Looking for Something?

The Recipe Bandit

  • Home
  • Meal Ideas
  • Appetizers and Sides
  • Sweet & Snacky
  • Pickling & Preserving
  • Marinades & Seasonings
  • Dips, Sauces and Dressings
  • Don’t Eat Me
Home » Meal Ideas » New England Clam Chowder

New England Clam Chowder

Meal Ideas

12 Oct

Ready in about 30 minutes, This New England clam chowder is thick and hearty with potatoes, bacon and chopped clams in every bite.

The transition to fall brings cooler temperatures, changing leaves and a longing for everything warm and cozy. Rich and satisfying New England Clam Chowder is delicious and easy dinner idea that is the perfect answer to that unmistakable chill in the air.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Ingredients for New England Clam Chowder on a board.

About the Ingredients

  • Bacon – Two pieces of side bacon are used to make this soup. We like to cook some extra bacon slices in the air fryer or in the oven to serve on top.
  • Onion – Medium sized, finely chopped, Yellow or white onions are the best choice.
  • Garlic – 2-3 medium sized cloves, minced. About 2 teaspoons.
  • Thyme Leaves – Dried thyme leaves are a shelf stable, convenient ingredient in this soup. If you have fresh snipped thyme leaves, use 2 teaspoons in place of the dried.
  • Potatoes – Medium sized Yukon Gold potatoes, red potatoes, Idaho or russet potatoes.
  • White Wine – Chicken broth is a great substitute if you prefer not to use wine.
  • Chopped Clams – This is the most budget friendly option. Baby clams may be used instead.
  • Instant potatoes – Half a cup of dried instant potatoes is two ounces (half a standard package)
  • Heavy Cream – Heavy cream is great but if you don’t have it use half & half or evaporated milk.
Finished picture of New England Clam Chowder.

How to make New England Clam Chowder

New England Clam Chowder is thick and filling and everything you need to get your cozy on. This is a one pot recipe that is ready in about 30 minutes. A rich and satisfying, delicious and easy dinner idea that is the perfect answer to that unmistakable chill in the air.

Close up of fried bacon, onionsm garlic and thyme at the bottom of a dutch oven as the base for New England Clam Chowder.

Heat a dutch oven or other large heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. The small amount of bacon grease gives a flavorful base for the soup without it being greasy.

Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Then add the minced garlic and thyme leaves and stir until combined.

Process shot of New England Clam Chowder in a dutch oven prior to cooking the potatoes.

Add the potatoes, wine, bay leaves and reserved juice from the chopped clams to the pot. Stir until combined.

Simmering New England Clam Chowder in a pot.

Increase heat to medium-high and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.

The potatoes will soften up while the flavor of all of the ingredients is infused into them.

Pouring clam juice into instant potatoes to be used as a thickener for New England Clam Chowder.

In a separate bowl, whisk together instant potatoes, cornstarch and bottled clam juice until thickened.

Picture of instant potatoes being added to New England Clam Chowder base in a dutch oven.

Add instant potato mixture into the soup pot and stir until incorporated. Remove and discard bay leaves.

Picture of heavy cream and clams being added to mixture in the dutch oven.

Add half and half, parsley, and chopped clams to pot and stir.

Picture of almost finished New England Clam Chowder with a spoon in the pot.

Cook until heated through. Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Picture of finished New England Clam Chowder on a serving tray, garnished with bacon with bread alongside the bowl.

Other Comfort Food Recipes You Might Like

Simple Weeknight Meatloaf – Hearty and satisfying comfort food made with simple spices.

Throwback Scalloped Potatoes – My Mom’s recipe from my childhood, complete with Cream of Mushroom soup.

Pulled Pork Mexican Mac & Cheese – Use up leftover pulled pork in a super easy and delicious comfort food meal that everyone loves.

Spinach and Sausage Spaghetti Pie – an easy weeknight meal featuring spaghetti, fresh spinach, Italian sausage and Roma tomatoes tossed with shredded mozzarella and then baked.

Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew – beef, tender potatoes, and all of your favorite vegetables slow simmered in a delicious beef gravy.

New England Clam Chowder

Ready in about 30 minutes, This New England clam chowder is thick and hearty with potatoes, bacon and chopped clams in every bite.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 372kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bacon cut into half inch pieces
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
  • 3 medium potatoes peeled, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 (6.5 oz) cans chopped clams drained, juice reserved
  • 1/2 cup dry instant potatoes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 (8 oz) bottle clam juice
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream or half & half
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Heat a dutch oven or other large heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Add minced garlic and thyme leaves and stir until combined.
  • To the pot add the potatoes, wine, bay leaves and reserved juice from the chopped clams. Stir until combined.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together instant potatoes, cornstarch and bottled clam juice until thickened.
  • Add instant potato mixture into the soup pot and stir until incorporated. Remove and discard bay leaves.
  • Add half and half, parsley, and chopped clams to pot and stir. Cook until heated through.
  • Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition *

Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 874mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 678IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Have you tried this recipe? Post a pic and mention @TheRecipeBandit or tag #therecipebandit!


  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « Bite Sized Sausage Rolls
Next Post: Caramel Filled Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Looking For Something?

Popular Posts

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Dip

Teriyaki Sweet Hot Beef Jerky

Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky

Oktoberfest Pie

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats

3 Ingredient Butterscotch Fudge

Keto Cheese Crisps

Parmesan Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Air Fryer)

Cheddar Cheese Sauce for Veggies

Best Chicken Salad Ever

About Me

  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

Connect With Us on Social Media

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Twitter
YouTube
  • About Me – The Recipe Bandit
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Looking For Something?

Copyright © 2025 · The Recipe Bandit · Delicious Recipes Using Everyday Ingredients

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are ok with it.