Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
Easy chicken and corn chowder is the ultimate comfort food. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to the creamiest, most flavorful chowder every time. The crispy bacon and tender chicken in this cozy winter soup will warm you up in no time. Try it with my Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe for Quick Dinners and Refreshing Lemon Tiramisu Recipe Perfect for Summer Dessert.
Why This Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy and comforting
- High in protein
- Perfect for cozy nights in
- Easy to make and customize
What You'll Need for Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken breasts
- corn
- potatoes
- onion
- garlic
- chicken broth
- milk
- bacon
- thyme
- bay leaf
- salt
- pepper
- Optional: crispy bacon
- Optional: fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
- milk: You can use low-fat or whole milk, or substitute with heavy cream for a richer chowder.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Saves time and energy by cooking chicken and potatoes simultaneously. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Makes blending the chowder right in the pot easy and mess-free. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
- Step 1: Cook bacon in a large pot until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, but keep the grease.
- Step 2: Add chicken to the pot and cook until browned. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Add onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened. Add potatoes, corn, chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender.
- Step 4: Add milk to the pot and bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to the pot and cook until heated through. Use an immersion blender to blend some of the potatoes for a creamy texture.
- Step 5: Season with salt and pepper. Serve chowder with crispy bacon and fresh parsley garnish.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
- Pro tip: For a thicker chowder, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot before blending.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken or it will become tough. Remove it from the pot as soon as it's cooked through.
- Pro tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Pro tip: To make this chowder ahead, prepare it without the milk and refrigerate. Add the milk and heat just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Chowder can be made ahead without the milk and refrigerated or frozen. Add milk and heat just before serving.
Freezing Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
Freeze chowder without the milk for up to 3 months. Thaw and heat before adding milk and serving.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat chowder in a oven-safe pot at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes. Microwave: Reheat chowder in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño to the pot with the onion and garlic.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with turkey or shrimp for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: Chowder can be made ahead without the milk and refrigerated or frozen. Add milk and heat just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the chowder is too thick, thin it out with a little more chicken broth or milk. If it's too thin, simmer it on the stove until it thickens.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Dutch Oven — Perfect for cooking chowder on the stovetop and then transferring to the oven for baking. → Check price on Amazon
Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- corn
- potatoes
- onion
- garlic
Seasonings
- chicken broth
- milk
- bacon
- thyme
- bay leaf
- salt
- pepper
Optional Toppings
- crispy bacon
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook bacon in a large pot until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, but keep the grease.
- Step 2: Add chicken to the pot and cook until browned. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Add onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened. Add potatoes, corn, chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender.
- Step 4: Add milk to the pot and bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to the pot and cook until heated through. Use an immersion blender to blend some of the potatoes for a creamy texture.
- Step 5: Season with salt and pepper. Serve chowder with crispy bacon and fresh parsley garnish.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño to the pot with the onion and garlic.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with turkey or shrimp for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: Chowder can be made ahead without the milk and refrigerated or frozen. Add milk and heat just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the chowder is too thick, thin it out with a little more chicken broth or milk. If it's too thin, simmer it on the stove until it thickens.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze chowder without the milk for up to 3 months. Thaw and heat before adding milk and serving.
- Oven reheat: Reheat chowder in a oven-safe pot at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat chowder in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Chowder can be made ahead without the milk and refrigerated or frozen. Add milk and heat just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sat. Fat: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make the chowder ahead without the milk and refrigerate or freeze it. Add the milk and heat just before serving.
If the chowder is too thin, simmer it on the stove until it thickens. You can also thicken it with a cornstarch slurry or by mashing some of the potatoes against the side of the pot.
Yes, you can make this chowder in the slow cooker. Cook the bacon and chicken in a skillet on the stove, then transfer to the slow cooker with the other ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Yes, you can use frozen corn in this chowder. Just make sure to thaw it before adding it to the pot.
Yes, this chowder is gluten-free as written. Just make sure your chicken broth is gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy High Protein Chicken and Corn Chowder Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
