Creamy, cozy, and surprisingly light-this corn chowder is a balance of comfort and fresh flavor. It's simple enough for a quick weeknight dinner but still feels special enough for hosting a dinner party. Consider serving it with my go-to mixed greens salad - simple, cozy, and always a crowd favorite. Oh, and included is a Chicken Corn Chowder crockpot version.
Quick Look: Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe
- ⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 6
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe: Creamy but not heavy, simple ingredients, can be made on a stove top or crockpot, weeknight easy, year-round recipe, and it's flexible - Add bacon, chicken, potatoes, or keep it simple-this recipe adapts to what you have on hand.
- 🍪 Main Ingredients: Milk, corn, chicken or sausage, veggies.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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This is great served with my Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake recipe that starts with a cake mix!
Why You'll Love this Recipe?
✅ Creamy without feeling heavy
✅ Made with simple, everyday ingredients
✅ Easy enough for any weeknight but delicious enough for a hosting dinner party.
✅ You can cook it on the stovetop or in the crockpot
✅ Plus, it's super flexible-add bacon, chicken, or potatoes, or keep it simple with what you have on hand.
👩🍳 Key Ingredients
- Butter: Salted or unsalted
- Onion: Yellow, white or Vidalia
- Celery: Use the leaves and all. They have lots of great flavor
- Jalapeno pepper - optional but great for a little heat
- Flour: To thicken things up.
- Milk: Creamy, but still light. Substitutions below.
- Chicken or Sausage: Precooked. I use a rotisserie chicken. Substitutions below.
- Corn: Fresh or canned.
- Ceam-style corn: Canned
- Thyme fresh or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme:
- Cayenne pepper: Optional
- Salt: Season to taste.
Substitutions and Additions
- Whole Milk: Substitute cream, coconut milk for a dairy-free option, evaporated milk or 2% milk. Evaporated milk: This is a great option if you want a richer, creamier chowder without adding extra fat. Use the same amount of evaporated milk as you would regular milk.
- Precooked Chicken or Sausage: Or substitute raw chicken and cook it beforehand, or substitute crab, shrimp, or sausage for the chicken. Alternatively, omit the chicken for a vegetarian corn chowder recipe.
- Flour: Substitute Cornstarch (most common), Arrowroot powder, Potato starch Mashed potatoes (for natural thickening).
- Canned Sweet Corn: Substitute fresh corn off the cob when in season, or frozen corn.
- Add rendered bacon before adding the onions if desired.
- Add a few potatoes for a hearty potato corn chowder.
🧑🍳 How This Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe
- Saute
Cook onions, celery, and jalapeno if using, and cook until tender.
- Add flour Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add Milk
Slowly whisk in milk and add the remaining ingredients.
- Add Parmesan and Simmer
Return chicken to the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and extra herbs if desired.
✅ Chicken Corn Chowder FAQ
Yes, use 2 uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts. Simply combine chicken breasts, corn, celery, onions, jalapeno, salt and pepper, cooking on low for 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken, stir in cream, and season with thyme and more salt and pepper if needed.
Thicken with a slurry if needed- whisking one tablespoon of flour or arrow root with one tablespoon cold water until perfectly smooth. Drizzle this mixture slowly into a simmering soup while stirring constantly, cooking for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
Yes, omit the chicken or sausage and replace it with 2 more cups of corn or meatless sausage. Add the meatless sausage at the end and just warm thought.
Yes, cut them into a small dice and add with the celery. Cook until tender. If using a crockpot, add them with the vegetables as well.
Yes, substitute sausage for the chicken.
🗒 Hosting a Dinner Party
If you're hosting a dinner party these are the perfect dishes to round out the menu.
- Warm crusty bread with softened butter, crackers or biscuits.
- Mixed greens salad with a vinaigrette.
- For dessert, make my Blueberry Crostata early in the day. Or buy a cake, pie or cookies from your favorite bakery.
Be sure to check out these other Comfort Dishes!
If you make this Chicken Corn Chowder, I'd love to know! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @Lauren_Lane_Culinarian - I always reshare your creations.
Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- ¼ cup chopped celery
- ½ jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups milk whole milk, Substitute coconut milk or evaporated milk if desired
- 2 cups chicken or sausage cooked chicken or sausage. I use a rotisserie. Or substitute crab, shrimp, for the chicken
- 1 can sweet corn drained
- 1 14 ¾ ounce can cream-style corn
- 1 ½ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or ⅓ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onion, celery, and jalapeno, and cook until tender, stirring frequently.
- Add flour, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in milk and the remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a boil, and simmer on LOW until ready to serve. If it gets too thick add a splash of milk or water to thin it to desired consistency. If you want it thicken, see the notes.
- Serve with crusty bread or a salad if desired
Notes
- Can I make this chicken corn chowder in a crockpot ? Yes, use 2 uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts. Simply combine chicken breasts, butter, corn, celery, onions, jalapeno, salt and pepper and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken and add back in, stir in cream, and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Heat until warm. Thicken with slurry if desired.
- Make this as thick or thin as you like. Add more creamed corn or chicken to make it thicker or simmer longer to thicken it up.
- Sometimes I add 4 small chopped-up potatoes. I microwave them until tender, then chop them up.
- Add crushed red pepper or jalapeño for a spicier soup.
- How to Substitute Evaporated Milk or Coconut Milk for the Milk If you're looking to switch things up or have dietary restrictions, you can easily substitute evaporated milk or coconut milk for the regular milk in this recipe. Evaporated milk: This is a great option if you want a richer, creamier chowder without adding extra fat. Just use the same amount of evaporated milk as you would regular milk. Coconut milk:
- For a dairy-free option, coconut milk is a fantastic substitute. It adds a slight sweetness and a tropical twist to the chowder. Use the same amount as you would regular milk, but keep in mind that it will change the flavor slightly. Different ways to thicken Corn Chowder?
- How to make it vegetarian? Omit the chicken or sausage and add 2 more cups of corn.
Nutrition
Lauren Lane says
One of my all time favorite recipes. Hope you love it too!