New England Clam Chowder

Creamy New England Clam Chowder is loaded with clams, potatoes and bacon. It’s a hearty bowl of soup perfect to warm up on a cool day.

On a cool day, there is nothing better than sitting down to a comforting bowl of soup or chowder. Am I right? Especially when it is a steaming bowl of Creamy New England Style Clam Chowder.

What are the different types of clam chowders?

When you hear the words “clam chowder”, Creamy New England Chowder is probably the kind you think of. But there are a few different types:

New England Clam Chowder:  Clam chowder made with a creamy broth.

Manhattan Clam Chowder: Chowder made with a tomato broth

Rhode Island Clam Chowder: Clam Chowder with a clear broth.

Now don’t get me wrong, I will never turn down a bowl of chowder whichever way it comes but New England Clam Chowder is my absolute fave. There is just something about the creamy broth with the clams, smoky bacon and tender potatoes.

And guess what! It is probably easier to make than you think and I’m going to show you just how. But first let’s start with the ingredients you’ll need.

What ingredients do you need for clam chowder?

• BACON: Thick cut is best! It adds a meaty-smokiness to the soup that is a must.
• CELERY AND ONION: Both add texture and flavor.
• BAY LEAF: You should be able to find whole bay leaves in the spices section of your grocery store. Just remember to remove them before serving the soup.
• ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR: This will help thicken the chowder.
• HEAVY CREAM: Where the chowder gets its creaminess from. While you can substitute half and half or whole milk if you want it to be a bit lighter, the result will be a chowder that is less creamy.
• THYME: This really makes the dish, I think. Thyme adds a herby pepper flavor and the chowder is just not the same without it.
• POTATOES: You can use red potatoes or russet potatoes in this recipe. I’ve made it with both. If you use red potatoes you can leave the peel on but I prefer to peel russets. 
• CANNED CLAMS: You’ll need both whole baby clams and chopped clams for this recipe. Yes, clam chowder with fresh clams is fabulous. But canned clams are much more accessible and they are just as delicious in this soup! Make sure that you buy chopped clams, not minced clams. 
• CLAM JUICE: You’ll find bottled clam juice next to the canned clams in the canned seafood section. It’s the leftover broth from steamed clams. Make sure that you also save the juice from the cans of clams.

Step by Step Photos and Instructions:

Making New England Clam Chowder is pretty easy but follow along with these step by step photos and instructions to help guide you along the way.

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• STEP #1: Cook the bacon over medium heat in the bottom of a large soup pot. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the soup pot.
• STEP #2: Add onions, thyme, bay leaves and celery to the bacon grease. Allow to cook just until onion is translucent.
• STEP #3: Whisk in the flour. Allow to cook 1 – 2 minutes.
• STEP #4: Whisk in the chicken broth. And allow to cook 2 – 3 minutes.

DES’ TIP: Adding the chicken broth will “Deglaze” the pan. This will allow you to scrape up all of the brown bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. It is called the “fond” and is where so much flavor is! 

• STEP #5: Add celery, potatoes and clam juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender.
• STEP 6: Whisk a few tablespoons of the hot broth into the cream and then slowly add the tempered cream to the soup pot.

DES’ TIP: Whisking the hot broth into the cream will “temper” the cream. That means it’ll bring the cream up to temperature. If you add cold cream to the hot soup you run the risk of the cream curdling. 

• STEP #7: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the chopped clams and bacon to the pot soup. Simmer 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Storage and Leftovers:

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to a few days. To reheat, place soup in a small saucepan and warm slowly. If it is too thick, add a bit of water to thin it out a bit.

I love to serve it with lots of freshly cracked black pepper and soup crackers. It’s also great to dunk some sourdough bread in! It is the perfect way to warm up on a cool evening!

If you love this Clam Chowder recipe, check out some of my other soup recipes:

Beef Stew with Red Wine 

Roasted Garlic Soup Recipe

Instant Pot Chili Recipe

If you love seafood, you’ve got to check out some of my favorite seafood recipes:

Cajun Popcorn Shrimp

Fried Cod Recipe 

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Sour Cream Sauce

Salt and Pepper Calamari Recipe

Note: This recipe was originally published in 2009. It was updated with new photos, step by step instructions, a new recipe to make the chowder thicker and nutrition information in 2024.