out.
Now what I love about this recipe is that you have absolute complete control over the creaminess of the soup. You can make it as thick as you’d like, or a little bit runny if that’s how you prefer your soup. Just be sure to have those oyster crackers ready to go because this soup is guaranteed to disappear from your dinner table!
Easy Clam Chowder
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 2 (6.5-ounce) cans chopped clams, juices reserved
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup half and half*
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving 1 tablespoon excess fat in the stockpot.
- Melt butter in the stockpot. Add garlic and onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, vegetable stock, clam juice and bay leaf, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in potatoes.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 12-15 minutes.*
- Stir in half and half and clams until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. If the soup is too thick, add more half and half as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with bacon and parsley, if desired.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!
I’ve made this so many times, so I really owe it a review! This is my favorite clam chowder recipe. It is easy and has wonderful depth of flavor. It also presents well, looking very pretty in the bowl with the bacon and parsley. I use baby potatoes sliced in half.
Best chowder I’ve ever had. I used gold potato’s they were so creamy. And chicken stock over vegetable.
This is the best clam chowder recipe! It’s a family favorite that gets everyone excited about dinner. It’s easy and fun to make and is truly the best clam chowder I’ve ever had (yes, even better than any restaurants chowder).
This was my first time making clam chowder from scratch and I found the recipe very easy to follow. Make sure to prep everything beforehand (lots of chopping to do). I did add in 2 stalks of celery (because I like it and could have used 3) and used 3 cans (including juice) of chopped clams. However, I was disappointed in the lack of “clammy” flavor despite 3 cans. I think next time I’ll substitute a bottle of clam juice for the vegetable stock to get a stronger flavor. Despite that, this is a good recipe and I’ll use it again for sure.
Great flavor, but small recipe. I doubled it and it made just enough for 3 of us to have one large bowl.
Sooo good!!! We love this soup. I used to not be a fan of clam chowder and this recipe changed that!
The Bomb! Used three cans of clams and juice. Added celery with the onions and garlic. Added maybe 1/2 cup of milk to thin it out a little at the end. I could have eaten the whole thing in one sitting. It wasn’t “fishy” at all if that’s a concern.
This such a great recipe! Thank you so much. I have made it as directed and it comes out perfectly every time.
I have also made it with adding celery, leeks jalapeños and carrots. Opting for the clam juice in lieu of broth as well as the additional can of clams. And that just takes it to the next level.
Thank you again.
I made this the first time for my family last year on Xmas Eve and they flipped!!
10 months later my 10 yr old granddaughter requested it for her “Birthday dinner.”
Now that’s a fantastic review!!
Damn Delicious is an understatement!
Sooooo delicious! I used 3 cans of clams but didn’t change anything else. My husband LOVED it! Thanks so much!
We have made this several times now and it is a family favorite! We are from Maine and definitely have had our share of chowdah and this recipe is our favorite! We follow this recipe as written, however have used chicken stock to sub veggie or fresh thyme instead of dried based on what we’ve had – but never stray from the basics. We always, always use Bar Harbor clams – a must 🙂 thank you for this great recipe and family favorite!
Can I make ahead two days in fridge?
Hello from Denmark!
Can I freeze the Clam Chowder??
(If any left over )
Greetings from
Tove in Denmark
So delicious! I made it exactly is written, except I only had one can of clams. So I added some shrimp, muscles and scallops. Thank you for posting. I will definitely be making this again!
This was the best clam chowder! The family loved it. The hubby is from Maine and told me he loved it. Thank you for this recipe.
Very easy and great flavor
Holy BLEEP!!! This is BLEEPING delicious!!!!!
We added 2 small carrots and 2 stocks of celery!
Wow!!!!
We think it needs 4 cans of clams and 3 cans of the juice from the clams!
And a sourdough breadbowl!
I have never in my life cooked completely homemade clam chowder. I remember always being told how hard it is to get just right. This recipe is amazing and very easy to pull off. I think the trickiest part is getting the consistency just right, not too thick but not too thin. I have used this recipe twice now. The first time I used minced dried onions because my husband and I both have sensory issues especially when it comes to textures and I’m not the hugest fan of eating large chunks of onions. It turned out pretty good using dried minced onions but tonight I went ahead and used fresh onions as well as a specially grown garlic from a local farmer (I will have to find out the exact type and update later) but it was very good garlic. But I minced the garlic and onion pretty good using my little ninja and I also went ahead and double the batch tonight and I have to tell you it came out even better this go around. My husband was in heaven he ate 3 bowls of it. Absolutely awesome and easy recipe and some of the best chowder I have ever cooked…..and to top it off I made it!!! 🙂
Outstanding as written! Try this recipe. You will not be disappointed.
Excellent restaurant quality recipe! Easy and delicious. I make it often.
Delicious! I am so happy to have found this recipe. I will be making it often. I added celery. I didn’t have an onion (husband has been cooking a lot) so I used shallot instead. It was a delicious substitute. I also was out of vegetable stock so used chicken instead. Thank you so much! I tried making clam chowder literally decades ago and was very unhappy with the results. I hadn’t tried since. I can’t believe how good this is. Husband agrees. Going in the rotation!
I will make this again, but next time I’ll use half the thyme. It was a bit overpowering. I added celery and some chopped parsley. I also used fat free half n half and it worked beautifully.
I just finished making this delicious version of clam chowder!
And yes, delicious!
The only difference in my version was adding celery and only because I love the taste and rector added to just about any type of soup.
So delicious! Cheap, easy and probably one of the best clam chowders I have had in a while. This recipe is going in my cook book and I will use it every time I want to make clam chowder.
We have made this often over the past few years. I am so glad I came across this simple, delicious recipe. The fewer ingredients the better, for me. Thank you for sharing.
This recipe was very easy to make and also delicious! I think next time I’m going to double it up (my husband LOVES clam chowder). Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
Delicious! I used the immersion blender just to thicken it up towards the end, leaving about half of it chunky. This required addition of a lot of salt at the end, so be liberal if you think it’s bland and it turns out perfect.
I wasn’t expecting anyone to ask for seconds, but they did and I only got to enjoy 1 bowl.
It’s that delicious and I’m definitely making this again!
I made the entire recipe in my instant pot so cleanup was a breeze.
My daughter and I love clam chowder and when our local deli didn’t have any this fall we decided to finally make some ourselves. It did not disappoint! Absolutely creamy, chunky and delicious. For ease we used dried parsley and bacon bits still good! Had with a big ole chunk of sourdough. Thank you for the recipe!! Four bowls each yum. Will make again!
Very good taste but honestly you have to had at least 3 cans of clams. I had some celery but next time I will had extra clams for sure!! It tasted more potatoes than clams……
I purchased 3 cans of clams and I’m adding celery. Making this tonight
To die for delicious. I have made this soup time and again and it just keeps getting better each tim….
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Hands down the BEST clam chowder we have ever had! I have never made clam chowder myself but will never go with any other recipe! So easy to prepare as well. Thank you so much for sharing!
Made this tonight. Omitted 1 potato and added 2 ribs of diced celery. Soooooo good!
this recipe is golden. I cooked this and it was a complete success the second time around when I added a third can of clam chowder and juice and just did one potatoe, since the first time I did it, i could hardly taste the clam. My picky kid ate a whole bowl, and my husband asked for seconds and asked me to cook this again the next day, that says it all.
I added celery, but I think this recipe would fly without it. Very very good!
Great recipe. I add a bit of leak and since I like it hot I also add Thai chile peppers as well. The husband can’t get enough.
Followed recipe exactly and loved it. Husband suggested maybe adding celery next time which I see a couple of others added. Will definitely make again.
A definite keeper. Followed recipe, but added two stalks of celery and half of a medium onion. Served it with baguette and Cesar’s salad for my husband and myself. There was about a cup of chowder left. This will go in my soup rotation.
A keeper. I added two stalks of celery and used half of a medium onion. Served with baguette and Cesar’s salad for my husband and myself. Will definitely be added to my soup collection.
This Clam Chowder Soup …. Oh My Gosh! My husband loves this soup. I have made this before. Just didn’t have a chance to rate it. Thank you so much for your recipe. For extra meaty I had 4 cans clams and I buy some fresh clams on shells at the seafood market. Everything else stay the same.
Delicious!!! I added celery and baby potatoes. Perfect!
I agree with you, i did it and oh my God it was delicious. I made enough for 15 people, a lots of clams and I added shrimps and white fish. it was to die for.
now my friends expect to have it in all my invitation. I will be making for sure
I used 6 slices of bacon and kept the grease in the soup. Yum. I also used fresh clams and added a small bottle of clam juice. Absolutely delicious!
6 servings ? Recipe good but def not 6 servings
Very good but I’m only giving four stars because it fed me and my husband only. Had to make something different for my kids. Definitely not 6 serving.
I think they’re going by 1-cup serving size.
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THE RECIPE…NOT EASY TO FIND AS SIMPLE AND EASY AS THIS ONE…GREAT JOB!
Delicious
I made this recipe and it turned out great. I cooked the mirepoix in the leftover bacon fat and then added the flour to that – cooking the flour here is the key to not having the dish taste floury like someone else commented. Then you can add garlic, milk, clam/chicken stock, potatoes etc. Could have added some corn too but it was thick enough already with lots of veggies. Great recipe! Other than chopping vegetables it doesn’t take much time either.
Delicious.
Hi Chungah, thank you for this wonderful recipe. Clam Chowder soup is by far my favorite of all soups. I followed your instructions, though after reading some of the reviews, I decided to add imitation crab, also, I added 1 1/2 Tbs of sugar. It was delicious, tasty and very filling.
Love this recipe. The only change I made was to add a can(drained) of whole kernel corn.
Great directions and very easy recipe to follow.
Thank you for all the recipes you share with us.
Very delicious and easy. I threw in celery, somehow I can not make a soup without celery. Will be making this every Friday for a while because my husband just loved it.
Thank you for a great recipe.
Best clam chowder we ever had my family loved it.
Thanks for your easy to follow recipe.
This is my go to recipe…so easy and delicious!
This recipe is so delicious! It was perfect the first I made it. Now I add fresh imitation crab and use Yukon potatoes instead of russet. I also don’t remove the bacon. That sits in there the WHOLE time and I love it this recipe is one of the first ones I’ve tried that has got me cooking more at home. Thank you so much!
Like mine a little thicker so I added 2 tablespoons more rue. Taste wonderful!
I made this dairy free with extra creamy oat milk, oat and coconut half and half. It was amazing!
Absolutely love this recipe, easy to make and delicious!
I made it twice. It is fabulous.
Very easy to make but tasty.
I’ll make it often. Thanks for the recipe.
Love this recipe. Tasty. You need to pay attention. Don’t wander off and get distracted.
I absolutely love clam chowder, and I have often toyed with the idea of making at home because it would be so much healthier! This recipe was simple and the chowder tastes absolutely amazing! This is going in my recipe book! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Made this last week! Had to make it again today, it’s delicious
I thought this was a great recipe. Very tasty and easy to make. I used tapioca starch instead of flour and heavy cream instead of half and half. It was very rich and creamy, yum!
This is absolutely delicious, my family loved it. I added a chopped stalk of celery that I sautéed with the onion and a large carrot that I added with the potatoes. Instead of 1/2 and 1/2, I used 2/3 cup of whole milk with 1/3 cup of heavy cream. Also, I did not use any butter, I sautéed in the bacon grease – yum
The best. took a little longer to make. But Well worth it.
This chowder turned out amazing! It was fun to make and fun to eat. My family loved it!
Wonderful. Wonderful.
Thanks so much for an awesome chowder recipe.
Turns out great, every single time I fix it. Big, big… bowls for dinner !
My husband made linguini with clam sauce and we had some fresh clams leftover that I needed to use up. I found this recipe, had all the ingredients needed and thought I’d give it a try. Turned out to be one of the BEST bowls of clam chowder I’ve ever had. Other than adding one stalk of diced celery as others suggested, I followed the recipe as written (okay, I used fresh chopped clams rather than ones bought in a grocery store). Easy to make, didn’t take a long time, and the results were fantastic. My husband and I were licking our bowls clean. This will become a regular at house. YUMMO!
DAMN Right Delicious!
a little cayenne powder….
Did not hurt it…
this was the first time making clam chowder & this recipe was seriously very simple. to my shock there weren’t any potatoes in the supermarket i went to so, i decided to sub for frozen french fries instead. it cuts the cooking time 15 mins lesser & also added in more frozen clams & corn. my mom had seconds & i was so happy she enjoyed it too!
Delicious! Made it as it, except didn’t have bacon but did have a crock of bacon fat, so still got the smoky flavor.
I made this recipe tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Although I didn’t have vegetable stock, I used chicken broth and I added 3 cans of clams and juice. I wanted it a little more seafood tasting so I found a can of crab in my pantry so I added it and got my seafood taste. I didn’t have tyme so I added basil but other than those few tweaks I made it just the way the recipe said. To my Dismay I am out of oyster crackers but regular crackers were just fine. My puppy really loves oyster crackers. LoL dinner was delicious. Thank you for a great recipe.
Great chowder! I used leftover clams, shrimp, scallops and lobster (from our homemade Valentine’s Day dinner) and seafood stock instead of chicken broth (also as a substitute for the clam juice), and it turned out delicious. It was just about perfect tonight, and I can’t wait to see how good the leftovers are tomorrow night after settling and marinating in its own flavors all night.
Less thyme and more bay leaf. Otherwise delicious
Very simple and delicious! Being that I live in New Mexico, I “had” to pull 3 whole frozen mild green chiles out of my freezer, chop ’em up and throw them in with the potatoes. Served with some toasted locally made whole wheat bread. I will definitely keep this in the recipes bookmarks!
Great recipe! Just what I was looking for.
Loved this base recipe but based on the reviews, I changed it just a little…added one minced stalk of celery, used 8 oz clam juice instead of stock and I did only 2% milk, no half and half, a few dashes of hot sauce…and it came out Really good. Kids loved it and asked when I can make it again. Only complaint is I wish this recipe was for a slighter larger batch. We are a family of 4 and it only made 4 small bowls- we added bread and salad to help fill us up. Obviously we could just double the recipe, but I didn’t want That much left over. Overall very good, will make it again!
I made this in fact two or three times very good
I am not a particularly good cook but tried this recipe and it turned out great. After reading the other reviews about it needing more of a seafood taste, I added 1 tablespoon of Old Bay seasoning in with the flour and it was fabulous! The only other thing I did was add chopped celery with the onions and some extra half-and-half at the end. I will make this the next time I have company.
I am not a particularly good cook but tried this recipe and it turned out great. After reading the other reviews about it needing more of a seafood taste, I added 1 tablespoon of Old Bay seasoning in with the flour and it was fabulous! The only other thing I did was add chopped celery with the onions and some extra half-and-half at the end. I will make this the next time I have company.
Very good. Couldn’t find anything I didn’t like. Will definitely make again. Thanks for the recipe.
Delicious! Doubled the recipe,used clam juice instead of broth added shrimp, when it finished cooking I put it in the blender ladled into bowls and put a generous spoonful of lump crab meat and called it seafood bisque!
Amazing! We love this recipe and have made it before. I like to add small chopped carrots and celery as well. I too kept the grease in the pan, then added the butter and sautéed onion and garlic.
I feel stupid that I’ve never tried to make clam chowder before, so simple and this recipe is amazing! I made this for native New Englanders (and they’re snotty about their chowder) and they asked for the recipe! I did double the clams and had no vegetable stock, used chicken stock instead and the second time I made it I had some leftover corn on the cob and cut the kernels off and threw that in as well-delicious! This recipe is so much better than I’ve had in any restaurant, I’ve already shared it with 3 friends, thank you!
Delicious! I am watching my cholesterol so I didn’t use the bacon or half & half. I only had 1% milk so that’s what I used. Tasted so good I had 2 bowls for supper.
OMGOSH! I’m not believing how simple this was to prepare. Adding to our weekly rotation.
Quick, easy, and delicious.
Great tasting chowder! Easy to make! I thought it would have a more seafood taste. Never made clam chowder before. Next time I will use seafood stock.
I added a ts. Of kelp and extra clam jc to make it more of a sea taste
It’s delicious and filling. In Covid times, when dollars might be tight, this chowder and a loaf of (low cost) good bread is dinner.
Look for no knead bread. Soooo easy and inexpensive and better than France!
Really, really good. Never made clam chowder, so this was an excellent recipe for my first time out. Next time, I will replace broth with more clam juice.
I used one can of chopped and one can of whole baby clams. I also used all half and half (no milk). Regarding everyone’s question about bacon grease, I sautéed the onions in the fat (w/butter) after I took bacon out. Fairly certain that’s what chef meant when writing recipe.
So good! I had never made clam chowder before and was wondering what to do with the cans of clams I’d bought when I was stocking up on shelf-stable milk and meat for the pandemic. Followed the recipe to the letter and it’s really delicious!
We really enjoy this recipe! I think it takes more than 15 minutes of prep time. Definitely remember to cut and peel your potatoes before you start. We used 3 potatoes and 3 cans of clams.
What do you do with the bacon grease that was reserved?
I was wondering the same thing, do you keep in pot when you fry onions and such?
Yes. I cooked onions in the bacon fat along with the butter.
Exactly! Remove bacon and reserve (leave) a tablespoon of the grease and add butter and onion and garlic.
Easy and delicious! I didn’t read the instructions at the end and threw the bacon in the chowder instead of on top. Delicious that way too!
easy and excellent.
This was so quick and easy and hands-down delicious! I made it for the first time and served it to my family on a wet & chilly Xmas Eve. Everyone was raving about it!
This might be the best clam chowder recipe I’ve ever made! I substituted 8 ounces of clam juice for the vegetable broth, and probably substituted more half and half for the milk. It was absolutely delicious!
This made a perfect pot of chowder. I felt like I was as a beachfront restaurant (and I live in Nebraska)! I used locally-grown potatoes, onions, and garlic, locally-produced whole milk, cream, and bacon, home grown bay leaf, and Penzey’s parsley and pepper. Good ingredients helped push this excellent recipe to the apex of soup cooking.
Very good chowder and easy to follow instructions. The only thing I question is what to do with the reserved bacon fat. I may have missed it but I could not see where I was supposed to use it. I would definitely make this again.
How about use it for whatever you like?
My first time with clam chowder. Followed recipe exactly. Used county sausage. My russets we’re very large. So, I doubled the liquids and extra clams. Still Came out rich and tasty. Used rosemary from my garden. My wife added stock & cream for more soupy texture.
Excellent clam chowder, but the recipe doesn’t tell you when to add the celery. I presume it’s with the onion and garlic.
I’m wanting to try this recipe, but I’m a little concerned, according to the recipe you’re suppose to cook the potatoes in the boiling milk and stock, won’t that cause the milk to curdle? I had a bad experience recently where I accidentally curdled my milk when trying to make a white sauce and concerned the same will happen here.
If you let it simmer gently it shouldn’t curdle. It may take a little longer. Don’t let it get to a rolling boil.
I made this tonight and it was terrific! Easy and delicious. I love that!
Great clam chowder recipe! Will definitely make this again.
Made it for my mom to help comfort her in a time of need, she is from New England and said it was the best she has ever had! I put the bacon in the chowder and let the flavors combine and it was wonderful!!
The best! Tweak a little bit. I used clam juice instead of vegetable stock. I added 1 more can of clam, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic. Husband loved it. He said I’m a soup Nazi. Thank you for the recipe.
This is the best class chowder I’ve had & I’ve eaten my way through Boston & San Francisco.
It is my first time to make a clam chowder. I picked this recipe for the simplicity of the ingredients and the amount of time it requires to cook. Man, is this ever good! Everyone in my family loved it, even my son who is very picky (didn’t tell him that there are clams in it 🙂 ) !
Thank you so much! I used chicken stock as I ran out of veg stock. I would definitely make a variation of it by adding a bit of shrimp, white fish, celery and carrots. I also used yukon gold potatoes for creamier potatoes.
Sounds great. I am making it tomorrow. I want to substitute clam juice for vegetable stock. Has anyone tried this? How many servings does this make? I have 4 cans of clams and 46 oz of clam juice. I have to make it for about 8 to 10 people. How many potatoes should I use and how much 1/2 and 1/2? How much corn?
Yum! Doubled the milk and veg stock. Added a bit more recommended seasoning for the adjustment, and it doubled the amount of soup. A great thing, as this was too ‘damn delicious’ to only enjoy one bowl each.
Devious. I made a large pot of the clam chowder so
I can share with my family.
Love, love, love! So easy to make and incredibly delicious. This soup did not last long in our house. 🙂 Highly recommend!!
I have made this recipe a few times now – I added a can of corn and a little celery and replaced the half n half with heavy cream for a creamier texture. The 2nd time I made this I also added a can of crab meat. The family loves this recipe. I agree with someone else’s comment on here that this is a good base recipe to build on and I look forward to trying other variations in the future.
I made this last night and it was amazing – the family loved it too! I added a can of corn and replaced the milk with more half and half but otherwise followed the recipe. It’s so good and easy I know I’ll be making it again and trying some of the other suggestions in the comments such as adding shrimp.
Good!
Turned out awesome.
Made this recipe and was very delicious. My husband had been calling restaurants and could not find one that sold it. I decided to give it a try, thank God I had all the ingredients. 5*****. Will keep this recipe and do it again. Soo Good!
Added some cream corn, celery stick, smoked Lake Superior Trout and red pepper, green bell pepper.
I love this recipe as a foundation. Never use measuring cups or anything. Can’t believe never made chowder before. I love chowder! It’s way easier to make then gumbo or home made chicken soup. Clams from Bar Harbor Maine in a can for $3!
I dont know if answered yet. But, use the bacon pcs to top your bowls of chowder. Also, you saute onoins n celery in the butter. Then I personally use the bacon grease in the pot , then add your flour. It is like gravy. Stir. Then start adding the liquids. Whisk in milk. Stir gently after.
I’ve made this several times now, so easy and delicious, big hit in our family. Added shredded carrot for color, and also some shrimp too. I usually double the recipe, so we have some leftovers for next day, but never lasts long. Reheats great
Excellent clam chowder but I was wondering can you make this ahead of time?
I added a bit more thyme and garlic…but that’s cause I’m French….perfect chowder…
This is easy and devious. I add a third can of clams and sometimes add chopped carrots as mentioned by another reviewer
Amazing recipe! When do I do with the tblsp. Of bacon grease? And just to note, the bay leaf has to come out before eating…
Just made your recipe for clam chowder…. Unbelievably good .. Thanks so much, will be making this often … Yum !
We love it. As it is written its great. I add more potatoes. I like them. It’s open to free-styling with other ingredient based on what’s in the pantry too
This was very good. The techniques in this recipe make is the most similar to restaurant Clam Chowder that I have tried. We would drive all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf for good clam chowder from our home but this is quite similar to that. Buy yourself a couple of sourdough bread bowls and a bottle of wine and this will take you to Fisherman’s Wharf S.F.! Have that extra glass and you won’t have to worry about driving!!
The recipe doesn’t say what to do with the 1 tbls. reserved bacon fat?
I it sure if this is right but I remove all but a tbsp of the bacon grease and use it to cook the onions and garlic
This is just like my grandmother’s recipe from the Canadian East Coast minus the flour, she uses the potatos to thicken it instead and so do we as we are gluten free. Yummmm! Thanks again for deliciousness.
Thx for that gluten-free tip!!
I was thinking I’d omit the flour or use arrowroot instead to thicken.
But your idea of just using potato to thicken is much better than all that flour!
I’m a engineer, I follow instructions and guidelines, I’m also a cooking want to be (I hate DISHES) and follow instructions in the recipes (mostly). At what point are you supposed to add the BACON back in?
FYI, I did this to the T and added one pound of freshly caught Prince William Sound Shrimp (Alaska) with the Clams. NO One wanted to leave without the recipe.
Thank You.
It says to use it as a garnish.
In the Royal Canadian Navy version, the bacon is sauteed with onions and celery and left in the broth to cook with the potatoes.
Awesome chowder! Used at least a pound of fresh razor clams we dug up yesterday on the Oregon coast…added carrot and celery to the onion..omitted the bay leaf and had to add another cup of broth and milk because it was getting too thick.
This was fantastic. I did add diced celery with the garlic and onion. I also added Old Sack Sherry. A keeper! Thank you!
How much sherry and when did you add it? I’m certain a chowder I tasted recently had sherry and I loved the flavor it adds.
Wow. This chowder is SO good! My 15 year old son loves seafood and is starting to like to cook a bit since it means more food for him to eat :). He wanted to try to make a clam chowder so I searched and this recipe came up first. I’m so glad we tried it. It is delicious that it is even a hit with my daughter who does NOT like seafood. He has made it for us 3 or 4 times now and it comes out perfectly every time. Two times ago he forgot to add the flour and it was still amazing. Last time he left the flour out on purpose for a lighter chowder. Either way, though, amazingly delicious. I would be happy to receive this at a restaurant.
Fairly easy to make. DELICIOUS. I’m a PNW’er and my husband and I just went to the Oregon Coast again and some great clam chowder. This totally rivals all the coastal chowder AND we had make it at home. Wins all around.
Delicious! I doubled the recipe and added one extra can of clams and extra clam juice to taste.
I’ve never been a big fan of this soup and decided to give it a try, it came out really good! Would definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing
Last week, my brother posted about the coming Field of Dreams baseball game between the Yankees vs. White Sox in the Fantasy Baseball league that we’re both in with 18 other team owners. After seeing the ending to the Field of Dreams game, I enthusiastically replied how incredible it was to see since all three of our players hit home runs in the 9th inning of the game! I also indicated that I had dreams of my late Uncle and Dad in the two weekends leading up, so I kind of knew beforehand that I should probably see that game based on that alone. I let him know that I received an invite to get a fried seafood lunch at work the same day and how much that reminded me of my Uncle’s out of the blue trips to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to get the same meal many years ago. My brother replied that he had a dream with another Uncle that week at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and remarked how they had the best Clam Chowder.
I’m the family cook on Saturdays, so I decide to get the ingredients to make your Easy Clam Chowder recipe on Friday. I also pick up a player making his debut as a starter on Saturday named Tyler Gilbert to help with my fantasy baseball team’s pitching stats, namely the strikeout category. I followed your instructions to the T and your Clam Chowder recipe was a big hit the following day, my first time making Clam Chowder that was not already pre-made from a can. We had leftovers, so we had Clam Chowder again for dinner and watched Tyler Gilbert pitch the Diamondbacks vs. Padres game on TV that night. Lo and behold, we find out Tyler is 4th generation electrician from Santa Cruz and his grandfather, watching the game at Chase Field in Phoenix, is a Vietnam War veteran, just like my Uncle who took us to Santa Cruz as kids. It was a magical night as Tyler pitched the first no-hitter by a pitcher making his debut start since Bobo Holloman did it in 1953. Tyler does so well that night, I end up winning 4 more pitching categories that I had no business winning. I find out the following morning that the recipe was written by you, a Korean American, and that the Korean War also ended in 1953! Thank you for your delicious Clam Chowder recipe and for being such a fun part of family (and baseball) history.
Thanks for your very lovely story. I am making the clam chowder later on today–my first, also. Hugs, Gayle Rush
Made it and my whole family loved it, even my kids!
Let me tell you the flavor is on point!! It’s so good. I prefer more clams and clam taste so if you are like me, add a few more cans ans juice. It’s more like a potatoe chowder to be honest. But overall one of the best I’ve made!
Delicious chowder! I also tweaked the recipe by sauteing 3/4 cup of chopped celery in one tablespoon of butter until crisp-tender. I added this along with the other vegetables. I substituted one cup of frozen corn and one half cup of water for the canned corn. No calamari for us. The next time I make this I will steam the carrots and potatoes before adding to the pot. Twenty five minutes was not enough cooking time for them.
Thank you for the best clam chowder recipe!! My dad and I made & loved Snows clam chowder as a kid. You can no longer find it and I have searched & searched trying to find a similar recipe. I wish he was still here to enjoy it.
This is definitely it!!! You truly are the best.
I need to make chowder for 18 people. Can I just triple this recipe? any modifications to spices?
Very quick and easy recipe. Also very delicious. I followed the recipe as written but added a dash Worcestershire sauce and a little extra broth. Thanks for the great recipe.
Absolutely delicious.. I used pork salts and bacon fat. Very rich and creamy.
Good but one onion is wayyyy to much. Otherwise texture is spot on.
Absolutely delicious! I’ve tried other recipes but this one hits the spot! The only thing I changed was I used chicken stock instead of vegetable, and I cooked the bacon with the soup rather than using it as a garnish
Best clam chowder recipe! Better then a certain restaurant here in the great PNW. It’s a keeper.
Forgot to mention, my daughter substituted Better Than Garlic roasted garlic base for the veggie broth. So good!
Very good!
So good. I also added scallops, shrimp, and crab to make it a seafood chowder. And then deliciously top it off with Frank’s :p
I made this recipe. Added fresh chucked shrimp, corn, extra bacon
This is a very delicious recipe, but I have a suggestion to make it much easier. Don’t add the flour until after the potatoes are cooked, and then just add a simple roux. I dissolved 2 tablespoons of Wondra flour in a little water and then added that to the soup at the very end. It turned out just as delicious as always. I didn’t like standing over a hot stove stirring it constantly until the potatoes were cooked to prevent sticking. It’s hot here in southern AZ!
Don’t you want the flour to be cooked, or not?
Wondra is pre cooked
Your tone seemed a bit snippy there, so try to be sure we post in as friendly of a manner as possible, as I’m sure you were trying only to be helpful, eh? 🙂
This is a good tip flour will be cooked as long as it’s bubbling for a couple of minutes
This was really good and very easy to make. I ended up using some additional broth because it was creamier than I like. The flavor was outstanding. Both of my young children loved it.
I made the clam chowder tonight.(my first time) it came out good. Thanks for the recipe.
This was delicious. I would recommend doubling if you have a large family or want leftovers. I did substitute clam juice for the vegetable broth.
Came out amazing! Substituted chicken stock for veggie stock and used twice as much. This is my new go to clam chowder recipe.
I made this last night, exactly as it is written and it was fantastic! Can’t wait to make it again, thanks!
This was my second time ever making chowder and it was delicious! It was so easy to make, even for a novice, and still one of the best chowders I’ve ever had. I substituted bacon grease in for the vegetable stock because I’m a glutton. Also, I really love that it had crispy bacon bits as a garnish instead of adding it directly to the chowder. This gives it an added element of texture and a more intense flavour. Thanks for sharing your amazing recipe!
Thank you. This was a real good and easy to make.
Lovely taste to this! I made one addition at the very end- a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to offset the sweetness of the onions. Completely gave it depth and we ate the entire batch of soup in a day!!
Oh, this was so easy and so delicious. I followed the recipe exactly as written. My family loved it!!
I just made this recipe and it is everything I wanted and more. I was craving my Grandmother’s clam chowder, but nothing I found could compare, until I made your recipe! I love this soup and it is such a crowd pleaser; everyone loves it! Thank you for sharing this and helping me get over my fear of making chowder! I did add some corn, but otherwise, it was all you!
Great reference fir build your own chowder
Fantastic, easy lil recipe. Delicious! Thanks!
Made this for lunch today and it was delicious! I did add celery and had to use chicken stock since I didn’t have any veggie stock. So smooth and warming on a cold rainy day!
Made the soup just as the recipe called for except the bacon. I did use a tablespoon of bacon drippings though. Hubby loves it! Will be saving this one!
I made it, so delicious and so easy! I love that you can take control of the creaminess, the amount of vegetable and clam. I didn’t have bacon so I skipped, and I only have frozen clam meat, still so good but I’m sure using bacon and canned clam would be even better! I also added carrot for the vegetable, maybe I’d also include celery next time.
The recipe
This was so easy and fun to make. I followed it exactly as written and it was incredibly delicious. Even my picky toddlers gobbled it up! I will definitely make it again and again! Thanks for sharing!
Very good, just not sure why the recipe says to reserve 1 tablespoon excess fat from the bacon ?
This turned out AMAZING. For those of you looking for a good clam chowder that you can convert to dairy-free, this is a winner. We used Ripple Milk (made from peas), Original Unsweetened flavor, and I used Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk instead of half and half, and it was delicious. We couldn’t taste the coconut milk at all, and everyone raved about it. I made this in an Instant Pot, and after sauteeing onions and celery, I added in the thyme (plus some red pepper flakes), salt and pepper, and flour… stirred for one minute… then added broth and Ripple milk, then the potatoes, and set it to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Then I released the pressure and added in the clams and coconut milk (and Hormel’s Real Bacon Pieces) and stirred. Then served. It was PERFECT. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
Amazing! I ended up with adding smoked trout and scallops instead of potatoes and clams, my potatos had gone bad and due to enlglish not being my first language I thought I was supposed to use scallops. Anyway, the recipe is really good, thankyou! Even tho it didnt turn out like it was supposed to, the soup taste amazing and can’t wait to try it again with the right ingredients
Easy to make, heavenly to eat, Thank You
What am I doing with that 1 tbsp reserved bacon fat???
Just a note, leave the table spoon of bacon grease in the pot and add the butter
Almost the same as one I make. I use corn starch instead of flour, I find flour makes cream soup taste chalky. I add it with the half and half. I also add a cup of kernel corn, sweeter the better.
Very good recipe.
This is my go to recipe! It’s really delicious, thank you so much for sharing it! (Sometimes if I have a bottle of clam juice or seafood stock, I use that instead of the veggie broth.)
Shhhhh….I also add 1/4 cup sherry.
I added celery and carrots to the onions and it was delicious! My spouse said I should sell bowls of it. Will definitely make again.
This is so quick to make but really flavorful. My granddaughter loved it!
So good! I added carrots and celery to the garlic and onions for extra texture and flavor. I doubled the recipe anf it was the right amount for my family of six.
It was quite tasty. I added celery and carrots. One suggestion I would make for this posting: Rinse your claims after draining the juice to remove sand. Mine was full of sand and made things quite crunchy, and not in a good way. I didn’t know to rinse them. 🙁
Otherwise, great flavor!
I made this today, with just a couple of embellishments.
I added a small amount of wasabi, maybe half a teaspoon, and also a couple of slops of Clamato juice just for the hell of it.
I will definitely bookmark this recipe!
This receipt was great! . I added more potatoes and more liquid , I think maybe next time more garlic less thyme and maybe heavy cream.
It really was so easy to make 🙂
First time I’ve tried to make clam chowder, couldn’t believe how easy and yummy it was. I added celery after the onion browned and added some cayenne after the stock simmered. Total hit with the fam, and will def make again. Thank you for the recipe!.
Thanks so much for this recipe. My family has been enjoying it for a few years now!
So tasty! Elevated flavors yet homey and comforting! And easy to make! Will definitely stay in my recipe stack, thanks! Used smoked ham, added a little sliced celery and used baby clams.
Fabulous! Rich and thick
Outstanding and easy. Made as written. My family loves clam chowder and this disappeared faster than most things I make for dinner. Double the recipe. Trust me 🙂
Thank you!
This soup was delicious! The first time I made it I didn’t have vegetable stock so I used chicken. The second time I used bottled clam juice. Both times I doubled the recipe and I also used fat free half and half instead of the milk and half and half. Didn’t miss the fat because the flavor was excellent! Thanks!
This soup was very easy to make and super delicious. Thank you very much for this recipe.
Bomb.com I must say. I am not the best cook but this soup made it seem like so lol thank you!
It’s cold and snowy in IL this weekend, so I doubled this recipe and served it with a hard crust bread. It’s perfect. Thank you! All of the recipes that I have tried from your site are simply wonderful. I just signed up for your email list.
I don’t eat clams but the hubby loves clam chowder, so I made it for him. I tasted it, it was sooooo good that I now can say, I’ve had clams. This soup was so filling and utterly delicious. Made exactly to recipe.
Delicious! Even my 4 year old, who has never eaten any kind of soup for me, ate some! Simple and will make again!
I had a craving for clam chowder and have never tried to make it. I followed this recipe substituting bottled clam juice for veggie stock, and doubled the amount of clams…I really like clams. I was afraid I may have overdone it, but it was perfect, not too clammy at all. Delicious and easy! Thanks for the recipe.
This recipe is easy and has a nice taste. I used bacon pieces and would suggest you use 4 teaspoons per one slice of bacon. I had run out of bay leaves so added 1/2 tsp of oregano and used real cream instead of half and half. Other than that I followed the recipe as it is.
Why are you going to review a recipe that you’ve changed? Seem unfair to give anything but 5 stars when you make your own modifications. Oregano is an okay sub for bay leaves in tomato or meat heavy dishes. Not in this soup. Also, ditch the bacon pieces for Pete’s sake.
Karenolyn? Geez louise, she’s offering her opinion on the substitutions she made because that’s probably what she had on hand. Simmer down.
Carolyn I totally agree, if you change the recipe in any way you shouldn’t even rate it at all. She rated it by how she made it and not how the recipe was written. Double no on the bacon bits.
This was amazing. Never made clam soup before and suggest everyone try it follow as recipe goes it was great.
Made this last night and it was divine. I used just one 10oz can of baby clams and that was plenty enough for me. Per what was in my pantry, I used chicken stock instead of vegetable. Thank you very much for the helpful conversion of half and half with milk + heavy cream. I’ll definitely be making this again!
Did you chop the baby clams?
Great tasting and easy to make. It crave this clam chowder and make it a couple times a month. I use more bacon then it calls for and after I cook the bacon it goes in the soup to cook with everything else.
Used 3 cans of Snows clams, two bottles of clam juice, only heavy cream, no milk, no stock. Tasted like potato soup. So disappointed. I guess if it sounds too easy, don’t do it. Back to the drawing board.
So sorry to hear this didn’t work out for you! Unfortunately when making substitutions like omitting the milk and stock, results can be subpar. We hope you get to try this again! 🙂
So in other words you didn’t follow the recipe? Maybe that’s the reason for the disappointment? Follow the recipe then comment back to let us know if it was good or bad.
I agree. No real clam flavor. Think this is the first Damn Delicious recipe I haven’t been happy with.
You didn’t follow the recipe and missed ingredients and or added your own so why give this recipe 2 stars??? Give yourself 2 stars…..you made something totally different,
no wonder it tasted like potato soup. Perhaps make it as the recipe calls for and you will be giving it a higher review.
You should be ashamed of yourself given only two stars when you left out half of the ingredients and important ingredients no less. You couldn’t go to the store and pick up a little bit of milk and the other things you were missing. You bring down her average because you can’t follow instructions. Please let me know if you ever post your own recipe I’d love to review it
Try following the recipe exactly as written before giving 2 stars for your own creation, probably why it turned out the way it did.
You switched up the the recipe because YOU chose to yet you’re saying the recipe isn’t good? Lol okay.
To be fair you didn’t follow the recipe. You can’t really complain about the flavor of the dish when you’ve left out ingredients and added too much of others. You’re disappointed with your choices (we’ve all done it). It’s just not fair to rate this recipe down if you didn’t actually follow the directions.
I made this but added carrots and celery. I used turkey bacon and chicken broth. So delicious! My family loved it.
Best damn clam chowder EVER. A favorite of mine I’ve never made before now, this recipe seemed super easy and it was.
Made for NYE and the whole family loved it!
*I added thinly sliced celery
** and the part where you reserve the bacon grease-I couldn’t see what the direction for it was later in recipe. Am I missing something? I ended up mixing in toward end of cook time.
Thanks for such a great and tasty recipe!
The bacon grease was already there. It was reserved and then you start adding everything to it when you remove the bacon pieces.
This was the best clam chowder I ever had!
Yummy perfection! Lost my recipe I used for years, but this is much better. Love the canned clams!
Can this soup be frozen? Love every recipe I have tried from your site, but your soups are my absolute favorite!!! Thank you for all the tips and tricks!
I found this recipe easy to follow and very tasty. I had no idea making clam chowder was so easy! (AFTER making it the way it’s presented, I’ve tried a few substitutions and embellishments: I made it with fish and shrimp instead of clams because I needed to get rid of them; I’ve added celery and red pepper flakes with success; really versatile and delicious!
(JBRAY– it’s usually a bad idea to freeze cream soups… you could freeze it, perhaps, without the dairy and then just add cream/half-n-half/whatever when you got ready to serve it later?)
Fantastic flavor! The recipe is easy to follow and has come out great every time. I did change slightly after first two times. The chowder is a bit thinner than I am accustom to, so I used half & half for the milk. My clams had a lot of juice so, I only used half of the reserved juice and the texture and viscosity was wonderful. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. As written it is still FIVE STARS!
This is perfect clam chowder, I truly appreciate this recipe! There was one change, I didn’t have any bay leaves, so added just a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. (Gluten free flour was used, which makes no difference in the taste) Then, per serving, along with the bacon & parsley, we add hot sauce to taste. It’s a meal in itself for a cozy evening in!
This recipe was delicious! I used more bacon and more clams. My boyfriend couldn’t stop eating it. I served it with some buttery, toasty French bread. Definitely a keeper recipe!
That was AMAZING! I lost my usual clam chowder recipe, and when I did a search Damn Delicious came up, and I KNEW it would be good because we are addicted to your Red Beans and Rice recipe! So, if I find my old recipe, I am going to throw it away because this is THE ONE from now on. Brava!
I am looking forward to making this — how long will this last refrigerated or frozen? I am a young lady living alone and I want to make sure I can eat it all or share with a friend/neighbor before it spoils, or reserve some to freeze and enjoy later. Thank you!
I did it!
I made sour dough bread loafs with Herbs de Provence, then scooped them out into bowls, made this clam chowder and then filled the bread bowls.
They were delicious!
Quick and easy. Didn’t use bacon as my dad is a pescatarian. Made just as listed. Very good and rich. Will make again
Great recipe. Super easy. I used it as a starting point to vary ratio of heavy cream and seasoning for preference. My dinner guest raved about it.
We loved this recipe but to be honest I tweeted it by adding minced celery and extra half and half.
Great clam chowder recipe, we all loved it! Can I substitute fennel for onions next time?
My first attempt at making clam chowder. Super easy. I did increase the thyme and garlic a bit. It came out damndelicious!
I really like this recipe. I’ve made it twice now and this time I’m leaving the bacon in with the mix. Great instructions. Great story. Easier than one would think to make. Thank you!
5 stars for the actual recipe. 1 star for having to read through a bunch of bullshit to get to the recipe
We are glad you liked the recipe. The “bullshit” actually keeps our recipes free of charge to readers like yourself and our team of 4 women employed during a year where many have lost their jobs and healthcare.
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I appreciate the recipe, and the description and the time you put into it as well! Love so many recipes from this website
Love your clap back! I’m buying the book now! And can’t wait to try this recipe. I make the Korean Beef all the time and love it!
Awesome explanation
All the right ingredients, but only 2 cups liquid and one cup cream?
My first attempt at making clam chowder. Super easy. I did increase the thyme and garlic a bit. I also added celery with the onion. It came out damndelicious!
I added more potatoes, gold potatoes, and extra butter. It’s a a recipe that delivers BIG TASTE. A keeper. Now, have to find some fresh caught clams …Newman’s in Eugene!! Maybe I’ll put a fried crust on the on taters before adding them next time!
I made this tonight. It was fantastic! I was generous with the bacon, because everything is better with lots of bacon!
Great recipe, but I decide to change a few things. It was my first time making a clam chowder and turned out awesome. My guy said it was awesome. I changed the process and added a few things. It was more of a reference. I used 4 red potatoes instead of russet, they tend to have more starch.
Why rate a recipe that you didn’t make? And maybe you don’t know that starchy potatoes are supposed to be used in creamy soups. The starch adds to the texture and deliciousness.
Just like you say ” Damndelecious ” !! Have made it 3-4 times !!!
can add canned chicken instead? I want to make this for the family, but my mom is allergic to shellfish.
My husband is also allergic, I made it with diced dark meat chicken. I cooked it in the pan before the bacon and poured it (with juices) into a bowl, then used it exactly as the recipe says. Turned out delicious. I’ve made it again since, but adding carrots, frozen corn, and celery with the potatoes. Also swapped in chicken broth, makes a fantastic chicken corn chowder.
This soup is delicious! This is the second time that I have made this in the last two weeks! It has so much flavor and makes the whole house smell wonderful. It is easy to make…even a beginner like me can do it. Thanks for sharing.
I made it! It was great! I added more bacon and used half in the soup and the remainder on top when I served it. You never said where to use the reserved bacon renderings? I guessed that’s it was added to the butter to cook the onion and garlic.
I’m trying to adjust this recipe for twenty. Help
Just multiply each ingredient by 3 to be easy .. or by 3.3 to be more exact !!
Ex 1 cup = 3 cups + 1/3 cup
I could not find when to add the reserved grease so I put it in before the flour. will make it thicker next time