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Creamy Clam Chowder with Bacon and Yukon Gold Potatoes

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A comforting and rich clam chowder featuring smoky bacon and creamy Yukon Gold potatoes, perfect for cozy dinners and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups chopped canned clams with juice
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp and fat is rendered, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, leaving about 2 tablespoons of fat in the pot.
  2. Add butter to the bacon fat, then sauté diced onion and celery for 5–7 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Sprinkle flour over the veggies and stir constantly for 2 minutes until it forms a golden paste and loses the raw flour taste.
  4. Slowly whisk in chicken broth to avoid lumps. Add diced potatoes, bay leaf, and thyme. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
  5. Stir in chopped clams with their juice, then pour in half-and-half. Heat gently for 5 minutes without boiling. Season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf.
  6. Stir in crispy bacon pieces, reserving some for garnish. Adjust seasoning as needed and serve hot.

Notes

To make gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend or cornstarch slurry. Avoid boiling after adding cream to prevent curdling. Reserve some bacon for garnish to keep it crispy. If chowder thickens after resting, stir in a splash of broth or milk to loosen.

Nutrition

Keywords: clam chowder, creamy clam chowder, bacon chowder, Yukon Gold potatoes, easy chowder recipe, seafood soup, comfort food

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/creamy-clam-chowder-with-bacon-and-yukon-gold-potatoes-easy-homemade-recipe/