Creamy New England Clam Chowder
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My New England Clam Chowder is the perfect hearty soup to warm you right up. Filled with chunks of potatoes, a variety of vegetables, and soft clams, this homemade clam chowder is so comforting and delicious.
New England Clam Chowder
Clam chowder is one of my favorite soup recipes. It’s rich, savory, and makes a satisfying easy dinner on a chilly night.
This easy clam chowder recipe is so simple — you’ll only need 15 minutes of prep time, and it’s ready to serve in just 40 minutes total!
If you love homemade chowder, try this Chicken Corn Chowder or this Cheesy Bacon Chowder next.
Or, for more hearty soup recipes, try my 15 Bean Soup with Ham or my copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Clams – Use canned clams and make sure to save the juice!
I love making this clam chowder soup recipe with minced clams, but if you prefer bigger clam pieces, go for chopped clams instead. - Half & Half – If you don’t have half & half on hand, you can substitute with milk and cream. Use equal parts of both liquids to equal 1 quart.
- Potatoes – There’s debate over the best potatoes for New England clam chowder, but any potato of your choice will work fine.
Waxy potatoes hold their shape well, but russet potatoes are also great for thick soups because of how starchy they are. - Vegetables – I use celery and a yellow onion, both finely chopped, as well as leeks, sliced into half moons.
- Flour & Butter – You’ll combine these to make a roux, which will thicken the soup as it cooks.
- Salt and Pepper – Simple seasonings will bring out the flavor in this easy clam chowder recipe. Omit the additional salt if using salted butter.
- White Sugar – This ingredient is optional but can be added to give the chowder just a little bit of sweetness.
How to Make Easy Clam Chowder From Scratch
- Cook vegetables. In a Dutch oven, cover the vegetables in the clam juice and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender. - Create cream mixture. In a separate large saucepan, gradually whisk flour into melted butter to create a roux.
Add the half & half to the roux and cook until the mixture thickens. - Combine cream mixture and vegetables. Add the thickened cream mixture to the vegetables once they have softened.
- Add clams and seasoning. Add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. You’ll add your clams last, stirring until heated through.
- Serve hot and enjoy. Use a ladle to scoop a heaping serving of homemade clam chowder into a regular bowl or bread bowl.
Serving Suggestions
This easy clam chowder is delicious on its own but can also be enjoyed with additional toppings and sides to make the meal more complete.
Try topping it with oyster crackers, bacon crumbles, or parsley.
Or, pair your New England Clam Chowder with a side of no-yeast bread or my copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls.
Clam Chowder Soup Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Cut potatoes evenly – Be sure to dice your potatoes to a consistent size so that they cook fully and evenly.
- Add flour gradually. Adding the flour gradually as you create a roux is the key to preventing clumps and getting a smooth consistency.
- Add clams last. Wait until the very end to add the clams — they will get rubbery if added too soon.
Storing and Reheating Homemade Clam Chowder
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To reheat, place back on the stove and heat on low.
Since this easy clam chowder contains dairy, you’ll need to stir it frequently as you reheat so that the texture doesn’t become gritty.
Easy Clam Chowder Recipe FAQ
Dairy is the key ingredient in the New England version of clam chowder, making it thick and creamy.
Other clam chowders — such as Manhattan clam chowder — leave the dairy out, resulting in a more brothy base.
I don’t recommend it. Dairy-based soups often change in texture when frozen and reheated, and the potatoes in this chowder can get mushy as they defrost.
This clam chowder soup recipe is best served day-of, or consumed within a few days.
You can control the consistency as you cook, or adjust it afterwards.
For thinner chowder, add the half & half mixture to the cooked vegetables before it starts to bubble and thicken.
If you prefer thicker chowder, let the mixture bubble slightly and keep cooking it until it has thickened.
Want to thin chowder that turned out too thick? Just add a little bit more half & half, then stir until you reach your desired consistency.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Creamy New England Clam Chowder
Ingredients
- 2 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 cup leeks, sliced into half moons
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 quart half & half, *See Notes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white sugar, optional
- 1 dash black pepper, more/less to taste
- 13 ounces minced clams, in clam juice *See Notes
Instructions
- To a large soup pot or Dutch oven, add the potatoes, onion, leeks, and celery. Pour the juice from the clams over the vegetables. Add water until the vegetables are completely covered; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
- While the vegetables are cooking, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Using a whisk, gradually blend the flour with the butter to make a roux. Gradually, about ¼ cup at a time, whisk in half & half. Let the mixture come to a slight bubble and continue cooking until it becomes thick and creamy (it will be quite thick).
- When the vegetables are tender, add the thickened cream mixture to the large pot with the vegetables; stir to combine. Add the sea salt, sugar, and pepper; stir again to combine. Add the clams and stir well. Continue cooking until clams are heated through.
- Serve hot with your choice of toppings.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published December 2022,updayed and republished January 2024
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I always have a hard time making clam chowder, but this recipe made it so easy