Lisa's Creamy Clam Chowder

Delicious and creamy clam chowder includes carrots, celery, thyme, and a hint of bacon.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 449 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1 pinch garlic salt
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 pinch onion powder
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon water, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch, or as needed
• 2 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams
• 4 potatoes, chopped into small chunks
• 2 small carrots, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon thyme, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat a large soup pan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add butter, potatoes, celery, carrots, onion, salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat to low. Cook and stir 10 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and stir 1 minute. Add milk, clam juice, clams, lemon juice, thyme, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and onion powder. Simmer on low until potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Add cream and simmer 5 minutes more.

Step 2

To thicken chowder if necessary, combine cornstarch and water together in a bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to chowder and stir until incorporated and chowder is thickened.