I love chowder so much, that's what I named my dog. True story–I own a giant, lazy bulldog named Chowder. There's just something warm and comforting about a big bowl of chowder to make any cold, rainy day feel just a bit brighter. This version is easy to make, and easy to customize. Want to make it spicy? Add some diced jalapeños. Want to make it vegetarian? Swap the chicken broth for veggie broth and leave out the chicken thighs. Any way you make it, it's just an easy way to serve a delicious dinner.
Things You’ll Need
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1.5 lbs red potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
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2 cups frozen corn kernels
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¼ cup all-purpose flour
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1 lb chicken thighs, cut into cubes
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1 teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon ground black pepper
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1 teaspoon dried basil
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1 teaspoon dried thyme
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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8 cups chicken broth
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1 cup shredded Cheddar
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½ cup heavy cream
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Chopped chives or green onions for garnish
Step 1: Vegetables + Flour
Add the potatoes and corn to the slow cooker, toss with flour until well coated.
Step 2: Chicken + Spices
Add the chicken, salt, pepper, basil, thyme, onion powder and garlic powder to the slow cooker.
Tip
Don't like thighs? Not a problem! Chicken breast will work just fine. Have pre-cooked chicken ready to go? Save it for the end and stir it in with the cream and cheese.
Step 3: Broth
Add the broth to the slow cooker.
Step 4: Cook
Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours.
Step 5: Cream + Cheese
In the last ten minutes of cooking, stir in the cream and cheese.
Tip
Don't use pre-shredded! Added ingredients help to keep the shreds from sticking together and will also prevent them from melting well.
Step 6: Blend
Ladle out a few scoops of soup (try to get lots of potatoes in those scoops!) into a blender, blend on high until well blended. For a thicker soup, add more scoops. For a thinner soup, add fewer. Add the blended soup back into the pot and stir to combine.
Step 7: Serve!
Adjust the spices to taste (how much salt you'll need depends on what broth you use–they all have different salt levels). Ladle into bowls, garnish with chives and serve!
