Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon

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Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon is a creamy, cozy soup loaded with sweet corn, smoky bacon bits and tender onions.

This quick corn chowder comes together in just 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights, chilly days or anytime you need an easy comfort food dinner.

The combination of whole kernel corn and cream style corn gives the soup the perfect hearty texture without a lot of extra work.

Serve this bacon corn chowder with biscuits, crusty bread or crackers for a simple meal that tastes like it simmered all afternoon.

Why This Recipe is a Winner!

• Ready in just 25 minutes This corn chowder comes together fast, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last minute comfort food cravings.
• Uses simple pantry ingredients Canned corn, condensed broth and dried chives keep this recipe easy and convenient.
• Hearty enough for dinner This soup is thick, filling and satisfying enough to serve as a main dish.
• Kid-friendly and family-approved The sweet corn, creamy broth and bacon make this an easy soup for the whole family to love.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Butter Butter adds richness to the base of the chowder and helps cook the onions and garlic before the soup is thickened.
• Yellow onion Diced yellow onion gives the soup a savoury flavour base and softens as it cooks.
• Garlic puree Garlic puree adds quick, easy garlic flavour without any chopping. You can also use minced garlic if that’s what you have on hand.
• All purpose flour Flour is used to thicken the soup and give the chowder its creamy, hearty texture.
• Condensed chicken broth Condensed chicken broth adds lots of savoury flavour without watering down the chowder too much.
• Half and half Half and half makes the soup creamy without being quite as heavy as using all cream.
• Whole kernel corn Canned whole kernel corn adds sweet pops of corn throughout the chowder. Be sure to drain the corn before adding it to the pot.
• Cream style corn Cream style corn helps thicken the soup and gives it extra corn flavour in every spoonful.
• Real bacon bits Real bacon bits add smoky, salty flavour and make this easy chowder taste extra hearty. Use real bacon pieces, not crunchy imitation bacon bits.
• Salt and pepper Simple seasonings help balance the creamy broth and bring out the flavour of the corn and bacon.
• Dried chives Dried chives add a mild onion flavour and a little colour to the finished soup.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don't miss out on any important tips and tricks!

Step By Step Instructions

 STEP 1: 

To make this corn chowder, I started by adding some butter, diced onion and garlic puree to a large pot over medium-high heat.

I cooked the onions until they were translucent and then I added some flour to the pot. 

 STEP 2: 

I stirred everything together well and let the flour cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

 STEP 3: 

Then I whisked in a can of chicken broth and some milk.

 STEP 4: 

I brought the liquid to a boil, and then added some canned corn, cream style corn, real bacon bits, salt, pepper and chives to the pot.

I stirred all of the ingredients together and then reduced the heat to medium.

 STEP 5: 

I left the soup to simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Then the soup was ready to serve.

Every spoonful of this Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon is creamy, smoky and loaded with sweet corn in a rich, cozy broth.

It’s the kind of simple comfort food that tastes even better with crackers, biscuits or a thick slice of crusty bread for dunking.

If you are looking for some cold weather comfort food you need to try this Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon!

• Cook the flour for a few minutes. After stirring in the flour, let it cook for about 3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste and help create a smooth, creamy chowder.
• Whisk the broth in well. Add the condensed chicken broth and whisk until the mixture is smooth before adding the half and half.
• Stir often once the dairy is added. Creamy soups can stick to the bottom of the pot, so keep an eye on it and stir occasionally as it heats and simmers.
• Use real bacon bits. Real bacon bits add smoky flavor and make this recipe extra easy. Avoid imitation bacon bits, which can be too crunchy and artificial tasting.
• Do not drain the cream style corn. The cream style corn helps thicken the chowder and adds extra sweet corn flavor.
• Drain the whole kernel corn. Draining the whole kernel corn keeps the soup from becoming too thin.
• Simmer gently. Once everything is added, reduce the heat and let the chowder simmer instead of boiling hard so the creamy base stays smooth.
• Taste before serving. Bacon and broth can both add saltiness, so taste the chowder at the end and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use fresh or frozen corn. You can swap the canned whole kernel corn for fresh corn kernels or frozen corn. If using frozen corn, add it straight to the pot and let it heat through as the soup simmers.
• Swap the bacon bits for cooked bacon. If you prefer, you can cook and crumble your own bacon instead of using packaged real bacon bits.
• Use milk instead of half and half. Whole milk can be used for a lighter chowder, but the soup will be a little less rich and creamy.
• Make it extra cheesy. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese at the end of cooking for a cheesy bacon corn chowder.
• Add potatoes. Diced cooked potatoes or frozen diced hash brown potatoes can be added to make the chowder even heartier.
• Add chicken. Stir in cooked shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken for a more filling main dish soup.
• Make it spicy. Add diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce for a little heat.
• Use vegetable broth. You can use condensed vegetable broth instead of chicken broth if you prefer, though the flavour will be slightly different.
• Try different herbs. Swap the dried chives for parsley, thyme or green onions depending on what you have on hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to drain the canned corn?

• Drain the whole kernel corn before adding it to the soup. Do not drain the cream style corn, because it helps thicken the chowder and adds extra corn flavour.

Can I use cooked bacon instead of bacon bits?

• Yes. Cooked and crumbled bacon can be used instead of packaged real bacon bits. Just avoid imitation bacon bits, as they will not give the soup the same flavour or texture.

Can I make this corn chowder ahead of time?

• Yes. You can make this chowder ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.

How should I store leftover corn chowder?

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let the soup cool before transferring it to the container.

Can I freeze corn chowder with bacon?

• Cream-based soups do not always freeze perfectly because the dairy can separate when thawed and reheated. For best results, enjoy this chowder fresh or refrigerated.

Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Easy Corn Chowder with Bacon is a hearty soup recipe perfect for cold weather. This creamy soup is loaded with corn and real bacon bits.

4.5 Stars (27 Reviews)

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Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic puree
• ½ cup flour
• 10.5 oz can condensed chicken broth
• 3 cups half and half
• 17.5 oz canned whole kernel corn, ( 2 x 8.75oz cans)
• 8.25 oz cream style corn
• 1 cup real bacon bits
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried chives

Instructions

1. Dump butter, diced onions and garlic puree into a large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Cook until onions are translucent.
3. Add the flour to the pot and stir well. Leave flour to cook for three minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add chicken broth to the pot and whisk well. 
5. Add half and half and whisk again.
6. Bring the liquid to a boil.
7. Add the canned corn, cream style corn, bacon bits, salt, pepper and chives to the pot. Stir well.
8. Reduce heat to medium and leave soup to simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 457Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 1024mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 13g

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