Forget a complicated recipe and make this easy slow cooker clam chowder. It still has the amazing clam chowder flavors your family loves.
I made this quick and 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. We love that recipe but I need easy recipes for travel cooking.
This Easy Slow Cooker Clam Chowder recipe has very little chopping (just an onion!) and the hardest part is browning bacon, which I had browned the bacon for this recipe while I made breakfast. You won’t believe how good and thick this chowder is with these simple ingredients.
How to make Easy Clam Chowder:
You will need:
- 21.5 oz. Cream of Potato Soup (two-10.75 oz. cans)
- 21.5 oz. milk (measured in above cans)
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 13 oz. minced clams (two-6.5 oz cans) add clam juice from cans to the soup if desired.
- ½ cup white onion, diced
- 6 slices bacon cooked, browned and crumbled
- dried thyme (optional)
Directions:
- Add everything to the slow cooker and stir. The cream cheese will melt into the soup during the cooking time.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Should I add the clam juice to my clam chowder?
If you love a strong clam flavor in your clam chowder, yes! Adding clam juice is okay to do and will give your chowder a great clam flavor.
More soup recipes you’ll love:
- Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Stew
- Slow Cooker Cauliflower Cheese Soup
- Slow Cooker Ham Hocks and Dumplings
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Brown Rice Soup
Easy Slow Cooker Clam Chowder
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker Size: 4 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 21 oz. Cream of Potato Soup (two-10.50 oz. cans)
- 21 oz. milk (measured in above cans)
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 13 oz. minced clams (two-6.5 oz cans) add the clam juice from cans to the soup if desired.
- 1/2 cup white onion diced
- 6 slices bacon cooked, browned and crumbled
- 1/2 tsp. thyme (optional)
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
- crackers
- sourdough bread
Instructions:
- Add everything into the slow cooker, including thyme, if using.
- Stir until the cream cheese almost disappears into the mixture, some lumps are ok.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
- Serve with crackers and sourdough bread.
- Enjoy!
Made this for Christmas Eve and my whole family loved it sooo much! Ty 4 great recipe and so easy too! Perfect!!
Can you cook on high to lessen time?
I think that would work fine!
Would this be thick enough to put in a bread bowl?
Yes it would! 🙂
If 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.
is that regular milk or is that evaporated can milk you used??
I used regular milk, and it did fine! 🙂
Second time making so easy and delicious!!!
I’m allergic to onions! Would this recipe be okay without them?
Yes it would still be great! 🙂
Love clam chowder, Sarah, and your recipe sounds delicious! I also love how easy it is to put together!
You could have all ingredients needing prepping done ahead of time and bagged up ready to pop in slow cooker! Looks good!
Yes, this could easily be a freezer meal!
I 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
I made it exact same way but i used shrimp.
Oh yum! Clam chowder is one of my son’s and I’s favorites. I am definitely going to give this recipe a go soon. 🙂
Your cooking was making those chipmunks hungry! Your chowder does sound easy and delicious and with bacon and cream cheese it would have to be!
This 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!
I love a good chowder. I know I’ll be making this one. It’s so easy!
Too 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
This sounds and loos delish. Putting this on my soon to make list. Thank you.
Since ingredients (except for clams) are precooked, why does it require 6-8 hours. Don’t the clams get tough?
No 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. 🙂
Super! Definitely trying this. Thanks! 🙂
That’s called Manhattan clam chowder …. but I don’t have a recipe . Just wanted to let you know ! Have a great day !
Do you have a recipe for New England clam chowder the red one.