Crockpot Clam Chowder {shortcut recipe}
103 CommentsUpdated Feb 20, 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 Cheese Soup and 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.
Can this be frozen?
I have not tried, I don’t usually have luck with dairy or potatoes.
This is a favorite with my family. Making it today in fact. Thanks for the recipe
I made this today and it will now be added to my favorite recipes of all time! It is delicious! Thank you for sharing.
This is a fantastic, quick recipe. My grocery store was out of Cream of Potato Soup (???). I substituted Cream of Mushroom Soup. Love mushrooms anyway. It turned out great. So, if you want a bit of a twist to your standard Clam Chowder try this. Hope you enjoy the twist.
As a side note ~ I think next time I would bring my Cream Cheese to room temperature to make it easier to melt.
MY FAMILY LOVES CLAM CHOWDER! I CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT. ABOUT THE MILK, MY HUSB. HAS CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF) WILL THIS WORK WITH EITHER 1% OR FAT FREE INSTEAD? I’LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK-YOU SO MUCH; PAM M.
Yes! Either will work fine.
THANK-YOU SO VERY MUCH!! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. PAM
I’ve been using this recipe for a couple of years and I love it! I also add a bunch of thinly diced potatoes too , it just adds to the heartiness of this chowder.
Great idea, thank you for letting me know this tip.
Very 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..
So great to hear, we love this recipe too.
Super easy and very very good!
Stupid question. Does the cooking time need to be adjusted if I want to double it?
Not 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.
Do you think it would work with chicken and a can of corn instead of clams for chicken corn chowder?
yes that would be good. Like a chicken corn chowder!