Our Favorite Healthy Chowders

June 01, 2010
Credit: Randy Mayor
Chowder doesn't have to be heavy or fattening to be delicious. Find our top recipe picks for healthy chowders.
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Plum Island Sound Clam Chowder

This top-rated chowder is a reader recipe from Patti Marsh of West Newbury, Massachusetts who recommends letting the chowder sit overnight, or at least for a couple of hours, before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Patti's key ingredients, a splash of sherry and fresh thyme, help bring out the flavors and add delicate, herbal top notes to every bowl.

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Clam Chowder

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Clam Chowder

No tricks here: Modest amounts of butter, bacon, and a mix of reduced-fat milk and half-and-half for richness enhance this version of a New England classic. Don’t forget a few oyster crackers.

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Corn, Clam, and Mussel Chowder

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Fresh vegetables, hearty seafood, and crumbled bacon make this quick-cooking chowder a robust one-dish meal. A tomato and fennel salad completes the menu.

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Simple Clam Chowder

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
Our Simple Clam Chowder comes together quickly in about 30 minutes and uses bacon for a hit of smoky meatiness to complement the clams.

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Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Next time you grill, throw on some extra bell pepper, corn, and tomato for this dish. The grilled vegetables are pureed, spreading smoky flavor and thick, creamy texture into every spoonful. A sprinkle of blue cheese on top adds even more layers of flavor. Tomato soup won't be just for cold, rainy afternoons anymore after this.

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New England Clam Chowder

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: New England Clam Chowder

So good, you’ll think you were transported to New England, this chowder combines the rich flavors of clam, thyme, celery, bacon and more into the perfect dish.

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Chicken Corn Chowder

Credit: Lee Harrelson
Thickening with a roux and pureeing some of the corn gives this soup the classic rich, creamy, hearty texture you expect of chowder. It's perfect to warm up your family on a cold winter night, but it's also great in the summertime, when you can use fresh sweet corn cut straight off the cob (you'll need about six medium ears for the recipe). Take leftovers to work for a healthful, homemade heat-and-eat lunch.

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Corn and Potato Chowder

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Corn and Potato Chowder

Most chowders only contain a small amount of meat in comparison to vegetables, so making this dish vegetarian was easy. It's warm and filling with lots of hearty potato and sweet corn in a creamy base. Seafood seasoning adds that classic New England flavor without meat, and a sprinkling of green onions and cheese on top punches up both color and taste. Not bad for 15 minutes' work and only 343 calories a serving.

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