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This potato corn chowder is creamy and hearty without being heavy, thanks to sweet corn, red potatoes, and white beans. Simmering the corn cobs adds big flavor to this vegetarian soup.
This healthy potato corn chowder was inspired by a $1 bag of end-of-season corn from the farmer’s market. I wanted to create my own vegetarian potato corn chowder recipe that was healthy, full of vegetables, and filling.
Since many times vegetarian chowders are less filling than I’d like, I decided to add white beans to our potato corn chowder. The white beans blend in with the other vegetables, at the same time adding some plant based protein and making the soup more filling! Here’s how to make this delicious soup.
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Seriously deliciously delicious. We added a touch of chili lime seasoning and that blew it out of the water!” -MJ
The Secret to the Best Flavor
The main secret to this potato corn chowder is boiling the corn cobs in the broth while the soup cooks. This adds a fantastic richness and complexity of flavor. If you don’t have in season corn, you can still make this chowder with frozen corn and omitting the corn cobs.
Just make sure to try it during corn season to experience the full effect! In my potato corn chowder, I’ve used milk instead of cream to keep it on the lighter side. The end result is a healthy chowder that’s bursting with flavor and not too heavy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on the ingredients you’ll need:
- Red-skinned potatoes: Waxy potatoes hold their shape, so you get tender cubes in your soup. Yukon Gold potatoes also work!
- Fresh corn: You’ll need both the kernels and cobs of fresh, in-season sweet corn. In a pinch, frozen works too: you’ll just lose that sweet flavor in the broth.
- White beans: Canned cannellini or Great Northern work well and keep the soup filling.
- Whole milk: I like to use whole milk instead of cream, which keeps it lighter.
- Cornmeal or masa: Cornmeal thickens the soup and doubles the corn flavor – it also keeps it gluten-free!
- Aromatic vegetables: I use yellow onion, carrots, red bell pepper, garlic, bay leaf, and fresh thyme for big flavor.
How to Make Potato Corn Chowder
The full recipe is in the recipe card below, but here’s basic idea:
- Step 1: Prep everything first. Chop all the veggies.
- Step 2: Sauté the base. Saute the onion in butter with the bay leaf over medium heat, then add carrots, bell pepper, and garlic.
- Step 3: Simmer with the cobs. Add the corn, cobs, potatoes, and milk. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Step 4: Thicken and finish. Remove the cobs and bay leaf. Stir in the cornmeal slurry, then the salt, beans, and thyme, mashing any lumps against the side of the pot.
What to Serve With Potato Corn Chowder
Here’s what I’d serve with this chowder to make it a full meal:
- Cornbread muffins: Try my classic cornbread muffins or a wedge of easy skillet cornbread.
- Crusty bread: Try my easy no knead bread.
- A simple green salad: Here are my top green salad recipes, from arugula salad to apple salad.
- A grilled cheese, cut into strips for dipping. Try my favorite grilled cheese in the oven.
Storage and Reheating
Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add a splash of milk if it gets too thick.
I haven’t tried freezing this soup, but I expect it would probably work frozen up to 3 months.
Dietary Notes
This potato corn chowder recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Potato Corn Chowder
This potato corn chowder is creamy and hearty without being heavy, thanks to sweet corn, red potatoes, and white beans. Simmering the corn cobs adds big flavor to this vegetarian soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion
- ½ red bell pepper
- 3 carrots
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 pound red skinned potatoes
- 6 ears corn
- 15-ounce can white beans
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups milk
- ¼ cup cornmeal or masa
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Dice the yellow onion and red pepper. Peel and dice the carrots. Mince the garlic. Dice the potatoes. Cut corn off of 6 cobs (if possible, use a bundt pan: place the corn cob in the center ring and cut the corn down into the pan). Reserve the cobs. Drain and rinse the white beans; set aside. Remove the leaves of thyme and set aside.
- In a large pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Saute the onion and bay leaf 4 minutes, until soft. Add the carrots, red pepper, and garlic, and saute for 4 minutes. Add corn kernels, corn cobs, potatoes, and milk. Bring to a boil. Then simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the corn cobs and bay leaf. In a small bowl, mix the cornmeal or masa with ¼ cup water, then add to pot. Add the kosher salt, white beans, and fresh thyme. Heat through for about 5 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the soup is thickened a bit (mash down lumps of cornmeal if any occur). Serve warm.
Seriously deliciously delicious. We added a touch of chili lime seasoning and that blew it out of the water! Do you think it would freeze well? Looking for freezer soups to have on hand for soccer season.
That sounds delicious! This should work frozen, though the vegetables do become a bit more mushy after freezing!
I thought this was just okay, but my mom loved it when I gave some to her, so it’s up to your preference I think. I fear at the heart of it, I just don’t like corn chowder that much (why I made it for myself all the while knowing that is entirely on me). I really liked that there was cornmeal in it, as well as red peppers. It added a nice color and thickness to the soup that I think corn chowder can be lacking in. Overall I think it’s probably a great potato corn chowder recipe – if you like that sort of thing! haha.
This soup was delicious! I’m assuming cannot freeze due to milk based soup, how do leftovers fare?
I wouldn’t freeze, but warming up leftovers on the stovetop works great!
Have you or could you make this in an instant pot?!
We haven’t — but we have an Instant Pot potato soup coming in a few weeks!
I made this vegan using Earth Balance butter and unsweetened almond milk. I added a bit of chopped up kale just because I had some around. I added extra kosher salt. The recipe says 4 servings but those would be huge, so I’d say more like 5-6. I’m hoping that this freezes ok!
This soup look fantastic, perfect for a cool Fall day.
~Brittany
http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/shortsweetandsassy/
As corn on the cob becomes harder to find, do you think this soup would be possible with frozen corn? I know we would miss out on the flavor added from having the cobs in the soup as it cooks. What do you think?
Hmm. It might not be quite as flavorful, but I would think it would still work. Probably about 3 cups of corn. Let us know if you try it and how it works out!
Hi Katelyn! That is a great question. I think that you could make this with frozen corn, but as you expected, I do think you’d miss out on some of the flavor without the cobs. I haven’t tried it that way, but the broth was SO sweet and delicious that I think you’d be missing out a bit. However, I think it would still be tasty! It might need a bit more flavoring to compensate (maybe salt or a bit of spice).
What an inspiration! I try to be brave to experiment and trust my kitchen instincts but’s not always easy.
Loving the soup…looks delish. :)
SO summery!! Love corn chowders :)
Love the little thyme sprig in the final photo, what a beautiful bowl of soup!
I love your story. I felt the same way when I first began blogging and cooking for the blog. I still sometimes feel that way, so it is very relatable. Beautiful recipe and perfect for this transition into fall!
This looks so gorgeous and so comforting. Perfect dinner as the weather gets cooler.
I am a classical musician and have the same nightmare! This soup looks delicious.
I’m a sucker for any kind of soup, especially a hearty chowder! This sounds great.
I love a good chowder! It’s so perfect for winter, or any cool day, really. Yum!!
What a comforting bowl of soup! Love the addition of cornmeal!
What a pretty post. A thoughtful story, gorgeous photos and a delicious recipe!