Seafood Chowder

A hearty, succulent Seafood Chowder recipe that warms the soul. Made in just one pot, the potatoes and onions are filling while the mix of fresh shrimp, mussels, corn, and a touch of cream make this soup beyond satisfying. Includes step by step instructions and variation ideas.

I am sharing my secret weapon seafood chowder recipe today! Not only is this comforting, creamy soup scrumptious, it’s also stunningly beautiful. It adds that vibe of cozy elegance like no other and it cooks pretty fast to make it a great weeknight meal.

I am not sure where the tradition started but many of my friends talk about having seafood on Christmas Eve. I am a sucker for traditions. When I heard of this, I started to make this Seafood Chowder every year on Christmas Eve, which has led to some good ideas on variations and a way to use up seafood leftovers.

However, it is also one of my go-tos for guests who love seafood because it’s much easier to make and uses less expensive seafood to stretch the dollar.

Ingredients and Notes

Below is an overview of what you will need to make this recipe. There are also some notes on substitutions if you need them.

Shrimp: Deveined and tails removed.

Mussels or Clams: You can use fresh or frozen mussels. For frozen, I usually cook them as directed and toss any sauce they came with. Clams are also a great addition that I sometimes use if they are in season. Clean and debeard them before tossing in the soup. The shells are what make this soup beautiful to serve, but you can remove the shells after cooking to make eating easier.

Bacon: This gives a nice smokey undertone while being a good substitution for any butter or oil.

Clam Juice: I usually find this in the soup section, but sometimes it’s near the canned meat like tuna. I would highly recommend using clam juice, but if you absolutely can’t find it you can use shrimp or seafood stock which will give a different flavor.

Veggies: The potatoes, corn, and onion provide a flavorful base while being filling and satisfying.

White wine: Any cooking or dry table wine you like works well. I try to use something that isn’t too fruity.

Fresh Parsley (Optional): This is just a garnish that make the soup even prettier to serve.

How To Make a Great Seafood Chowder

A chowder is a type of soup that usually (not always) has a creamy base and chunky texture. A few of the more well-known versions include clam chowder, corn chowder, and this seafood chowder.

This chowder is extremely easy to build. I have included the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here is a visual guide to how it comes together quickly!

1. Sauté the bacon until crispy.
2. Cook the onions in the bacon drippings.
3. Add veggies, broth and wine and cook until tender.
4. Stir in the seafood and simmer a few minutes until the mussels open.
5. Season to taste and enjoy!

Ways to Make It Your Own

You might want to change up some of the seafood options in this chowder, and that’s perfectly ok. I change it up often as well depending on what’s available at the supermarket and sometimes just out of desire to do something a little different.

• Clams instead of mussels
• Add chopped spinach in the very end to wilt.
• Chopped fish such as cod, red snapper, or haddock
• Fresh lump crab meat
• Diced Carrots or Celery
• Lobster

Recipe Tips

• The chowder recipe is very chunky and full of texture. If you like your chowder a little creamier in texture, you can cut your vegetables smaller.
• The shells make it more elegant, but they can be a pain for guests to remove after serving, so sometimes I remove them after cooking.
• If fresh mussels aren’t available, you can use frozen ones like these. I heat them in the microwave and discard the sauce if there is any.

Storage Suggestions

Store: Store the soup in a well-sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator. Lasts 3-4 days.

Freeze: As with most soups with dairy in it, I do not freeze this soup.

Make Ahead: This soup is wonderful for meal prep or leftovers. The dairy sometimes separates a little as it cools. Stir well as you heat it up over the stove or in the microwave.

More Creamy Soup Recipes You’ll Love

• Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
• French Onion Soup
• Creamy Sausage and Kale Soup
• Broccoli Cheese Soup with Real Cheese

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PS. If you make this recipe, leave a COMMENT AND A STAR RATING in the comments section at the bottom and be sure to take a photo and tag it #cravingcreative on Instagram! I appreciate you for taking the time to read about me and my family recipes. 

Seafood Chowder Recipe

This Seafood Chowder recipe is made in just one pot with a mix of fresh shrimp, mussels, corn, and a touch of cream that is beyond hearty and succulent.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chowder, shrimp, soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 8 cups

Calories: 330kcal

Author: Rachel

Ingredients

• ▢ 4 strips Bacon chopped
• ▢ ½ Cup Yellow Onion diced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
• ▢ 1 tablespoon All Purpose Flour
• ▢ ⅓ cup Dry White Wine
• ▢ 24 oz Clam Juice usually 3 bottles
• ▢ 1 ½ cup Potatoes peeled and diced
• ▢ 1 lb Large Shrimp peeled and deveined
• ▢ 2 cups Frozen Corn
• ▢ 15 Mussels Fresh or Frozen* see note
• ▢ ½ cup Heavy Cream
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Thyme dried
• ▢ ½ cup Fresh Parsley Garnish, optional

Instructions

• Over medium heat, sauté bacon in a large pot until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate but leave the dripping in the pot.
• In the same pot, add the butter and diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add wine and boil for 1 more minute.
• Stir in clam juice, corn, and potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer mixture until potatoes are tender. Around 8-10 minutes, depending on thickness of the potatoes.
• Add the shrimp and mussels. Cook about 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and mussels open.
• Add cream and thyme to soup and heat through. Discard any mussels that don't open. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.
• Garnish with crispy bacon pieces from the towel lined plate.

Notes

Notes on Mussels

For Fresh: They are usually packaged in mesh at the seafood counter and still alive. They should smell salty like the ocean. Check the freshness tag. If the shells are slightly agape, try tapping on them. If they close relatively quickly, it’s fine. 

For Frozen: You can use frozen mussels like these. I heat them in the microwave and discard the sauce if there is any before adding to the soup.

Can’t Find Mussels? Use fresh clams. Or substitute another seafood like crab, cod, snapper, or lobster. Be mindful of the cooking times as they may change.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.3g | Protein: 40.9g | Fat: 9.2g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 972mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 3.7g | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 4.3mg

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