13 Thick Clam Chowder Recipes for Soupy Days
There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of thick clam chowder on a chilly, soupy day—it wraps you in comfort like a warm blanket. I still remember my childhood winters in coastal Maine, where my grandmother would simmer pots of creamy chowder over the wood stove, the air thick with the briny scent of fresh clams and potatoes. Those foggy afternoons, huddled by the window watching rain lash the shore, her chowder was our ritual, thick enough to stand a spoon in, loaded with chunks of tender clams and velvety cream.
Lately, I’ve been experimenting in my own kitchen, tweaking classic recipes to amp up the thickness with roux bases, extra potatoes, or even pureed veggies, perfect for those drizzly days when soup is the only answer. In a world racing by, these hearty bowls remind us to slow down, savor the sea’s bounty, and nourish body and soul. Today, I’m sharing 13 of my thickest, most indulgent clam chowder variations to elevate your soupy days.
Classic Thick New England Clam Chowder
This timeless recipe starts with 2 lbs fresh clams (or canned equivalents), 4 cups clam juice, 4 russet potatoes diced, 1 onion chopped, 2 celery stalks sliced, 4 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour for roux, 2 cups heavy cream, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley. Sauté veggies in butter, stir in flour to thicken, add clam juice and potatoes, simmer 20 minutes until potatoes are tender, stir in cream and clams, heat through without boiling. It’s thick, creamy, and packed with protein and vitamins from clams, offering heartwarming comfort that boosts immunity on cold days.
Bacon-Laden Thick Clam Chowder
Gather 1 lb bacon chopped, 2 lbs clams, 3 potatoes diced, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups clam broth, 2 cups half-and-half, thyme, salt, and pepper. Crisp bacon, remove, sauté onion and garlic in fat, make roux with butter and flour, add broth and potatoes, simmer 25 minutes, blend in cream, bacon, and clams. The bacon adds smoky depth and extra fat for ultimate thickness, delivering satisfying fats and flavors that curb cravings.
Potato-Pureed Ultra-Thick Clam Chowder
Ingredients: 3 lbs potatoes (half diced, half pureed), 2 lbs clams, 1 onion, 2 leeks sliced, 4 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, 4 cups clam juice, 1.5 cups cream, bay leaf, chives. Sauté leeks and onion, add flour roux, pour in juice and diced potatoes, cook 20 minutes, puree half the potatoes for thickness, return to pot with cream and clams, simmer gently. Pureeing amps up starch for spoon-standing thickness, providing filling fiber and sustained energy.
Corn and Clam Thick Chowder
Use 2 cups corn kernels, 2 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 red bell pepper, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups broth, 2 cups cream, paprika. Sauté veggies and corn, build roux, add broth and potatoes, simmer 22 minutes, incorporate cream and clams. Sweet corn complements briny clams, creating a thick, nutrient-rich soup loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A and C for immune support.
Cheesy Thick Clam Chowder
Key items: 2 cups shredded cheddar, 2 lbs clams, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 celery stalks, 5 tbsp butter, 1/3 cup flour, 4 cups clam juice, 1 cup milk, 1 cup cream, mustard powder. Roux from butter and flour with veggies, add juice and potatoes, cook until soft, melt in cheeses, cream, milk, and clams. Cheese melts into luxurious thickness, boosting calcium and protein for bone health and satiety.
Spicy Chipotle Thick Clam Chowder
Features 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo (chopped), 2 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 jalapeños, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3.5 cups broth, 2 cups cream, cumin. Sauté spicy elements, roux it up, simmer potatoes in broth 25 minutes, add cream, clams, and chipotles. Heat builds flavor layers in the thick base, with capsaicin for metabolism boost and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Herbed Thyme Thick Clam Chowder
Ingredients include fresh thyme (3 tbsp), 2 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 2 shallots, 1 fennel bulb sliced, 4 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, 4 cups juice, 2 cups cream, lemon zest. Sauté aromatics with thyme, thicken with roux, add juice and potatoes, simmer, finish with cream, clams, and zest. Herbs elevate freshness in the dense creaminess, rich in antioxidants for digestive health.
Leek and Garlic Thick Clam Chowder
Prep 4 leeks sliced, 1 head roasted garlic, 2 lbs clams, 3 potatoes, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups broth, 2.5 cups cream, white wine splash. Sauté leeks, mash in garlic, roux, deglaze with wine, simmer potatoes, blend in cream and clams. Leeks and garlic create silky thickness, packed with prebiotics for gut health.
Smoked Oyster Thick Clam Chowder
Swap in 1 can smoked oysters plus 1.5 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 1 onion, bacon bits, 4 tbsp butter, 1/3 cup flour, 4 cups smoky broth, 2 cups cream. Roux with smoked elements, cook potatoes, stir in creams and seafood. Smokiness intensifies thick profile, omega-3s from oysters support heart health.
Coconut Thick Dairy-Free Clam Chowder
Dairy-free with 2 cans coconut milk, 2 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 1 onion, ginger knob, 4 tbsp coconut oil, 1/4 cup cassava flour, 3 cups broth, curry powder. Roux in coconut oil, simmer potatoes, blend coconut milk thickener with clams. Tropical thickness without dairy, anti-inflammatory coconut fats aid digestion.
Roasted Garlic and Potato Thick Clam Chowder
Roast 2 bulbs garlic, use with 5 potatoes, 2 lbs clams, 1 onion, 4 tbsp butter, 1/3 cup flour, 4 cups juice, 2 cups cream. Infuse roux with roasted garlic, potatoes for bulk, finish creamy with clams. Garlic’s sweetness thickens naturally, immune-boosting allicin shines.
Bay Scallop and Clam Thick Chowder
Add 1 lb bay scallops to 1.5 lbs clams, 4 potatoes, 1 shallot, tarragon, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3.5 cups broth, 2 cups cream. Sauté seafood lightly post-roux potato simmer, cream binds thickly. Dual seafood doubles protein, luxurious texture for muscle repair.
Curry-Spiced Thick Clam Chowder
Mild curry powder (2 tbsp), 2 lbs clams, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, coconut cream (1 cup) + 1 cup regular, 4 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups broth, garam masala. Roux with spices, simmer, layer creams and clams for thick fusion. Spices aid digestion in hearty base, exotic warmth.
These 13 thick clam chowder recipes are your ticket to soupy day bliss—grab some clams, fire up the stove, and let the creamy magic happen. Which one will you ladle up first? Share your twists in the comments!
