New England Clam Chowder 🥣🦪 Creamy, Briny, and Loaded With Tender Clams and Potatoes

New England Clam Chowder is a hearty, creamy seafood soup that delivers rich depth from the sea with smoky bacon, soft Yukon golds, sweet onion, and a velvety milk-and-cream base.

It’s classic cold-weather comfort with real flavor — not gluey, not bland, just warm, briny satisfaction.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

• 4 oz bacon, chopped
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups bottled clam juice
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, diced
• 2 (6.5 oz) cans chopped clams, drained and juice reserved
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: fresh thyme, bay leaf, chopped parsley

Instructions

Cook the Bacon

In a Dutch oven or large pot, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving about 1 tbsp fat in the pan.

Sauté the Aromatics

Add butter, onion, celery, and garlic to the bacon fat. Sauté 4–5 minutes until softened but not browned.

Build the Base

Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Cook 1 minute to eliminate raw flour taste. Gradually pour in clam juice (including reserved liquid from canned clams), stirring to smooth out the roux.

Simmer the Potatoes

Add diced potatoes and optional bay leaf or thyme. Simmer 10–15 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender.

Finish Creamy

Lower heat. Stir in milk, cream, clams, and cooked bacon. Simmer gently for 5 minutes — do not boil. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Serve Hot

Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley, extra bacon, or oyster crackers.

Flavor Variations

• Add corn kernels or diced carrots for sweetness
• Use fresh clams (steamed and chopped) for next-level depth
• Stir in a splash of dry white wine before adding broth for complexity
• Finish with a pat of butter or drizzle of olive oil for richness

Serving Ideas

• With oyster crackers or buttered sourdough toast
• In a bread bowl for classic presentation
• As part of a seafood supper with shrimp cocktail and slaw
• Alongside a crisp green salad with lemon vinaigrette

Pro Tips

• Don’t boil after adding dairy — keep it gentle to avoid curdling
• Yukon golds hold their shape and texture — skip russets
• Canned clams are quick and reliable, but fresh elevates
• Chowder tastes even better the next day — store and reheat gently

Final Thoughts

New England Clam Chowder is the soup that warms you from the inside out — savory, briny, and thick without heaviness. It’s the kind of coastal comfort that feels classic for a reason, with every spoonful balanced between the sea and the cream.

Simmer slow. Stir creamy. Scoop deep. 🥣🦪🌊

🦐 Explore More Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
🧀 Comforting Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, cheesy bakes with crab, shrimp, or scallops.
🥣 Warm and Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick and delicious mains like garlic butter tilapia.
🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light yet flavorful options like grilled mahi mahi with salsa.
🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy rice dishes with seared scallops and fresh veg.
🌊 Seafood Stews – Hearty, rustic stews from the Mediterranean and beyond.