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Creamy Slow Cooker Clam Chowder Recipe Easy Homemade with Crispy Bacon Bits

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A cozy and creamy clam chowder made effortlessly in a slow cooker, topped with crispy bacon bits for a smoky crunch. Perfect for warm, comforting dinners with simple ingredients and minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6.5-ounce) cans chopped clams with juice (reserve juice for broth)
  • 4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped for topping
  • 3 cups chicken broth (preferably low sodium)
  • 1 cup half-and-half (or whole milk for lighter, heavy cream for richer)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour (or cornstarch for gluten-free)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
  2. Add butter to the bacon fat, then sauté chopped onion, celery, and garlic until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add diced potatoes, chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours until potatoes are tender but not falling apart.
  5. About 30 minutes before done, whisk together flour and about ½ cup of slow cooker broth in the skillet over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
  6. Remove bay leaf from slow cooker. Add clams with their juice and the roux mixture to the slow cooker. Stir in half-and-half.
  7. Cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes until chowder is creamy and heated through.
  8. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with crispy bacon bits.

Notes

If chowder is too thick, stir in extra broth or water. If too thin, mash a few potato chunks against the slow cooker side to thicken naturally. Use cornstarch instead of flour for gluten-free. Substitute half-and-half with coconut or almond milk for dairy-free. Add clams near the end to avoid rubbery texture. Crisp bacon separately and add at the end for best crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: clam chowder, slow cooker, creamy chowder, bacon bits, easy recipe, comfort food, New England clam chowder

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