Crockpot Clam Chowder {shortcut recipe}
116 CommentsUpdated Apr 19, 2026
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This crockpot clam chowder has all the decadent flavors you expect, but with not much effort! Perfect for dinner any night of the week.
Recipe Highlights
- Minimal prep with little chopping
- Made with canned soup and basic spices
- Rich, restaurant-quality flavor
- Easy crockpot method—just dump and go
- Want the tomato-based version? Try my Crockpot Manhattan Clam Chowder
Key Ingredients
Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below the images.
- Cream of Potato Soup – The shortcut base that adds creamy texture without extra steps like making a roux.
- Minced Clams – Canned clams offer classic flavor and convenience.
- Cream Cheese – Melts into the soup for rich, velvety body.
- Bacon – Adds a smoky depth.
- Thyme & Black Pepper – A simple blend that enhances the seafood.
- White Onion – Finely minced to melt into the chowder for subtle savory flavor.
How to make Crockpot Clam Chowder
- Toss everything into your slow cooker—even the cream cheese cubes.
- Let it simmer low and slow until creamy, rich, and irresistible.
- Stir, scoop, and serve.
Variations
Here are ways to change up this recipe:
- If you want a strong clam flavor, add some clam juice from the canned clams, I would add about a half-cup. If you want a big punch of clam flavor, add one cup of bottled clam juice.
- Fresh clams can be used. Cook the fresh clams, baby clams, or razor clams in boiling water on the stove top for 8-10 minutes. Remove the clams from the water and pull the meat from the shells. Add to the chowder in the slow cooker.
- Stir in a cup of sweet corn kernels for a bit of texture and natural sweetness.
- You can make this clam chowder without bacon and still have great results.
My Serving Suggestions
Here is how we like to serve this clam chowder. Who needs a seafood restaurant when your homemade clam chowder looks this good?
- Serve your crockpot clam chowder recipe in a bowl with saltine crackers or oyster crackers.
- For a restaurant style, top your chowder with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of paprika.
- Warm sourdough bread and butter is an excellent side for chowder.
- You can serve the soup in a bread bowl for an extra special touch..
Featured Comment
“I made this today and it will now be added to my favorite recipes of all time! It is delicious! Thank you for sharing.”
– Carol
This is one of my favorite recipes to take on vacations. I also make ravioli lasagna and crockpot pulled pork while traveling in the RV or at vacation houses; cooking in a crock pot can feed a crowd quickly.
Crockpot Clam Chowder Recipe
How to Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 21 oz. Cream of Potato Soup, (two-10.50 oz. cans)
- 21 oz. milk, (measured in above cans) use whole milk for an extra creamy soup
- 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed – Philadelphia brand melts the best.
- 13 oz. minced clams, (two-6.5 oz cans) drained (see notes for adding the clam juice)
- 1/2 cup white onion, finely minced
- 8 slices bacon, sliced, cooked and drained
- 1/2 tsp. dried leaf thyme (not ground), or two teaspoons fresh
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add everything into the slow cooker.
- Stir. Don't worry about the cream cheese mixing in, it will melt as the slow cooker heats up.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours. Stir occasionally so the soup doesn't scorch. This is a thicker soup and can tend to stick to the edges.
- Serve with desired sides and toppings!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More crockpot soup recipes you’ll love:
Warm up with Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana, loaded with sausage and kale, or try Slow Cooker Busy Day Soup, a quick, hearty option with meat and veggies.
For something rich and comforting, Slow Cooker Cauliflower Soup and Crockpot Turkey Chowder are creamy, flavorful picks that come together with minimal effort. Another seafood recipe we love is Cream of Crab Soup.
Crockpot Corn Chowder and Ham and Green Bean Chowder are great ways to use up leftovers and bring bold, comforting flavors to the dinner table.
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! 🙂
Hi Sarah, i want to make this a day ahead of actually serving it. What are your thoughts on it maybe getting a thinner consistency? I want it to be a thick chowder when I serve it. Thanks so much for your input! Looking forward to trying it.
If you want it thicker, use heavy cream instead of milk, and it should be thicker the next day anyway.
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.