Description
Hearty slow cooker corn chowder brings midwestern comfort to your kitchen with creamy richness and sweet corn kernels. Potato and bacon bits mingle in this soul-warming soup, promising delicious spoonfuls that welcome you home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (946 ml) sweet corn kernels
- 4 medium potatoes
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 carrots
- 1 medium onion
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 bay leaf
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (237 ml) cream or half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Optional Garnishes:
- Chopped crispy bacon or smoked ham
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped chives
Instructions
- Meticulously prepare vegetables by finely chopping onions, dicing carrots and celery into uniform pieces, mincing garlic, and peeling potatoes into bite-sized cubes. For fresh corn, remove kernels from cob with precision.
- Transfer all prepared vegetables into slow cooker, layering corn kernels, chopped onions, diced carrots, minced garlic, and potato cubes. Pour in of vegetable or chicken broth, introducing dried thyme and bay leaf for aromatic depth. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to personal taste preference.
- Thoroughly distribute ingredients within slow cooker, ensuring even mixture. Secure lid tightly and select cooking mode: low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours until potatoes reach tender consistency.
- Once cooking completes, extract bay leaf carefully. Utilize immersion blender to partially puree chowder, maintaining some textural chunks. Incorporate unsalted butter and heavy cream, stirring gently to create luxurious consistency.
- Taste and readjust seasoning if necessary. Ladle chowder into warm bowls, garnishing with crispy bacon bits, crumbled smoked ham, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and freshly chopped chives for enhanced visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Avoid soggy vegetables by chopping them into uniform, bite-sized pieces for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the chowder.
- Transform this comforting dish into a complete meal by adding cooked shredded chicken or diced ham for extra protein and heartiness.
- Keep leftover chowder fresh by storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, gently reheating on the stovetop to maintain creamy consistency.
- Customize the soup’s thickness by adjusting the blending technique – blend more for a smoother texture or less for a chunkier, rustic feel.
- Elevate the flavor profile by experimenting with different herbs like rosemary or replacing thyme with fresh parsley for a bright, fresh twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking, Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 30mg