Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

Published October 1, 2022. Updated October 2, 2022

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Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder – A rich and creamy soup made with tender rotisserie chicken, hearty potatoes, flavorful peppers, sweet corn and crisp bacon finish. It’s a fall staple!

Chicken corn chowder in a serving bowl with oyster crackers to the side.

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

This is the coziest of soups! It’s loaded to the max with delicious, fresh ingredients and it’s that creamy broth and salty bacon that will keep you craving more.

It has a handy shortcut of pre-cooked chicken, which can be from a rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken.

From there it’s just a bit of chopping, sautéing and allowing enough time on the stovetop to simmer to perfection.

Serve it with cornbread or 1-hour dinner rolls for an ideally comforting meal.

Ingredients for chicken corn chowder soup.

Chicken Corn Chowder Soup Recipe Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts or thighs)
  • 8 slices cooked bacon, chopped
  • 1/4 cup butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (1 1/4 cups)
  • 1 – 2 jalapeños, seeds and ribs removed for less heat if desired, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 medium (22 oz) russet potatoes, peeled and chopped slightly less than 1/2-inch thick (3 cups)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
    Collage of photos showing how to make creamy chicken corn chowder on the stovetop.

How to Make Chicken Corn Chowder

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add red bell pepper, onions, jalapenos and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Stir in flour, and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  • While stirring, slowly pour in chicken broth. Add potatoes, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Add in cooked chicken, corn and half and half and simmer, uncovered 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve warm topped with cooked bacon and optional green onions and cheese.

 

Close up photo of creamy chicken corn chowder in a pot.

Possible Substitutes and Variations

  • Alternate potatoes: Red potatoes or Yukons would work here as well. The soup just won’t be quite as thick since the potatoes aren’t as starchy.
  • Mild soup: If you aren’t a fan of heat you can omit the jalapeño.
  • Use up the bacon fat: Instead of using butter you can replace it with rendered bacon fat by cooking the bacon beforehand.
  • Sub ham for bacon: For a cheaper alternative you can finish the soup with chopped cooked ham instead of bacon. This is a great option if you have some left from a ham roast.
  • Herbs: For an herby soup you can mix in some thyme, rosemary and parsley.

 

 

Recommended Toppings

We like to serve this with:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese (medium or sharp)
  • Chopped green onions
  • Crushed tortilla chips or oyster crackers

Storage

  • It will keep in the fridge in an airtight container up to 3 days.
  • Freezing this soup isn’t recommended. The potatoes would become mushy and broth would end up separated and thinned.

Two servings of chicken corn chowder in red bowls sitting over a green cloth on a marble surface.

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Chicken corn chowder in a serving bowl with oyster crackers to the side.
4.94 from 64 votes

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

This chowder will quickly become a go-to recipe! It's loaded with chicken, veggies and rich creamy broth. Delicious comfort food!
Servings: 7
Prep15 minutes
Cook40 minutes
Ready in: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add red bell pepper, onions, jalapenos and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Stir in flour, and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  • While stirring, slowly pour in chicken broth. Add potatoes, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer stirring frequently, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Add in cooked chicken, corn and half and half and simmer, uncovered 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve warm topped with cooked bacon and optional green onions and cheese.

Notes

  • *If cooking your own chicken begin with about 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs. You can cook it in the soup with the potatoes, just cook to 165 degrees in center.
  • Recipe makes about 14 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder
Amount Per Serving
Calories 503 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 97mg32%
Sodium 731mg32%
Potassium 1.001mg0%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 1.118IU0%
Vitamin C 35mg42%
Calcium 96mg10%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Photos updated Oct 2022. Recipe adapted with some changes from BHG

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254 Comments

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Lately I’ve just been boiling them in water with salt. Since the ones I buy are usually thick, I cut them in half through the thickness of the breasts first so they cook more evenly.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes I think you could but I would probably add a butter/flour/half and half béchamel sauce at the end so it doesn’t curdle while cooking.

  • Amber

    This sounds delicious. Can you adapt it to be cooked in the slow cooker? Any ideas?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes I think you could but I would probably add a butter/flour/half and half béchamel sauce at the end so it doesn’t curdle while cooking.

  • Ray McKee

    I like to serve home made garlic toast wit this soup. French bread or sour dough loaf cut in 1/2″ slices, rubbed with fresh garlic & butter, Toasted quickly for a quick browning an a good complement to the soup.
    Ray

  • Terri

    I just want you to know that I made this soup the other night and it was AMAZING. I do gluten free…so I used a rice flour AP mix (thanks to Jeanne at artofglutenfreebaking.com) in place of the regular flour. The only thing additional I added to this amazing recipe was a can of ROTELLE tomatoes. The tomatoes, in conjunction with the jalapeños, gave it an amazing warm heat which we loved. Also just to note, I cooked my chicken and seasoned with creole seasoning (which added another zing of heat). The entire pot of soup was gone in 24 hours (3 people enjoying every last drop). Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!!!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I think that would be fine, I’d just cook the chicken in there too and make a roux with the butter/flour/half and half at the end in a saucepan then mix it into the soup. Hope that helps!

  • Janet Fazio

    We just had the first rain of the season, so I’m searching for some new soup recipes. This one looks amazing and I love that it has lots of protein.

  • Aiwan

    I’m going to make this soup tomorrow, but I don’t understand exactly should the chicken be fried or boiled?