Description
Homemade creamy corn chowder with crispy bacon brings warmth to classic comfort cuisine. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering soul-satisfying flavors you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices bacon (chopped)
- 3 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
- 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 medium potatoes (peeled & diced)
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour (for thickening, optional)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional, for depth of flavor)
- ½ tsp dried thyme or 1 tsp fresh thyme
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 green onions (chopped)
- Extra crispy bacon pieces
- Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Render bacon in a spacious pot over medium heat until golden-brown and crispy, developing a rich, smoky essence. Transfer crisp pieces onto paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon of rendered fat.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté diced onions in bacon fat until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook briefly to unlock its pungent flavor without burning.
- Vegetable Integration: Introduce diced potatoes and kernel corn to the pot, stirring to coat with the flavorful base and ensure even cooking.
- Liquid Foundation: Pour chicken broth into the pot, allowing vegetables to simmer until potatoes become fork-tender and ingredients meld together harmoniously.
- Creamy Transformation: Gently stir heavy cream into the mixture, creating a luxuriously smooth consistency and enriching the chowder’s depth.
- Seasoning and Finishing: Enhance with salt, pepper, and optional herbs like thyme or chives. Ladle into serving bowls, topping with reserved crispy bacon pieces for a delightful textural contrast.
Notes
- Bacon Brilliance: Render bacon slowly to extract maximum flavor, ensuring crispy texture without burning. Pat bacon with paper towels to remove excess grease for a lighter dish.
- Potato Perfection: Cut potatoes into uniform, small cubes to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the chowder.
- Cream Control: Add heavy cream at the end and avoid boiling to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, silky consistency.
- Flavor Boosting: Experiment with smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne for added depth, or swap chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg