Hearty Corn Chowder

Hearty Corn Chowder made with smoky bacon, potatoes, and of course corn! This creamy and delicious corn chowder is dairy free and so easy to make!

The Best Creamy Hearty Corn Chowder Recipe

This creamy and hearty corn chowder is the perfect way to use fresh corn or enjoy frozen corn all year long! It’s made with smoky bacon, hearty potatoes, and the perfect combination of dried herbs and spices.

What I love about this chowder is that it’s completely dairy free! Which makes it a great dish for just about everyone, no matter their food allergies. Not only is it delicious, this chowder is also so easy to make and comes together in around thirty minutes. I know you’ll love it!

Hearty Corn Chowder Video

Potato Corn Chowder Ingredients

Bacon: smoky bacon gives this corn chowder the most delicious flavor!

Veggies: the base of this chowder is onion, garlic, and celery.

Potatoes: we’re using Yukon gold potatoes for this chowder that have been diced relatively small. No need to pell them!

Green Chilies: one can of diced green chilies helps to add some extra flavor to the chowder.

Chicken Broth: I like to use low-sodium chicken broth for this recipe.

Seasoning: you’ll need a combination of dried herbs, salt, and pepper.

Full Fat Coconut Milk: to make this chowder nice and creamy without using dairy, the recipe calls for full fat coconut milk. You can usually find this in the international foods aisle of your grocery store. It comes in a can.

Arrowroot Starch: to thicken the chowder up a bit we are using arrowroot starch.

Green Onion: you’ll stir these in at the end of cooking to finish off the chowder.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Arrowroot Starch: you can swap the arrowroot starch for cornstarch if you prefer.
• Coconut Milk: if you like you can use light canned coconut milk instead of full fat.
• Chicken Broth: feel free to use vegetable broth if you prefer. 
• Potatoes: russet potatoes will also work if you don’t have Yukon golds.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• sharp knife
• cutting board
• MEASURING CUPS
• MEASURING SPOONS
• whisk
• dutch oven

How to Make Easy Corn Chowder

Step One: Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the bacon lardons to the pot. Cook the bacon for four to six minutes until crisp and then remove the bacon from the pot. Discard all but one tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pot.

Step Two: Add the diced onion, diced celery, and garlic to the pot. Cook for two to three minutes until the onions begin to become translucent.

Step Three: Add the diced potatoes, corn, green chilies, chicken broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir until well combined. Whisk together the coconut milk and arrowroot starch and then pour into the chowder. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Let the chowder simmer for 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender, stirring occasionally to be sure nothing is sticking to the bottom.

Step Four: Lastly, stir in two-thirds of the cooked bacon and sliced green onion.

Step Five: Give the chowder a taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve the chowder in bowls topped with sliced green onion and the remaining crispy bacon.

Recipe Variations

• Make it Vegetarian: leave out the bacon altogether and use vegetable broth instead of chicken to make this chowder vegetarian friendly.
• Make it Spicy: add some crushed red pepper flakes to the chowder to give it a little kick.
• Make it Cheesy: stir in a bit of shredded cheddar at the very end to make a cheesy corn chowder.

Can I Use Frozen Corn?

Yes! If you do not have fresh corn available to you can use frozen corn instead. Just add the frozen corn in at the end and let it heat through. 

Can I Use Canned Corn?

Absolutely! Just be sure to drain it fully before adding it to the chowder.

How Can You Make Corn Chowder Thicker?

Two tablespoons of arrowroot starch should thicken this hearty corn chowder nicely, however if you prefer your chowder on the thicker side, feel free to add a bit more arrowroot starch to the chowder one teaspoon at a time until it has reached your desired consistency.

To ensure there are no clumps in the chowder you can whisk together the arrowroot starch and a bit of water before adding it to the chowder.

Can You Make This Recipe in the Slow Cooker?

Sure! Here’s how to do it:

Step One: Cook the bacon until crisp and then set aside.

Step Two: Add all of the ingredients, except the bacon, coconut milk, arrowroot starch, and corn to the base of your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

Step Two: Stir in the coconut milk/arrowroot mixture and corn and cook on high for another 15-20 minutes until the soup has thickened.

Step Three: Lastly, stir in the bacon and sliced green onion. Season to taste and then serve!

What to Serve with Corn Chowder

This hearty chowder is great on it’s own or topped with bacon and green onions. If you eat dairy then you can also add a dollop of sour cream or shredded cheddar to the top! Toasty bread on the side is always a great idea, too. 

How to Store

You can store store this chowder in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to three to four days.

How to Reheat

My preference is to reheat this chowder on the stove in a small sauce pan or in the microwave. Both ways will work well!

More Delicious Corn Recipes

• Healthy White Chicken Chili
• Avocado Corn Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Avocado Corn Salsa
• Chicken and Corn Chowder

I hope you give this Hearty Corn Chowder a try! It’s easy to make and so delicious!

If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.

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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: THE MINDFUL HAPA