Classic Clam Chowder Recipe

New England Style Clam Chowder
LauriPatterson/E+/Getty Images
  • 40 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins,
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: Makes about 4 servings
Ratings (17)

By Molly Watson

Updated 03/24/18

This classic clam chowder is smooth and flavorful, chock full of fresh, delicious clams. It is neither gloppy nor gluey, but hearty and satisfying and a cinch to pull together.

You can play around with the proportions of milk and broth or water and feel free to use all milk if you like. Whole milk will yield a richer, more classic chowder.

What You'll Need

  • 2 slices bacon
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 small onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 2 large potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup broth or clam juice
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh clams
  • Garnish: freshly ground black pepper

How to Make It

  1. Finely chop the bacon. Heat a medium pot over medium-high heat, add the butter, and once the butter is melted, add the bacon. Cook, stirring now and again, until the bacon renders its fat. Adjust the heat so the butter doesn't brown.
  2. Meanwhile, finely chop the celery and the onion. Add them to the bacon and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring once in awhile, until the vegetables are soft, about 3 minutes.
  1. Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes. Once vegetables are soft, sprinkle them with the flour. Cook, stirring until the flour smells a bit like pie crust—that will let you know that it is cooked and keep the chowder from having a raw flour flavor—about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, broth, and milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are very tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, do one of two things. Either shuck the raw clams or heat a large pot over high heat. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water to the pot. It should sizzle immediately. Add the clams, cover, and cook until all the clams are open, 3 to 5 minutes. Lift clams out of the pot. Use a fork or small tongs to pull the clams out of their shells. Discard the shells. Strain the clam cooking liquid through several layers of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel to make sure any grit is left behind. Add strained cooking liquid to the chowder.
  3. Once potatoes are tender, add the clams and simmer until the clams are cooked through, about 5 minutes for raw shucked clams and just 1 to 2 minutes for the steamed-opened clams.
  4. Taste the chowder and add more salt to taste if it needs it. Serve it hot, topped with pepper, if you like.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 451
Total Fat 15 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Unsaturated Fat 5 g
Cholesterol 79 mg
Sodium 1,979 mg
Carbohydrates 43 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Protein 34 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)