What to Serve with Clam Chowder

What to Serve with Clam Chowder –  top 10 delicious side dishes to enjoy with creamy New England Clam Chowder.

A bowl of chowder is one of the first things I think of making on a cold winter day.

Creamy, hearty, loaded with clams, tender potatoes and crispy smoky bacon.

It’s a favorite soup in my house and this recipe is ready in just 30 minutes – but what sides go best with it?

Ingredients in New England Clam Chowder:

This is an easy and really good New England style Clam Chowder recipe (sometimes called Boston Clam Chowder) from simple grocery store ingredients.

I always use canned clams. They’re delicious and cost efficient and always available in any grocery store.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 slices thick cut bacon cooked crisp (reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings)
• 2 medium carrots peeled and diced
• 1 stalk celery diced
• 1/2 medium onion diced
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme removed from stems and minced
• 2 cloves garlic grated
• 1 1/2 cups diced potatoes (can use redskins, yukon or russet – I like leaving the skin on)
• 1/2 cup chicken stock may use vegetable or seafood stock
• 8 ounce bottle of clam juice
• 1 1/4 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 cans diced clams 6.5 ounce each
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley

How to make Clam Chowder:

Though only a small amount of Old Bay seasoning is used, it’s a key ingredient in this recipe.

• Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat then add the bacon.
• Cook bacon until crisp then transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve one tablespoon of the bacon drippings in the pot.

• Add the diced carrots, celery and onion, lightly season with salt and pepper and cook 2-3 minutes or until the carrots have started to soften.
• Stir in the thyme and grated garlic and cook one minute.
• Add diced potatoes, clam juice and stock. Season with Old Bay then cover and bring to a boil.

• Reduce the heat to low and simmer 5 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Whisk the flour and half and half together in a medium bowl then slowly pour into the pot stirring to combine.
• Simmer uncovered 5-7 minutes or until thickened, stirring often.

• Add the clams and their juices then rough chop the bacon and add to the chowder.
• Continue cooking over low heat 2-3 minutes then stir in the parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve hot with any of the side dish suggestions below.

Subs and variations to this recipe:

• Heavy cream in place of half and half for even more rich texture.
• Add lump crab meat for a creamy seafood chowder.
• Sweet corn can be added to the creamy soup – for a sweet/salty taste with the bacon.

What to serve with Clam Chowder:

Below you’ll find some perfect side dishes to compliment any bowl of clam chowder.

1. Oyster crackers
2. Crispy fried onions
3. Crusty buttery bread

Bread bowl with chowder served in it.

Fried Lake Perch

Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks

Air Fryer French Fries

Beer Bread

4-Ingredient Coleslaw

Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato Salad

What to do with leftover chowder:

Cool completely then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or saucepan on the stove.

Enjoy!

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