I made this Easy Slow Cooker Clam Chowder while camping this last weekend. I remember the last time I made clam chowder in the travel trailer (it was not a slow cooker recipe), it was this amazing Emeril Lagasse New England Clam Chowder Recipe. My husband and I borrowed my parents trailer, and it had absolutely had no counters (unless you chop on the stove top cover). I had to chop the ingredients while sitting down at the table, which is not very easy being so short. That recipe had way to much chopping and pot watching for a recipe to make on vacation.
This Easy Slow Cooker Clam Chowder recipe has very little chopping (just an onion!) and the hardest part is browning some bacon, which I had browned the bacon for this recipe while I made breakfast. You won’t believe how good this chowder tastes with these simple ingredients.
- 2 (10.75-oz.) cans Cream of Potato Soup (Campbell’s)
- 2 cans of milk (measured in above cans)
- 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
- 2 (6.5-oz) cans minced clams, drained
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 6 slices bacon, cooked, browned and crumbled
- Add everything into a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir until the cream cheese almost disappears into the mixture, some lumps are ok.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with crackers and sourdough bread.
- Enjoy!
- Note- If I was organized, and had dried thyme in the travel trailer, I would of added ¼ tsp. dried thyme.
Look what happened the next day when I made Slow Cooker Steak Burritos. I set the Slow Cooker on a table outside the trailer. I used a liner, which I only use once in a while during camping. The chipmunks tried to get to the food inside the crock! We were only gone for about 30 minutes, so I decided I better set the slow cooker inside. That was the first time I had that happen, granted we don’t always camp where there is thousands of chipmunks. Lesson learned.
Karen says
August 20, 2015 at 7:38 amDo you have a recipe for New England clam chowder the red one.
Sonsie Hollingsworth says
August 20, 2015 at 8:11 amThat’s called Manhattan clam chowder …. but I don’t have a recipe . Just wanted to let you know ! Have a great day !
Meg says
August 20, 2015 at 8:20 amSince ingredients (except for clams) are precooked, why does it require 6-8 hours. Don’t the clams get tough?
Sarah Olson says
August 20, 2015 at 8:34 amNo they didn’t get tough. The long cooking time makes all the flavors come together better. The onions would be raw if you cooked for less time. 🙂
Meg says
August 20, 2015 at 8:40 amSuper! Definitely trying this. Thanks! 🙂
LisaB says
August 20, 2015 at 8:20 amThis sounds and loos delish. Putting this on my soon to make list. Thank you.
Shelby says
August 21, 2015 at 4:59 amToo funny about the chipmunks! However, if that happened here, it could likely be bears that got into the crockpot and there would be nothing left for us! lol
reneeskitchenadventures says
August 21, 2015 at 6:35 pmI love a good chowder. I know I’ll be making this one. It’s so easy!
Sandra - The Foodie Affair says
August 21, 2015 at 7:42 pmThis chowder looks so good! Such a great idea to use your slow cooker while camping! That chipmunk tried its hardest to break into your chowder!
Grandma Kc says
August 22, 2015 at 10:29 amYour cooking was making those chipmunks hungry! Your chowder does sound easy and delicious and with bacon and cream cheese it would have to be!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
August 22, 2015 at 12:31 pmOh yum! Clam chowder is one of my son’s and I’s favorites. I am definitely going to give this recipe a go soon. 🙂
Bob says
August 23, 2015 at 3:35 pmI made it exact same way but i used shrimp.
Catherine says
August 24, 2015 at 6:03 amI absolutely love this…perfect anytime of year. I have to start using my slow cooker more often. My family would enjoy this very much. xo, Catherine
Mcfar says
August 24, 2015 at 6:32 amYou could have all ingredients needing prepping done ahead of time and bagged up ready to pop in slow cooker! Looks good!
Sarah Olson says
August 24, 2015 at 6:35 amYes, this could easily be a freezer meal!
April J Harris (@apriljharris) says
August 24, 2015 at 10:21 amLove clam chowder, Sarah, and your recipe sounds delicious! I also love how easy it is to put together!
Patty says
August 31, 2015 at 6:04 pmI’m allergic to onions! Would this recipe be okay without them?
Sarah Olson says
August 31, 2015 at 6:07 pmYes it would still be great! 🙂
Linda Pedery says
September 12, 2015 at 4:54 amSecond time making so easy and delicious!!!
lisa ovard says
September 14, 2015 at 11:26 amis that regular milk or is that evaporated can milk you used??
Sarah Olson says
September 14, 2015 at 11:31 amI used regular milk, and it did fine! 🙂
Cindy says
October 3, 2015 at 6:43 pmWhEn sitting in the crockpot for a long time, it curdles. How do you prevent that?
Nancy says
October 21, 2015 at 4:18 pmIf you are looking for a clam chowder where you can taste the clams this isn’t it. This was more like a potato soup with bacon and the bacon did not go well with the clams. The cream cheese makes this too too heavy. I hate leaving a negative comment but this was so NOT good I had to throw it away.
Justine says
December 3, 2015 at 9:22 amWould this be thick enough to put in a bread bowl?
Sarah Olson says
December 3, 2015 at 9:23 amYes it would! 🙂
Stacy says
December 6, 2015 at 6:57 amCan you cook on high to lessen time?
Sarah Olson says
December 6, 2015 at 7:36 pmI think that would work fine!
MANDY says
January 1, 2016 at 4:12 amMade this for Christmas Eve and my whole family loved it sooo much! Ty 4 great recipe and so easy too! Perfect!!
Jinna says
January 6, 2016 at 9:40 amDo you think it would work with chicken and a can of corn instead of clams for chicken corn chowder?
Sarah Olson says
January 6, 2016 at 11:17 amyes that would be good. Like a chicken corn chowder!
Joni says
December 17, 2017 at 5:19 pmStupid question. Does the cooking time need to be adjusted if I want to double it?
Sarah Olson says
December 17, 2017 at 8:13 pmNot a stupid question! Some recipes I do think it needs more time, but I think for this one the same amount of time will work good.
Robert Clark says
January 12, 2018 at 2:46 pmSuper easy and very very good!
Anonymous says
October 21, 2018 at 4:31 pmVery good.. I’ve been using this recipe for three years.. and my family loves it.. it’s fun to tweet it here and there.. super easy..
Sarah Olson says
October 21, 2018 at 5:09 pmSo great to hear, we love this recipe too.