Crock Pot Ham and Potato Corn Chowder Recipe
This hearty Crock Pot Ham and Potato Corn Chowder is a comforting slow-cooked soup loaded with tender potatoes, sweet corn, diced ham, and a medley of vegetables. Perfect for a cozy meal, it combines creamy milk and instant mashed potato flakes to create a luscious, thick chowder that warms you from the inside out.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1.5 pound bag little potatoes, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Main Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 ounces ham, diced
- 1 (15.25 ounces) can corn, undrained
- 1 (32 ounces) container chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 1–2 cups instant mashed potato flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Dice the potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking in the slow cooker.
- Add ingredients to slow cooker: Place the diced vegetables, minced garlic, diced ham, dried thyme, undrained can of corn, and chicken broth into the crock pot. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Cook on low: Cover the crock pot with the lid and cook the mixture on low heat for 8 to 10 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the vegetables to become tender.
- Add milk: After cooking, pour in the two cups of milk into the slow cooker, stirring to fully incorporate the creamy element into the chowder.
- Thicken chowder: Start by adding one cup of instant mashed potato flakes to the chowder. Stir well, cover, and let the soup sit for 5 minutes. If the chowder isn’t thick enough, gradually add more potato flakes, no more than two cups in total, as the mixture will continue to thicken during the final cook time.
- Final cooking and seasoning: Allow the chowder to cook on low for an additional 20 minutes to let the thickness set in. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- If you prefer a thicker chowder, use the full two cups of instant mashed potato flakes.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave to avoid curdling the milk.
- Instant mashed potato flakes act as both a thickener and a flavorful addition, giving a smooth texture without the need for heavy creams.
Keywords: Crock Pot chowder, ham and potato chowder, slow cooker soup, corn chowder, comforting winter soup, easy crock pot recipes, creamy chowder
