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 61 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: 3
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 497 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 94mg31%
Sodium 388mg17%
Potassium 1103mg32%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 1090IU22%
Vitamin C 32.9mg40%
Calcium 88mg9%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* 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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247 Comments

  • Natalie

    The end result was good, but I had to doctor this up quite a bit. I felt it was just too bland for our taste buds. But it’s a good base for soup. Maybe it’s me? But, I was not wow’d by this soup. It is easy to make! So that’s a plus. ☺️

    • Revan

      No, it’s not just you. I could tell just when reading the recipe that it was going to be bland (salt and pepper as the only seasoning?? veggies help, but they don’t make up for missing spices!) so I made some changes during the cooking process:

      1. Roasted the red pepper and jalapeño in the oven to blacken the skins and remove them (pepper skins can irritate sensitive stomachs/bowels, which my partner has) but also to aid in the cooking process and enhance flavor.
      2. Added the (frozen) corn in WITH the garlic.
      3. Seasoned the veggies with my own pre-mixed blend of spices consisting of smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, dried rosemary and dried thyme.
      4. Used Yukon gold potatoes instead of russet.
      5. Mixed in about 1 Tbsp of Better Than Bouillon Roasted Vegetable base just before adding the chicken bone broth/stock (also subbed bone broth for 4 cups of the liquid, then did stock for the other 2-3 cups).
      6. Used pre-cooked chicken breasts that I had made in the pressure cooker with butter, salt, Italian seasoning, minced garlic and bone broth for the (small amount of) necessary liquid. (I make large batches of chicken this way because it’s a great base for many different recipes.)

      Came out very tasty and hearty, even with us deciding to forego the bacon this time around! (I can give exact measurements on the seasoning mix if anyone wants it, too.)

      • FREYA PETERSEN

        That’s great that you’ve got a cooking experience that allows you to make those adjustments. You’re right, it’s very good basic base for a soup. But there are a lot of people out there that don’t have. What is perceived your experience in cooking. I think with the amount of changes that you’ve made in this recipe. Maybe you should get your own cooking site instead of condemning hers. Remember the majority of the population who cooks these things does not have the same skills that you seem to have. Maybe you should respect that.

  • Jeff Folk

    One of my go to recipes. Prep time sucks but the result is top notch! Follow this recipe and top the warm creamy soup with fresh grated sharp cheddar and green onion slices and crumbled bacon! Yum! I eat mine with ritz crackers! A+ for sure

  • Tanya Reynolds

    Easy, hearty, delicious! I’ve made this several times and passed it on to friends and family who also loved it. FIVE STARS EASILY!

  • Jennifer Morales

    I also cooked the bacon in the pot and used the grease to cook the onions and peppers. Came out perfect !!!!

  • Christine

    Made this using turkey left overs and stock I made from the turkey. Great way to use it up. Cooked the bacon first and just left that in and added peppers and continued with recipe (reduced the butter). Gave it a bit of a smoky taste.