Slow Cooker Corn Chowder


49 Comments


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Make restaurant-quality corn chowder with your handy dandy slow cooker! This recipe uses fire-roasted corn, bacon, and heavy cream; what can be better?

Sometimes you need something heartier than soup for dinner; that’s why we love a good chowder! Try my Slow Cooker Clam Chowder or my Slow Cooker Leftover Turkey Chowder next!

close up of corn chowder in crockpot
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Why this recipe works

Making corn chowder doesn’t need to be complicated! Just add a few ingredients to your slow cooker for the BEST and EASIEST corn chowder you will ever have. The slow cooker will soften the vegetables, and while it simmers all day, the flavors meld together.

Recipe Ingredients

corn chowder ingredients on table with text labels
  • Corn – To make this recipe special, use canned fire-roasted corn! You can find this at most supermarkets.
  • Other vegetables – Peeled russet potatoes, onion, shallots and cayenne peppers. If you can’t find the cayenne peppers, use 1/4 cup poblano peppers or one red bell pepper.
  • Vegetable Broth – This is the liquid for the soup, you can use water if desired.
  • Seasonings – I use salt, black pepper and paprika. The paprika not only adds flavor it makes the soup a pretty color.
  • Heavy Cream – This will make the soup creamy and decadent, wait to add the cream until the end of the cooking time.
  • Bacon – Bacon goes wonderful with corn and cream, so naturally you’ll see bacon in corn chowder recipes.

Step-by-Step Directions

ingredeints for corn chowder before cooking in slow cooker

Step One – Add the vegetables. , seasonings, HALF of the cooked bacon, to the slow cooker.

Step Two – Add the chicken broth, Stir. WAIT TO ADD THE CREAM. Cook on LOW for 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time, for that will let out heat and slow the cooking process.

corn chowder after cooking with cream and bacon added

Step Three – After the cooking time is done, add the heavy cream and cook for 30 more minutes on LOW.

Step Four – Serve with the remaining bacon, you can put it on top of each bowl or stir into the finished soup.

done cooking corn chowder in slow cooker

Variations

  • Less Spicy – Instead of adding hot chile peppers, use 1 sweet red bell pepper.
  • Creamed Corn – Use one can of creamed corn in place of the whole kernel corn for a big punch of corn flavor.
  • Mexican Style – Add a can of black beans and a can of rotel tomoates for Mexican corn chowder.
2 bowls of corn chowder in front of crockpot

How to serve

  • Serve with saltine crackers.
  • Top with cheese and freshly ground black pepper
  • Cornbread is a wonderful side for chowder.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use milk or half and half instead of heavy cream?

You can but will have a thinner soup. We prefer a heavy cream so the soup has some texture.

What can I use instead of bacon for flavor?

To flavor your soup, you can use diced ham, cooked turkey bacon, or cooked and crumbled sausage (such as Jimmy Dean).

Can I make chicken corn chowder?

Yes, add just one pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts to this recipe at the beginning of cooking. Shred right before serving.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

Place in freezer containers or freezer ziplock bags and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge for about 24 hours before needing it. Warm in the microwave or stovetop.

Can I use fresh corn?

Yes! You can use 3 cups of freshly cut corn instead of canned to make your corn chowder.

How can I make my chowder thicker?

Add two tablespoons of cold water with two tablespoons of cornstarch. Stir into the finished soup and let cook for an additional 15 minutes.

close up of a bowl of corn chowder

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done cooking corn chowder in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 8
You will love this dump and go recipe for Slow Cooker Corn Chowder. Such great flavors and the leftovers are even better.

Ingredients 
 

  • 32 oz. vegetable broth, or chicken broth
  • 30 oz. fire-roasted corn, drained
  • 4 cups diced and peeled russet potatoes, (about 1 pound)
  • 1/2 cup diced white onion
  • 2 shallots, sliced
  • 1-2 cayenne chiles , sliced (can use a 1/4 cup poblano pepper or a red bell pepper instead)
  • 16 oz. bacon, sliced, cooked and drained – DIVIDED
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika

WAIT TO ADD

  • 1 cup cream, ADD AT THE END

Instructions 

  • Add the vegetable broth, vegetables, seasonings, and HALF of the bacon to the slow cooker. WAIT TO ADD THE CREAM
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 7 hours.
  • When the cooking time is done, stir in the cream. Cook for an additional 30 minutes to heat through.
  • Serve with the remaining bacon, you can stir it in, or serve on top of each bowl.

Sarah’s Notes

Can I use milk or half & half instead of heavy cream?
You can but will have a thinner soup. We prefer a heavy cream so the soup has some texture.
What can I use instead of bacon?
  • Ham
  • Turkey bacon
  • Ground sausage
Can I freeze the leftovers?
  • Yes, place in freezer containers or in freezer ziplock bags.
  • Freeze for up to three months.
  • Thaw in the fridge for about 24 hours before needing it.
  • Warm in the microwave or stovetop.
How can I make my chowder thicker?
Add two tablespoons of cold water with two tablespoons of cornstarch. Stir into the finished soup and let cook for an additional 15 minutes.
Can I use fresh corn?
Yes! You can use 3 cups of freshly cut corn instead of canned to make your corn chowder.

Nutrition

Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1138mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1096IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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49 Comments

  1. Bev says:

    Can I leave out the shallots?
    And use plain canned corn?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, you can do both!

  2. Day says:

    I noticed this recipe has changed. Do you have a link or access to the old recipe?

  3. Sherry says:

    5 stars
    I made this using fire roasted corn and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipes with us. I have made several from your site over the years and know they will always turn out great!

  4. Cheryl D Parker says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I did add sliced fresh mushrooms. Campbells soup used to make a wonderful Mushroom Chicken Chowder that I couldn’t get enough of and why it was discontinued I will never know but this recipe is so close to it that my heart and stomach is happy again!

  5. Jamie says:

    5 stars
    My favorite soup recipe ever! This is so delicious. I make it all the time. I recently had 10 family members staying with me for the weekend and made a batch of this to serve with sandwiches at lunch and everyone died over this soup. Perfect combination of flavors and creaminess. One question – is a serving size 2 cups? Thank you! I am going to check out your other soup recipes.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Hi! I’m unsure how much a serving size is. I usually guestimate how many it serves after I feed my family.

  6. Judy says:

    Can frozen potatoes be used in this receipe?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I think they should do fine.

  7. Erin says:

    I was thinking of using using sliced sausage. Do you think I should cook it beforehand like you did the bacon?

  8. Scott says:

    Could I leave the cream out?

  9. Chloe says:

    Would red or russet potatoes be okay to use instead of the yukon gold?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, russet will work great.

    2. renee says:

      I am using Red today and will let you know how it turns out

  10. Maureen Wilkins says:

    can you use chicken instead of bacon? or will it change the taste?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      It will be different for sure, you can do it though!