The Best Clam Chowder for Busy Weeknights
Cravings hit hard on stormy gloomy days. Sometimes you just want to curl up on the couch with a good book and a hearty bowl of soup after work. This is definitely the best clam chowder for busy weeknights.
This hearty delicious warming soup comes together really fast and doesn’t take forever to cook. This is a throw together kind of soup that the whole family loves.
There are potatoes, bacon and of course clams that really give that well rounded flavor that hits the spot on those winter days. Winter is full of soup days, and we love soup here so there is almost always some in the fridge. This “from scratch” version sure does not disappoint.
Easy Ingredients
The ingredients are easy to come by at most local grocery stores. I like to keep them on hand as well so I can make this at a moment’s notice.
- Potatoes
- chopped clams
- Chopped onions
- bacon (chopped)
- clam juice
- salt and pepper
- heavy cream
That’s it. It really is a simple yet very tasty soup. For me, the easier, the better. Dinner after working all day should be simple and fast to prepare.
Easy Directions
This page contains affiliate links which means I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Please read our disclaimer for more information.
You start by peeling and cutting the potatoes into bite sized pieces. Place them in your soup pot with the clam juice and the juice from your chopped clams. While these are cooking, you can start the rest of the soup.
Grab yourself a large skillet to cook the bacon and onions in. Saute them until the bacon is soft, about the consistency of the clams and the onions are translucent. Set aside until potatoes are fork tender.
Once the potatoes are cooked, you can add the bacon and onions to the pan. Follow this with your heavy cream and bring to a boil. To adjust thickness, you can add a little rue made from corn starch and water or from butter and flour. Once the soup is ready, add in your chopped clams and you are ready to serve.
See, super easy and fast. The potatoes should only take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook, and that’s what takes the longest. You can come home from work and have a delicious dinner in under thirty minutes.
Feel free to make it your own by adding shredded carrots and chopped celery. My sister added carrots and celery and said it was still fantastic! I prefer the simple easy elegant soup that it turns out to be by just following the directions.
The Best 30 Minute Clam Chowder for Busy Weeknights
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes into bite sized pieces, place into soup pot.
- Drain juice from chopped clams into pot with potatoes. Cover potatoes with additional clam juice. Bring to boil.
- While potatoes cook, sauté bacon with onions in skillet. Set aside until potatoes are finished.
- Once potatoes are fork tender, add bacon, onions, and heavy cream. Return to boil. Thicken with rue if desired.
- Stir in drained chopped clams. Serve while hot
Servings 4
Serving Size 6 oz
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 490
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 16.4g26%
- Saturated Fat 5.3g27%
- Cholesterol 39mg13%
- Sodium 1173mg49%
- Potassium 1740mg50%
- Total Carbohydrate 64.8g22%
- Dietary Fiber 9g36%
- Sugars 6.9g
- Protein 21.1g43%
- Calcium 3 mg
- Iron 16 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
What to do With Leftovers
What leftovers? We usually don’t have any left after dinner unless it was saved to pack a lunch for the next day. It re-heats well either on the stove or in the microwave. This is what makes it a great next day lunch at work.
Serving Suggestions
Who doesn’t love a nice bread bowl with their clam chowder? If I can find them, they are great with this hearty soup. If not, and if I’m prepared ahead of time, I will make my own. Some sliced sourdough lightly toasted with some herb butter works nicely too.
Oyster crackers or saltines add a perfect amount of crunch to this soup when you don’t have sourdough bread. Serve it with a side of salad to round out a full meal.