The BEST New England Clam Chowder Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

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New England Clam Chowder Recipeis one of those dishes that has you dreaming of watching the ocean waves crash upon the rocks with the salty breeze blowing back your hair.Fresh clams, potatoes, cream, and a little butter add up to one of the most famous soups in the world. I love chowders, add a little seafood, and you’ve got heaven in a bowl.

If you’re looking for more yummy soup and chowder recipes, Smoked Salmon Chowder and To-Die-For Hungarian Mushroom Soup will help you on your culinary journey.

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There’s something magical about finding a seafood restaurant that sells authentic clam chowder. Add some oyster crackers to the top, and you’re diving into a bowl of something divine.

This recipe for New England clam chowder with fresh clams is so easy to make. Make a side salad with this recipe, and you have a complete meal that everyone will love.

Most people don’t know how easy it is to make seafood stews at home. Now, I would prefer to take a trip to coastal New England, but that is only sometimes possible.

One year my parents took our family on vacation to Vermont to see our aunt, uncle, and cousins. Since we were in the area, we took a day trip to Maine.

I was young, but I remember being in awe of everything about the state. While at the beach, I found several starfish that had washed ashore.

Those starfish were promptly hidden in the beach bag because I knew my mom wouldn’t let me take them with me. When I got into my aunt’s car to go back to her house, I stored them under the front seat for safekeeping.

I think at this point you can figure out I wasn’t an easy kid to raise. The next day my aunt’s car smelled something awful, and my relatives got a story to talk about for the rest of my life.

I surmised from the event that even at a very young age, I instinctively wanted to take a little piece of Maine back home with me. Those starfish were my tokens of the East Coast.

Now that I’m older and wiser, I’ve realized that a yummy hot bowl of clam chowder does the same trick as those starfish. “Maine in a bread bowl” is what I like to call this delicious New England clam chowder recipe.

New England clam chowder is a creamy soup that is beloved by many. Made with canned clams, clam broth, and other ingredients like potatoes and onions, this chowder has a rich and savory flavor that is hard to resist.

The use of minced clams and clam broth is key to making authentic New England Clam Chowder, as it brings out the unique taste of the sea. This classic dish is a staple in the Northeast region of the United States and is enjoyed by seafood lovers all over the world.

Recipe for New England Clam Chowder Trivia

Did you know that the Union Oyster House in Boston is the longest continuously running restaurant in the United States? They’ve been open since 1836, and New England clam chowder recipe has been on the menu since the beginning.

The first mention of creamy clam chowder was from the west coast of France.

I found this recipe for New England Clam Chowder in a vintage cookbook called Cooking for Comfort. You can find a copy of it here on Amazon.

What’s the difference between Boston Clam Chowder and New England Clam Chowder?

There’s no difference. Boston Clam Chowder and New England Clam Chowder are the same thing.

What is New England Clam Chowder?

The New England clam chowder recipe has heavy cream broth. Manhattan clam chowder in the one with the red tomato broth.

Creating a Cozy Life Group:

Since you clicked on this New England Clam Chowder recipe, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook groupcalledCreating a Cozy Lifewith over 116,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

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Here’s the New England Style Clam Chowder Recipe

Simple Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped finely

3 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups bottled clam juice

2 medium-sized new potatoes, cleaned and diced

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon flour

1 1/2 pints shucked clams, chop the tender clams into bite-sized pieces

Chopped Italian parsley for garnish

Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

Directions for Making Creamy Clam Chowder

1) Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or large pot. Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.

2) Add the clam juice, diced potatoes, bay leaf and thyme to the onions. Bring the mixture to a boil.

3) Simmer 10-15 minutes the mixture until the potatoes are tender.

4) Add the cream and bring mixture to a simmer.

5) In a separate bowl, mix a little of the milk into the flour until you have a paste. Add in the remaining milk and stir.

6) Add flour and milk mixture to the soup and stir.

7) Reduce the heat as low as possible. Add the chopped clams for a few minutes on low heat, until the fresh clam meat is cooked.

8) Discard the bay leaf.

9) Season the creamy soup with salt and black pepper.

10) Garnish the New England Clam Chowder recipe with chopped fresh parsley.

This will be one of the best bowls of clam chowder you’ll have. The whole family will love it!

The BEST New England Clam Chowder Recipe | Montana Happy (3)

Tips for making New England Clam Chowder recipe

  • Don’t discard using the flour. If you do, the soup will curdle.
  • Oyster crackers or saltines are usually served with the creamy New England clam chowder recipe.
  • If you’re looking for creative ways to top your soups, check out this post Best Soup Topping Ideas to wow your guests. You can top this clam chowder recipe with chopped parsley, hot sauce, chopped red bell peppers, chives, or chili oil.
  • You can substitute new potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes, red potatoes, or russet potatoes.
  • Canned clams can be used in this delicious chowder. Small cans of clams can be found the canned good aisle of the grocery store. Just make sure you drain the clam meat before using.
  • You can add crispy bacon or salt pork to the recipe. Add the cooked bacon or salt pork at the end of the recipe for best results.
  • The amount of clams used isn’t set in stone, if you want more feel free to add some!
  • For more flavor, add a Worcestershire sauce or a little white wine to taste.
  • You can serve this New England Clam Chowder recipe in a large bowl, individual bread bowls, or individual soup bowls.
  • If you want to thin out this clam chowder, you can add chicken broth to the chowder.
  • You can also add minced garlic to the onions for more flavor.

Can New England Clam Chowder Recipe be frozen?

You can freeze this New England clam chowder soup recipe, but it won’t taste the same after you reheat it. Freezing food with dairy changes the structure of the recipe. I would advise you not to.

Making this New England clam chowder recipe is way easier than you thought, right? Sometimes we believe something that tastes good is difficult to recreate. This creamy chowder is simple to cook.

We’ve reached the end of this yummy New England Clam Chowder recipe. I hope you enjoyed it.

Let me know in the comments below how you liked this Best Clam Chowder Recipe.

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is.

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Printable Recipe Card for New England Clam Chowder with Nutrition Facts

The BEST New England Clam Chowder Recipe | Montana Happy (4)

Yield: 8 cups

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Authentic New England Clam Chowder is one of those recipes that has you dreaming of watching the ocean waves crash upon the rocks with the salty breeze blowing back your hair. You may not be able to get to the ocean anytime soon, but you can bring a little taste of it to your home with this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, chopped finely
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 cups clam juice
  • 2 medium-sized new potatoes, cleaned and diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 1/2 pints shucked clams, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste
  • Chopped Italian parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until translucent.
  2. Add the clam juice, diced potatoes, bay leaf and thyme to the onions. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Simmer 10-15 minutes the mixture until the potatoes are tender.
  4. Add the cream and bring mixture to a simmer.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix a little of the milk into the flour until you have a paste. Add in the remaining milk and stir.
  6. Add flour and milk mixture to the soup and stir.
  7. Reduce the heat as low as possible. Add the clams for a few minutes, until they are cooked.
  8. Discard the bay leaf.
  9. Season with salt and pepper.
  10. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 569Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 184mgSodium 1673mgCarbohydrates 25gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 34g

The BEST New England Clam Chowder Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

Who makes the best clam chowder? ›

I Tried 6 Store-Bought Clam Chowders & the Winner Was Creamy and Clammy in the Best Way
  • Kroger New England Style Clam Chowder.
  • Great Value Clam Chowder Soup.
  • Bar Harbor New England Style Clam Chowder Condensed.
  • Campbell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder.
  • Progresso New England Clam Chowder.
Feb 21, 2024

What makes clam chowder taste better? ›

The shortcut to making anything taste good is sizzling some onions and garlic in oil, and canned clam chowder is no exception. Sauteed alliums (onions, garlic, and other related vegetables) will add complexity, savoriness, and sweetness to your canned soup, lending it just a touch of homemade flavor.

How do you thicken New England clam chowder? ›

This clam chowder recipe should produce perfectly rich soup. If you'd like your chowder a little thicker, though, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Simply stir cornstarch into a small amount of cold water (or another liquid, such as wine or stock), then stir the mixture into the simmering chowder.

What makes New England clam chowder special? ›

Also referred to as “Boston-style” clam chowder, New England chowder is milk or cream-based, making it significantly thicker than other regional styles. It's often made with milk, butter, potatoes, pork, onion, and clams and accompanied by oyster crackers.

What is the most famous clam chowder? ›

New England clam chowder is perhaps the most popular and well-known iteration of the dish. It's a classic combination of clams, onions, corn, celery, bacon or salt pork, and potatoes.

What state makes the best New England clam chowder? ›

Maine and Massachusetts may be the two states most associated with the cream-based clam chowder. In fact, it is known as one of Maine's most iconic dishes and is considered a classic in Boston's historic neighborhoods.

What is a good thickener for clam chowder? ›

Starches can help thicken clam chowder

The most common way to add cornstarch is to first mix it with cream and then slowly pour the mixture into the soup while stirring. Flour, on the other hand, is first made into a roux by mixing it with a fat such as oil, butter, or bacon grease.

What does clam chowder do to your body? ›

These recipes have protein that help in repairing the body cells and helps children to grow well among their peers. It also assists the body in producing new body cells when it is needed. It is a great find for kids, teenagers and pregnant women. With a 100g of clam you can get as high as 12.8g of protein.

How unhealthy is New England clam chowder? ›

And Walsh agrees, “Clam chowder is one of the worst soups a person can eat. It's high in fat, calories and sodium.” There is 180 calories in a cup of clam chowder. The macronutrient breakdown in a cup of clam chowder is 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

How to make can clam chowder better? ›

directions
  1. Pour soup into 2 quart sauce pan.
  2. Add chopped clams and 2 tablespoons of juice from clams.
  3. Add thyme, salt and pepper.
  4. Stir all together and heat over medium heat until bubbly then let simmer on low for 20 minutes.
  5. Place in individual bowls and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and serve.

Can you use the juice from canned clams? ›

If the clams are big, chop 'em up, small, leave them alone saute with garlic to taste, cayenne, if you like. Add the juice from the can to make the sauce, you can cook it down, or thicken it with corn starch. If the juice is salty, put it in a little at a time, and taste itso your sauce is not too salty.

What can I substitute for heavy cream in clam chowder? ›

The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes
  1. Half-and-Half and Butter. A combination of half-and-half and butter makes the best all-around heavy cream substitute. ...
  2. Milk and Butter. ...
  3. Evaporated Milk. ...
  4. Coconut Cream. ...
  5. Cream Cheese. ...
  6. Greek Yogurt and Milk. ...
  7. Soy Milk and Olive Oil.
Mar 30, 2022

Why does my clam chowder taste bland? ›

Troubleshooting Your Clam Chowder

If the flavor is disappointing, there is not enough of the main ingredients or too much liquid was used. If the soup is bland, too much cream may have been added masking the flavor of the clams.

What is the original clam chowder? ›

New England clam chowder. Clams, potatoes, salt pork, and onions. Cream or tomatoes may be added. The dish originated in the Northeastern United States, but is now commonly served in restaurants throughout the country.

What ingredient does chowder always have? ›

Customarily, chowder included onion, potatoes, and cream. Nowadays, not all chowders adhere to these guidelines.

Where is the best clam chowder in the US? ›

Food Travel: Best Clam Chowder Cities in the U.S.
  • Boston, Massachusetts. We'd be remiss if we didn't say it: Boston is one place that puts its beloved “CHOWDA!” on the map for many Americans, and for a good reason. ...
  • New York City, New York. ...
  • Seattle, Washington. ...
  • Santa Cruz, California.

What is the difference between Boston clam chowder and New England clam chowder? ›

New England clam chowder, occasionally referred to as Boston or Boston-style clam chowder, is a milk- or cream-based chowder, and is often of a thicker consistency than other regional styles.

Which is healthier Manhattan or New England clam chowder? ›

Manhattan Clam Chowder is lower in calories and fat. It is more nutritious thanks to its vitamin-rich tomato-based broth and abundance of veggies. New England clam chowder is higher in calories and fat because of its heavy cream-based broth.

What's the difference between New England clam chowder and Rhode Island clam chowder? ›

Rhode Island clam chowder is lacking two of the most distinct features of both New England and Manhattan varieties: the cream and the tomatoes. Sporting a clear broth and packed with vegetables, the soup exists as a lighter variant, overshadowed by its more popular relatives.

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