This slow cooker clam chowder is so hearty and filled with chunky bites of vegetables and clams. It tastes like a rich, tomatoey, savory, seafood delight! Make a huge batch of this family favorite comfort food and freeze the leftovers to enjoy on a cold winter day.
Why this recipe is just so good.....
- This Manhattan style red chowder could not be easier to make. After the veggies are chopped, it is literally all just dumped into your Crock Pot. The hardest part is waiting for the soup to be done!
- You will love the fresh clam flavor and smokiness from the bacon.
- Since this recipe freezes so well, I love to make a huge batch and freeze the extra chowder. The flavors meld together even more after they have been reheated so no one will complain about leftovers!
Seafood fans will want to try some other favorites: Grilled Haddock, Blackened Swordfish or Blackened Grouper.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients to make this easy slow cooker clam chowder:
- bacon
- large onion
- carrots
- stalks of celery
- corn-fresh, can or frozen
- cartons of vegetable or chicken broth
- russet potatoes
- can diced tomatoes with juice
- bottled clam juice
- 1 cup of shucked clams with the liquid
- Old Bay seasoning
- Bay leaf
- salt & black pepper to taste
Ingredient Notes
- This seafood chowder is tomato based and we are using canned diced tomatoes. But you can use some fresh chopped tomatoes as well. Or add in a can of tomato paste if you prefer a stronger tomato flavor.
- This recipe uses frozen chopped clams. You can also use canned chopped clams. Drain and rinse them before using in the chowder.
- Soups and chowders are perfect recipes to get creative. You can substitute the bacon with chopped ham, pancetta, turkey bacon or sausage if you prefer.
- For a low carb version of this chowder, leave out the potatoes and corn and add in parsnip, turnip, rutabaga or cabbage.
- If you would like a little spiciness in the chowder, add a couple of drops of hot sauce or a few shakes of red pepper flakes.
How to make crock pot clam chowder
- Chop the potatoes, celery and carrots into similar sized pieces so that they are done at the same time.
- Saute' the bacon with the onions until the bacon is crisp and the onions are light brown. Drain and discard the bacon fat except one tablespoon for flavoring in the recipe.
- Pour all the vegetables, broth and seasonings into the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables are cooked through. Or cook on high for 2-3 hours. Add in the clams and juice and cook an additional 30 minutes. Taste the broth and add more salt and pepper or seasonings as needed.
- Serve with some crusty bread for dipping in the broth. My Keto Rolls would be delicious with this soup. Or try my Keto Corn Muffins.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to add the clams only at the end of the cooking time. Overcooking can make them tough.
- Add salt last. Clam juice, bacon and broths add salt to the recipe. So taste and decide how much more it needs.
- Pierce a potato with a fork to see if they are done. Overcooking can make them mushy.
FAQ
Littleneck clams are preferred for their sweetness and not being as chewy as cherrystone or chowder clams. Clean the shells well, open with a clam knife and use the meat and liquid for the chowder. Just chop the clams into smaller pieces and add them to the soup. Don't open the clams until ready to use, they will last in the refrigerator for 1-2 days if fresh. Food preservation has information about freezing clams.
You can cook a small or large batch on your stovetop instead of in the slow cooker. Just brown the bacon and onions. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat. Cut the vegetables into smaller diced pieces, about ½" cubes. Add them to the pot with tomatoes, spices, clam juice and broth. Bring to a boil. Let simmer on low-medium heat for about 15 minutes.
Pierce one of the potatoes and carrot with a fork to see if they are tender. If still a little bit hard, cook another 5 minutes or so. Turn heat down to low, add in the clams and let soup simmer for another 30 minutes. Taste broth for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
Do you love soups? Be sure to try these hearty recipes:
Red Pepper, Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup
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Slow Cooker Clam Chowder
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner, Soup
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Description
A hearty, chunky soup filled with vegetables, clams and a rich, flavorful broth. Perfect for dunking some crusty bread or rolls.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
- 4-5 carrots, chopped
- 4 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 cup of corn-fresh, can or frozen
- 2 32 ounce cartons of vegetable broth*
- 3 large russet potatoes, chopped into medium sized dice
- 1 24 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
- 3 8 oz. bottles of clam juice
- 1 cup of shucked clams with the liquid. *
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 2 Bay leaves
- salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fry bacon, drain, saving one tablespoon fat, let cool, crumble and set aside.
- Sauce the onion in bacon fat until lightly caramelized, about 4-5 minutes.
- Put all ingredients except clams into slow cooker.
- Cook on low for about 6 hours until vegetables are just about tender.
- Pour clams and their liquid into slow cooker and cook for another 30 -45 minutes until veggies are done and clams are cooked.
- Taste test broth for any additional spices.
Notes
* You can substitute chicken stock for the vegetable broth. (Just add more Old Bay seasoning)
*This slow cooker manhattan clam chowder recipe makes a large amount of soup. I like to freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for future meals. The ingredients can easily be cut in half to make a smaller batch. Just lower the time it takes to cook to about 3 - 4 hours.
*Fresh or frozen clams is preferable but you can use 3 or 4 6oz. cans of chopped clams.
*You can substitute the bacon with ham, pancetta, turkey bacon or sausage.
*Add a few drops of hot sauce or red pepper flakes if you want the chowder to be spicier.
** For a lower carb version, leave out the potatoes and corn. You can substitute some parsnips or turnips if you'd like.
Warren says
Chicken stock for seafood???? Come on now \0/
Deb Belsha says
The recipe I posted uses vegetable stock, (seafood stock if you can buy it or choose to make homemade.) The chicken stock is just an option for those that do not have vegetable stock. I always try to think of my reader's pantry and their store's availability. If I had to use chicken stock, I would add more Old Bay seasoning.
Have a great day!!
Marybeth vanWie says
I just got done hosting a Veteran's Day dinner @ the mobile home park where I live. I served this chowder. We served 100+.To a person, the general consensus was How delicious. I made it on top the stove. You should have scene the size of the pot! I will definitely make it again, only in a much more amount. Thanks
Deb Belsha says
So glad you liked it! I always make a huge batch. Great for the freezer too.
Aleka says
I love Manhattan clam chowder and this looks awesome!!!