Zucchini Corn Chowder
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Use up all that lingering zucchini for a filling, colorful and cozy soup you can make all year long, topped with crisp bacon bits!
It’s definitely summertime in California.
No, wait. It’s always summertime in California, particularly Los Angeles, except for maybe 5 days out of the year when it actually gets cold.
But I went on an impromptu road trip to San Francisco for July 4th, and guys, it was 52 degrees F.
I know. 52 is summertime for those living in the east coast. But for me, THIS. IS. TOO. COLD.
Like I’m wearing double layered pants, ski socks, and probably a beanie to bed.
So hence. I have this summer chowder for all summers.
It’s light and filling, with plenty of bacon bits to go around.
Plus, you can slurp on this while in your bubble jacket or in a bikini.
Best of all, it uses up that abundant summer squash in your garden! Win.
Zucchini Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1 ½ cups corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
- Melt butter in the stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in thyme, basil and rosemary until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Whisk in chicken broth, milk, bay leaf, zucchini and corn. Cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. If the chowder is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan, parsley and bacon, if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
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This looks amazing!! Can I do this in a crockpot?? how??
It is very difficult to give exact conversion information to translate a traditional stovetop recipe to be used in a slow cooker without further recipe testing. However, here is an article worth checking out on a possible conversion guide. Hope that helps!
To make this a full meal or lunch, what would you suggest to pair it with?
My absolute favorite side dish is the garlic parmesan roasted potatoes. But please feel free to check out all of my side dish recipes here.
This looks awesome!! I love finding recipes that use seasonal ingredients that we can grow in our garden. Absolutely gorgeous pictures, too!
I made this chowder this morning for lunch, I added some cooked chicken I had in the frig. It was sooo good. Yes it is very hot in South Carolina too.
Yep, it’s hot/humid here in NC, but I’m like you Chaugha, I can eat soup anytime no matter
the outside temp. Soup looks delish and I’m definitely giving it a try real soon…..all that zucchini keeps on coming!
I really like that it’s meatless, too! Thanks for another lovely recipe…..
This recipe sounds good but does it keep to serve again or at another time? I take it that it will thicken up but you could thin it down but do not want to go through the trouble to make it and have to waste it as there is only me here to eat it. thanks
Yes, it reheats well.
Do you have a suggestion for making this gluten-free? I have celiac and won’t be able to use anything that has wheat, barley, or rye in it. Sometimes, the substitute flours just don’t work and I’m wondering if there’s a way to just make it paleo so I don’t have to experiment. My husband absolutely raved over the lemon butter scallops I made last night, so definitely want to stay in touch. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment.
Arrow root flour can be used as a thicker.
Have you tried arrowroot?
I used corn starch instead and it was delicious!
Fyi it’s 90 degree on th east coast! And humid!!
LOL I thought the same thing! If it were 52 degrees here in Pennsylvania in July I’d be freezing too! It was like 70 and raining on the fourth of July and that was too cold for me too! Must be nice to live in California and be oblivious to actual weather hahahaha.
But hey, soup is good no matter what the temp is, especially when it involves corn. 😛
I lived in Tennessee before returning to Southern Calif. The same temperature is colder in CA because its so close to the cold Pacific Ocean. It gets quite cold at night in summer because of the marine layer.
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes. Love them. You are very talented at what you do.
Cheers,
MarLou