Wonderfully creamy New England Clam Chowder is way easier than you think to make at home and about to become a new family favorite!
New England Clam Chowder is hearty, thick, creamy and loaded with tender clams, creamy potatoes and salty, smoky bacon in a rich flavor bursting broth! Homemade Clam Chowder might seem intimidating but you will be AMAZED at just how quick and easy it is to make at home in just one pot. I’ve detailed how to use fresh clams or canned clams to make a New England Clam Chowder to rival your favorite restaurant. If you’re not sure you love New England Clam Chowder, this recipe will convert you!
New England Clam Chowder Recipe Video
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New England Clam Chowder Recipe
I lived in Solana Beach for 5 years (by the Del Mar racetrack in San Diego) in my late teens/early twenties and down the street was the iconic Fish Market with the best New England Clam Chowder. My friends and I would buy a quart for $8 which came with oyster crackers and a huge slab of bread.
We would drive a few blocks west to the ocean and sit on the bluffs as we devoured our rich and satisfying chowder. It was then that I fell in love with New England Clam Chowder. And I fell hard.
I would crave the white creamy chowder bursting with delectable clams, tender potatoes, and salty bacon. Little did I know just how easy it is to make restaurant quality New England Clam Chowder at home or I would have been making it weekly!
So now that I know how easy it is, I want YOU to know how easy it is! You will never go back to any canned/carton variety again because this Clam Chowder is perfection.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLAM CHOWDER?
If you aren’t familiar with New England Clam Chowder, then you might wonder what the difference is between New England Clam Chowder and the other varieties.
- New England Clam Chowder or “Boston Clam Chowder” is by far the most common and most popular type of chowder. It boasts a rich creamy base and is commonly made with potatoes, onion, and clams; adding tomatoes to THIS chowder is frowned upon. In fact, in 1939, a bill was introduced in the Main legislature to make adding tomatoes to clam chowder illegal! It didn’t pass.
- Manhattan Clam Chowder, on the other hand, is where the tomatoes are at. It features a clear tomato broth and is essentially a vegetables soup with clams.
Of both varieties, I can’t pull my spoon away from lusciously creamy New England Clam Chowder and I think you’ll agree!
What Clams Should I use for New England Clam Chowder?
You can use either canned or fresh clams for New England Clam Chowder -whatever is most convenient or you and fits your budget. I’ve outlined how to use canned clams and how to use fresh clams below and in the actual recipe so there are no excuses not to make homemade clam chowder!
Can I Make New England Clam Chowder with Canned Clams?
Yes! Seeing as San Diego is on the opposite side of the Unites States from New England, fresh clams can be hard to come by or very expensive, so I’ve made this New England Clam chowder with minced canned clams and I couldn’t taste a difference!
In fact, many reputable restaurants use canned clams with the addition of clam juice. You will be shocked how restaurant-quality delicious this version tastes and canned clams make it that much easier!
What Canned Clams Should I use?
You will need three (6.5 oz) cans chopped/minced clams in clam juice. These clams are located near the canned tuna fish in your grocery story.
We drain the clams and reserve the clam juice and add bottled clam juice to equal 2 ½ cups total clam juice. The bottled clam juice can also be found near the clams in your grocery store.
What fresh clams should I use for New England Clam Chowder?
You can also make New England Clam Chowder with fresh clams. If you are going the fresh clam route then I recommend using fresh cherrystone clams. Cherrystone clams are more tender than quahogs (which is always a good thing). That being said, quahogs are commonly used because they are less expensive and will still work.
How to Steam Clams for New England Clam Chowder
Steaming fresh clams is actually quite simple and creates its own clam juice so you will use this clam stock instead of the bottled clam juice listed in the ingredients. Let’s get to it!
- SCRUB your shells very well.
- Add 3 cups water to a Dutch oven and bring to a boil.
- Add clams, cover, and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Stir clams, cover and cook an additional 2 minutes. Uncover and remove any open clams. Continue to simmer and remove clams as they open up. Discard any unopened clams.
- Drain the clams and reserve stock, scoop out the meat, and coarsely chop.
- Set the clams aside to add to the chowder at the very end of cooking. Like the canned clams, we are just HEATING the clams and not cooking the clams. If you add them any sooner to the chowder then they will become rubbery.
- Strain the stock from the pot through a mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter and add to a measuring cup to equal 2 ½ cups. Add additional water to equal 2 ½ cups if needed.
What Kind of Bacon Should I Use?
You will want to use thick, center cut bacon opposed to traditional sliced bacon. Sliced bacon wilts as its simmered whereas thick bacon holds up to the heat so you are left with a wonderful meaty texture that compliments the clams.
The key to cooking thick bacon is low and slow so that the fat renders out completely without letting the bacon burn. This gives you a great base to sweat your vegetables.
What Kind of Potatoes Should I use?
The potatoes for New England Clam Chowder come down to personal preference.
Yukon Gold: This is my favorite potato for soups. It is a waxy potato so it retains its shape well and is hard to overcook. It tastes soft, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth tender without ever tasting mealy.
Russet Potatoes: They boast a soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture, taste the most “potato-y” and practically fall apart in your mouth. The tricky thing about Russet potatoes is you don’t want them to actually fall apart, so you have to take care not to overcook them.
What Seasonings for Clam Chowder?
Both bacon and clams are wonderfully salty so we don’t need to add a lot of seasonings. To this New England Clam Chowder, I’ve seasoned it with dried parsley, red pepper, oregano, dried thyme, pepper and aromatic onions an garlic.
I suggest adding 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon to your clam chowder if you are using canned clams. The salty bouillon enhances the natural flavors and mimics the saltiness of the fresh clams and juice. This extra touch elevates this New England Clam Chowder to a whole new level.
If using fresh clams, I would omit the chicken bouillon then add a little to taste if it still feels like is missing a little something-something.
How to Make New England Clam Chowder
Now that you have your clams all ready to go, it’s time to make New England Clam Chowder! You will LOVE how easy this clam chowder is to make with gourmet results.
Simply cook chopped bacon in a large Dutch oven then remove half to garnish the clam chowder with at the end of cooking.
Next, cook your onions and celery in the bacon drippings for dynamic flavor followed by potatoes, garlic and red pepper. Sprinkle in some flour and cook for one minute to get rid of the raw flour smell then stir in chicken broth, clam juice and all seasonings.
Simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are very tender then stir in heavy cream followed by clams. That’s it for decadently delicious New England Clam Chowder!
How to Keep Clams From Becoming Rubbery
They key to preventing rubbery clams is to not overcook them. After we’ve simmered the clam chowder and the potatoes are fork tender, then add the clams to the soup. You do not want to cook your clams, you just want to HEAT them so add them at the very end of cooking.
How do you thicken New England clam chowder?
Everyone has their own opinion as to how thick a chowder should be. For this New England Clam Chowder, we use a roux to thicken the chowder then stir in 1 cup heavy cream at the end of cooking. If you would like a thicker chowder, simmer the soup longer, for a thinner chowder, stir in additional chicken broth. You can also thicken the soup by:
- Cornstarch: Remove ¼ cup broth from the clam chowder and whisk in 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch with a fork (depending on how much thicker you want it) until smooth then whisk it back into the chowder. Simmer until thickened to desired consistency.
- Flour and butter: Mix equal parts flour and softened butter together with a fork so it becomes a thick paste and almost forms a ball. You will want 2-4 tablespoons each, depending on how thick you want the chowder. Add it to the chowder, and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Puree soup: Remove 1-2 cups of the chowder and puree it in your blender or food processor. It will add body to the soup while preserving the flavor.
- Mash potatoes: Remove some of the potatoes, mash them and return them to the soup. Mashed potatoes are a natural thickener. Alternatively, you can microwave a few potatoes separately, mash them and add them to the soup if you don’t want to use any from the chowder.
What Should I serve with Clam Chowder?
To finish the New England Clam Chowder, pile it with some of the reserved crispy bacon and fresh parsley for an added explosion of YUM!
I love serving New England Clam Chowder with a big chunk of bread and oyster crackers. I love the salty crunch oyster crackers add to the chowder. If you can’t find oyster crackers than saltine crackers are also delicious.
It is also delicious with a big green salad, wedge salad, breadsticks, dinner rolls and fruit salad.
How Long is Clam Chowder Good for?
New England Clam Chowder should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator. When properly stored, clam chowder is good for 3-5 days.
Can I make Clam Chowder Ahead of Time?
The flavors of this New England Clam Chowder only gets better the next day so this chowder makes fantastic leftovers. It will thicken as it stands overnight in the refrigerator so just whisk in a little milk before reheating.
Can I Freeze Clam Chowder?
I do NOT recommend freezing clam chowder. Cream based soups do not freeze well as the fat separates when frozen and defrosted. Potatoes also don’t freeze well as their texture becomes mealy and mushy.
Now dig into your better-than-any-restaurant New England Clam Chowder that’s wonderfully creamy, hearty, satisfying and seasoned to perfection and be prepared to blown away!
Looking for more creamy soup recipes?
- White Chicken Lasagna Soup
- Loaded Zuppa Toscana
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- White Bean, Ham, Tortellini Soup
- Bacon Ranch Chicken Chowder
- White Chicken Chili
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Slow Potato Soup (Lightened Up)
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New England Clam Chowder
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Ingredients
- 3 (6.5 oz.) cans chopped/minced clams in clam juice*
- 1 (8 oz.) bottle clam juice*
- 6 thick center-cut bacon strips, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 1/4 pounds (3 ½ cups) Yukon gold potatoes peeled and diced into 1/4-1/2” cubes
- 3-5 garlic cloves, minced
- pinch-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon (Hold if using fresh clams)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp EACH dried parsley, dried oregano, salt (salt to taste if using fresh clams)
- 1/4 tsp EACH dried thyme, pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
Garnishes (optional)
- Oyster crackers
- fresh parsley
- bacon
- cheese
Instructions
- Drain clam juice from cans into a liquid measuring cup. Add enough bottled clam juice to equal 2 ½ cups. Set aside. (See directions in Notes if using fresh clams.)
- In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until fat is rendered and slightly brown. Remove half of the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons grease. To the remaining bacon and drippings, melt in 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat.
- Increase heat to medium high and add celery and onion. Sauté for 5-7 minutes or until onions are soft. Add potatoes, garlic, red pepper (if using) and sauté 30 seconds. Sprinkle in flour and cook an additional 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth, reserved 2 ½ cups clam juice, chicken bouillon, bay leaves and all seasonings. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
- Stir in heavy cream and bring to a simmer to heat through. Discard bay leaves. Remove from heat and stir in clams. Taste and add salt/pepper to taste. (You may or may not need additional salt depending on how salty your clams and bacon are.) For a thinner or less chunky soup stir in additional heavy cream/milk or chicken broth.
- Top individual servings with reserved bacon and oyster crackers and fresh parsley if desired.
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Carlsbad Cravings Original I first posted on Spend with Pennies
Deb Carney Blecha says
I have made you my main cookbook, I usually do something on Sunday ane it carries me through the week. Sometimes like the chili Mac, more than one meal a day ( I live alone…correction, with a dog and cat).
Your Slow cooker Asian caramel pulled pork served on sesame Kaiser rolls with Asian slaw—makes me make loud groaning noises while consuming, so glad I live in a detached house. Waiting on the pineapple slaw recipe you promised.
And I will be trying this one to see if it could possible make my friends happier than the barbecue chicken Chile that the threatened to kill me for the recipe, as soon as I finish my pot of lasagne soup.
I have a request, my favorite food outside of what I try from Carlsbad Cravings is Hot and Sour Soup from our local restaurant. It is thick and full of mushrooms, tofu, crunchy veggies carrots, red peppers, I think an egg like in egg drop, green onions. It is the best you can do for a cold! I know you could come up with a killer Carlsbad version. If I have to, I will order some and give you a better list of ingredients, I am prepared to take one for the team. :). Thank you for getting me back into the kitchen, I have missed it so much.
You’ve made it easy and sooooo tasty! You are my super hero.
Sincerely Deb
Jen says
Oh my goodness Deb, I love your comment so much! THANK YOU for taking the time to write and for your flattery :)! I especially love hearing all of the recipes you have tried and loved – that makes me so happy! Hot and Sour Soup is definitely on my “to make” list but I will rush it to the top! So is your version more like an egg drop soup with a sweet and sour broth? Is that what you mean by thick?
Mary Jona says
Your clam chowder recipe is wonderful! I am a diabetic, I will substitute the potatoes with cauliflower! I am looking forward to making it! Thank you!
Jen says
Hi Mary! Cauliflower instead of potatoes will be prefect! I am so glad you are able to easily adapt it!
Susan says
Delicious, thank you so much. I made this for dinner tonight and the flavor is fabulous. This is the 5th recipe of yours that I have tried and we have enjoyed every one. You are a terrific cook and your recipes make me look like one too!!
Jen says
You are so welcome Susan, I’m so glad you loved it! I am thrilled you have found my site and enjoyed the recipes you’ve tried so far! I hope you continue to find many new favorites!
Carla says
I seriously never have to go to another site to get delicious recipes. Wow!!! Whole family loved it!!!! Even the one that does not like clams 😉
Thank you Jen!!
Jen says
I am honored you are loving my recipes so much Carla, thank you! and I’m so happy this was a hit too even with the non-clam eater!
Cecily says
We made this last night and it’s AMAZING! Simple to make and so delicious! Bryan’s first bite resulted in a huge sigh and an “Oh! This is SO good! Mmmmmm!!” And that continued throughout dinner. My reaction was similar, with an added “This is definitely going in the recipe binder!” Thanks for another wonderful recipe we’ll be loving for years and years!
Jen says
WAHOO! Thank you for your awesome comment Cecily! I am thrilled it made it into the recipe binder :)! Thank you so much for making my recipes – I love being a part of your kitchen in some small way! Love you guys! xoxo
julie says
This is the best soup/chowder I have ever made……thanks to you!
Jen says
Thank you SO much Julie, that is quite the honor! I’m so happy you loved it!!!
Penny says
This is the second recipe of yours that I’ve tried. This clam chowder is AMAZING! I’m not the best or most creative cook and I usually have bad luck with online recipes, but I feel like I hit the jackpot when I found your site!! I’m really thrilled. We have 2 more meals of this chowder and then I’ll try another new recipe of yours. A sincere thank you for all your recipes and the tips, tricks and info that comes along with them!
Jen says
Hi Penny, what a kind comment, thank you! I’m so happy you found my site as well and have enjoyed the recipes you’ve cooked so far! I hope you continue to have success and discover many new favorites!
Jess says
I accidentally tripled the oregeno. Gah! So bummed. I tried tripling everything else to the best of my ability including making a secrond run to the store while it was simmering. First time making chowda. BUT it was perfect before that. Awesome recipe. Will definitely try it again the right way (:
Jen says
oh no! I a hope you are able to make it again and really enjoy it! I hate it when things like that happen in a split second!
Chris says
I have never tried making soup before, and clam chowder is my all-time favorite, and this was by far as good or better than any clam chowder I’ve had in any restaurant! I made the whole batch yesterday morning and it’s all gone one day later! And it was only two of us eating it! The only change I made was I used 3 tbsp of butter because…why not, who doesn’t love a rich buttery taste! I might cut back the chicken bouillon a touch so the clam flavor comes through a little more. And I definitely recommend people use the red chili flakes – it gives a really subtle but delicious heat to every bite. My wife said not to change anything because it was the best soup she’s ever had.
Jen says
I love that you attempted making Clam Chowder for your first ever soup – bravo Chris! I’m so please this was better than any restaurant and devoured so quickly! I hope this is the start of much more cooking!
Mary Ann says
I would like to make this for about 20 people but unsure if I should double, triple the ingredients. Love all of your recipes , it’s my go to site for everything. Thanks in advance for your help.
Jen says
Thank you so much for your kind words! It is always so tricky to calculate for large groups but I would triple to be safe – it is better to have more than less. Also, whenever I double/triple a recipe, I start with less salt and less heat and then add more as needed. Good luck!
Desiree says
I made this recipe almost exactly as it was written and had no problems with it.
We didn’t top with bacon and instead a little butter and paprika, it was awesome. We will definitely use it again, only thing I would change is one more can of clams.
Jen says
Thanks so much Desiree, I’m so happy to hear it’s a keeper!
Macy says
I just tried this soup tonight, with no changes/substitutions/omissions. I have been a long time fan of yours! Some of my favorites have been avacado caprese chicken wraps, tomato basil soup, carne asada street tacos with all the fixings (pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole), sheet pan fajita salmon, one pan honey mustard chicken, slow cooker barbecue ribs, and smothered baked chicken burritos, to name a few! I’ve made them all many times. But this clam chowder was the one that finally pushed me over the edge and made me realize I’ve GOT to tell you what a talented cook I think you are! I love following your recipes. I thoroughly appreciate the level of detail you go into explaining why you do certain steps, when, and the difference those steps can make. You take all of the guesswork out of cooking and I’ve yet to come across a recipe of yours that I don’t love! It’s just myself, my husband, and our 3 year old eating and we rarely ever have leftovers when I make your meals! I’m from the southeastern coast, where there is no shortage of delicious clam chowder. But I actually have to say, this is the best one I’ve ever had! I’m seriously contemplating making it tomorrow night too, as we didn’t have any leftover! Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes!
Jen says
Thank you SO MUCH Macy for taking the time to comment and make my day! I’m honored this is the best clam chowder you’ve ever had – the ultimate compliment! I also love hearing what some of your family favorite recipes are and that you appreciate my detailed posts. Thank you so much for making my recipes!!!
Jennifer says
This was a really delicious clam chowder. I lived in New England for awhile and picky about my chowder. This hit all the right notes. I had a former favorite, but this one has replaced it in my recipe binder.
Jen says
Thanks so much for your awesome review Jennifer! I’m honored this recipe has unseated your favorite clam chowder!
Rachel says
Hi Jen,
can I substitute heavy cream with something non-dairy?
Jen says
Hi Rachel, you can substitute with your favorite non-dairy milk and whisk in 1 tablespoon cornstarch to thicken it up. I have a reader who swears by Oatly Barista edition and uses it in all of my soups. Good luck!
Kelley says
Hi Jen! I have made a number of your recipes now (recently Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken and Pot Roast), and today I made this Clam Chowder. I must say that I have LOVED each of your recipes, and so has my husband! They are bursting with flavor and help to bring in some variety to our normal menus. Thank you for your explanations and details ~ I’m all about the “why” behind the “what” so I really appreciate it!
This Clam Chowder is so good. I tasted it a few times as I was making it and loved the flavor so much that I contemplated not adding the heavy cream, but that addition increased the complexity and finished it beautifully. Now to remember that I am only cooking for 2 instead of 4 (recent empty nesters). Thanks so much! I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Jen says
Welcome to my site Kelley, I’m so pleased you have been enjoying my recipes, including this clam chowder! It sounds like you follow the expert tip of “tasting as you go!” I hear ya about cooking for 2 – I always have to make the complete recipe to ensure it comes out correctly for readers so my husband and I always have leftovers. Hopefully you’ll be able to halve most recipes no problem. Again, welcome and I hope you find many new favorites here!
Sue says
I made your clam chowder for a casual luncheon and my friends really enjoyed it. Thank you again for a special recipe. I also especially like your broccoli and strawberry salad and your Salmon Wellington. You are my go to site asI trust your recipes, and love your depth of flavour.
Jen says
Thank you for making my day Sue! I’m honored you trust all my recipes – that is the ultimate compliment! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this recipe and I love hearing you other favorites – you have great taste!
Katie C says
My husband said it was very close to the chowder he had at the Boston Market. Which was the only chowder he’s ever liked. Everyone else commented on it being very good too 🙂
Jen says
Thank you so much Katie, I’m so pleased it was a winner!
Carolyn says
Can you freeze clam chowder?
Jen says
I don’t recommend it. Cream based soups do not freeze well as the fat separates when frozen and thawed.
Tami says
Making this tonight but I’m terrified of clam juice. I’ve never used it and it sounds scary! Is it necessary for this recipe?
Jen says
Hi Tami, don’t be scared! Just buy the bottle and pour it in (hold your nose if you want to ;)). I think it definitely makes this recipe taste authentic. If you don’t use it, it will still be tasty, just less of the clam flavor.
Laura C says
Made this a few nights ago and wanted to be sure to leave a comment. Excellent, easy recipe for delicious clam chowder. We used canned clams, and it tasted great. Not a single spoonful left over.
Jen says
I’m so glad you took the time to comment Laura! Thank you for the glowing review, I’m so pleased it was a hit!
Erica says
Seriously the best clam chowder I’ve ever had! And anyone I have made this for completely agrees. For anyone hesitant to try this recipe because they aren’t a big fan of clams and the thought of clam juice scares you…..just go for it! You won’t regret it. I’ve served this to a handful of picky eaters and they all gobbled it up. Thanks for yet another wonderful recipe. I’m on this site at least once a week making one of your recipes.
Jen says
Thank you so much for the glowing review Erica, I LOVE hearing that!
Maria says
We enjoyed this recipe immensely! My husband and I both agreed that it was better than any chowder we’ve had at a restaurant It was also very easy to prepare, so perfect for a quick meal. Another winner!!
Jen says
Thank you so much Maria- what a generous compliment! 🙂 I am thrilled this was another winner!