Cheddar Ham Chowder

Delicious, very modifiable chowder. Serve this with a salad and rolls or beer bread. Yum! Consider this a basic recipe that can be modified according to specific tastes and needs. Carrots and celery can be added when cooking the potatoes if desired. Bacon would be delicious in this as well.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 471 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• ½ cup chopped onion
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can corn
• 2 cups 1% milk
• 1 ½ cups cubed fully cooked ham
• 1 (8 ounce) package low-fat cream cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring water, potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and simmer until vegetables are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.

Step 2

Melt butter in a separate large saucepan over medium heat. Stir flour into melted butter until smooth. Gradually stir milk into butter-flour mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Step 3

Stir cream cheese and Cheddar cheese into milk mixture until melted. Pour potato mixture, including liquid, into milk-cheese mixture; add corn and ham. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soup is heated through, 10 to 15 more minutes.