Description
This seafood chowder is a comforting, hearty bowl of goodness, perfect for a cozy meal. Packed with shrimp, crab, and tender fish, all simmered in a creamy, flavorful broth with a touch of smoky bacon. It’s quick to prepare and is sure to be a hit with seafood lovers!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chowder:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 cups seafood stock (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (optional, for extra flavor)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup cooked crab meat (or a mix of crab and scallops)
- 1 cup white fish, such as cod or haddock, cut into chunks
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon and set it aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pot.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the diced onion, celery, and garlic to the pot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Simmer the potatoes: Add the diced potatoes to the pot and pour in the seafood stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-12 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Make it creamy: Stir in the heavy cream, whole milk, Old Bay seasoning, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes to combine the flavors.
- Add the seafood: Gently stir in the shrimp, crab, and fish chunks. Simmer for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the seafood is fully cooked and heated through.
- Finish and serve: Once everything is combined and heated, taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Ladle the chowder into bowls and garnish with crispy bacon and fresh parsley.
- Serve hot: Enjoy the seafood chowder with warm crusty bread or crackers!
Notes
- Substitute the seafood: You can use any combination of your favorite seafood for this chowder, including scallops, clams, or lobster.
- Make it dairy-free: Use coconut milk or almond milk instead of cream and milk for a dairy-free version.
- Thicken the chowder: If you prefer a thicker chowder, you can mash some of the potatoes in the soup or add a slurry of flour and water to thicken the broth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American