Best 7 Clam Chowder For A Crowd Recipes

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Indulge in the classic flavors of New England with our delectable clam chowder recipes. Experience the ultimate comfort food, perfect for gatherings with family and friends. Our collection offers a variety of options to suit every taste, from the traditional New England clam chowder with its creamy broth, tender clams, and savory vegetables, to the flavorful Manhattan clam chowder with its rich tomato-based broth. Whether you prefer a hearty and filling chowder or a lighter, broth-based version, we have a recipe that will satisfy your cravings. Dive into the delightful world of clam chowder and create a memorable dining experience.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

CONTEST-WINNING NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER



Contest-Winning New England Clam Chowder image

This is the best New England clam chowder recipe, ever! In the Pacific Northwest, we dig our own razor clams and I grind them for the chowder. Since these aren't readily available, the canned clams are perfectly acceptable. -Sandy Larson, Port Angeles, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 55m

Yield 5 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 center-cut bacon strips
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup water
1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
3 teaspoons reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups fat-free half-and-half, divided
2 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) chopped clams, undrained

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes., Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the cooked bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 788mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 13g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

RICH CLAM CHOWDER



Rich Clam Chowder image

"I came across a chowder recipe I liked several years ago and have made just enough changes to give it a unique flavor...and feed a pretty large crowd. People always go back for seconds, then ask for the recipe." -Teresa Dastrup, Meridian, Idaho.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h10m

Yield 22 servings (1 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 cups diced peeled red potatoes
3 large onions, finely chopped
6 celery ribs, finely chopped
3 cups water
6 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) minced clams
1-1/2 cups butter, cubed
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
8 cups half-and-half cream
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a stockpot, combine the potatoes, onions, celery and water. Drain clams, reserving juice; set clams aside. Add juice to potato mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Gradually stir in cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Gradually stir into potato mixture., Add the vinegar, parsley, salt, pepper and clams. Cook 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 318 calories, Fat 21g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 85mg cholesterol, Sodium 675mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 8g protein.

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER



My Best Clam Chowder image

A delicious, traditional, cream based chowder, this recipe calls for the standard chowder ingredients: onion, celery, potatoes, diced carrots, clams, and cream. A little red wine vinegar is added before serving for extra flavor.

Provided by PIONEERGIRL

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Seafood

Time 50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams
1 cup minced onion
1 cup diced celery
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
¾ cup butter
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 quart half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
  • Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
  • Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 501.2 calories, Carbohydrate 28.4 g, Cholesterol 136.6 mg, Fat 32.7 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 23.9 g, SaturatedFat 19.7 g, Sodium 712.3 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

CLAM CHOWDER FOR A CROWD



Clam Chowder for a Crowd image

Needed a BIG pot of soup for a group function and couldn't choose from the many Clam Chowder variations I saw, so I made my own. The pot was empty at the end of the night. Hope you like it!

Provided by farrangel

Categories     Chowders

Time 1h

Yield 16 1.5 cups, 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

6 tablespoons butter
2 cups onions, finely diced
2 cups leeks, finely diced
2 cups celery, finely diced
1 cup carrot, finely diced
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons dried celery flakes
5 -6 cups potatoes, small dice
8 ounces clam juice
4 cups water
6 1/2 ounces minced clams (juice reserved)
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 cups half-and-half
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, saute onions, leeks, celery carrot and garlic in butter over medium heat until tender (~10 minutes).
  • Add potatoes, clam juice (including juice drained from minced clams), spices, vinegar and water to stockpot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes (until potatoes are tender).
  • Combine 3 C half and half with flour, then add to stockpot.
  • Add clams, remaining half and half and Tabasco to stockpot and stir to combine well.
  • Heat through, stirring to mix. As it heats through soup will thicken.
  • Be sure to taste chowder before serving and season further with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Serve and enjoy!

THE BEST CLAM CHOWDER



The Best Clam Chowder image

This is a basic New England clam chowder, though with leeks used in place of the traditional onions, and a splash of wine to add a floral note. Also: thyme. Very continental! It is shockingly delicious and deserves its title as best. Bacon will add a smoky note to the stew. If you use it, it may be worth it to go the whole distance and get expensive double-smoked bacon instead of the standard supermarket fare. The salt pork, which is not smoked, will take the meal in the opposite direction, emphasizing the pure flavor of the clams.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Time 1h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

24 medium-size quahog clams, usually rated ''top neck'' or ''cherrystone,'' rinsed
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 pound slab bacon or salt pork, diced
2 leeks, tops removed, halved and cleaned, then sliced into half moons
3 large Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
2 cups cream
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped parsley.

Steps:

  • Put the clams in a large, heavy Dutch oven, add about 4 cups water, then set over medium-high heat. Cover, and cook until clams have opened, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. (Clams that fail to open after 15 to 20 minutes should be discarded.) Strain clam broth through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or doubled-up paper towels, and set aside. Remove clams from shells, and set aside as well.
  • Rinse out the pot, and return it to the stove. Add butter, and turn heat to medium-low. Add bacon or salt pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pork has started to brown, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove pork from fat, and set aside.
  • Add the leeks to the fat, and cook, stirring frequently, until they are soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in potatoes and wine, and continue cooking until wine has evaporated and the potatoes have just started to soften, approximately 5 minutes. Add enough clam broth to just cover the potatoes, approximately 3 cups, reserving the rest for another use. Add the thyme and the bay leaf.
  • Partly cover the pot, and simmer gently until potatoes are tender, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, chop the clams into bits about the size of the bacon dice.
  • When potatoes are tender, add cream and stir in chopped clams and reserved bacon. Add black pepper to taste. Let come to a simmer, and remove from heat. (Do not let chowder come to a full boil.) Fish out the thyme and the bay leaf, and discard.
  • The chowder should be allowed to sit for a while to cure. Reheat it to a bare simmer before serving, then garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with oyster crackers.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 398, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Fat 28 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 544 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CROWD PLEASER MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER



Crowd Pleaser Manhattan Clam Chowder image

This recipe was given to me by a bachelor who enjoys cooking, and making large quantities when he does.. It freezes well, and he makes up many individual servings for himself. I was never very fussy about clam chowder, but have to admit, I love the flavor of this one. I think the spicey clamato juice is the key to awesome flavor.

Provided by Cat..atude

Categories     Chowders

Time 1h30m

Yield 25 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 (14 ounce) cans clam broth
1 (28 ounce) can clams
1 (14 ounce) can clams
2 liters of extra spicy clamato juice
84 ounces diced tomatoes
1 lb bacon, diced
2 cups dice onions
2 cups diced carrots
4 cups diced potatoes
1/3 cup pot barley
1/3 cup rice
2 -3 drops Tabasco sauce (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
Tabasco sauce, to suit taste

Steps:

  • Saute lightly, onions and bacon.
  • Drain clams reserving juice.
  • In a large stock pot, boil clamato juice, clam broth and drained broth from clams.
  • When broth and clamato come to a boil, add bacon and onions.
  • Bring back to boil,then add barley, rice,and carrots.
  • Bring back to boil and then simmer for 1/2 hour.
  • Now add tobasco, pepper and potatoes.
  • Simmer again for another 45 minutes.
  • Add clams.
  • Thicken soup if desired (equal amounts of flour and water mixed together.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 220, Fat 9, SaturatedFat 2.8, Cholesterol 29.8, Sodium 792.3, Carbohydrate 24.8, Fiber 2.6, Sugar 7.4, Protein 10.4

NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER I



New England Clam Chowder I image

Hot and hearty recipe that will warm you up on cold winter days.

Provided by Debbie2

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Seafood

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 slices bacon, diced
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 ½ cups water
4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
3 cups half-and-half
3 tablespoons butter
2 (10 ounce) cans minced clams

Steps:

  • Place diced bacon in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook until almost crisp; add onions, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in water and potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
  • Pour in half-and-half, and add butter. Drain clams, reserving clam liquid; stir clams and 1/2 of the clam liquid into the soup. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Do not allow to boil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.8 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 101.4 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 24.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.5 g, Sodium 706.2 mg, Sugar 2 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh clams whenever possible. Fresh clams will give your chowder the best flavor.
  • If you can't find fresh clams, use frozen clams. Frozen clams are a good substitute for fresh clams, but they won't have quite as much flavor.
  • Soak the clams in cold water for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help to remove any grit or sand from the clams.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in your chowder. This will give the chowder more flavor and texture.
  • Don't overcook the chowder. Overcooked chowder will be tough and chewy.
  • Serve the chowder hot with crusty bread or crackers.

Conclusion:

Clam chowder is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special occasion dinner. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious clam chowder that will impress your friends and family.

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