BEST Clam Chowder Recipe (Market Street Copycat) | foodiecrush.com (2024)

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A favorite of locals and tourists alike, this creamy New England clam chowder recipe comes from one of Salt Lake City’s longest running restaurants, Market Street Grill, and is easy to make at home.

Creamy New England Clam Chowder

Creamy, full of vegetables and lush with clams, this homemade clam chowder recipe isdelicious in every respect, and I’m saying it loud and proud that it’s the best clam chowder recipe outside of New England. Yep, I’m staking my claim.

It comes from the restaurant where I met my husband when we were both servers, Salt Lake City’s acclaimed Market Street Grill, where this chowder is probably still one of the most popular bowls of soup you will find in the state. From San Francisco to New England, I’ve been to a whole lot of places and ordered a whole lot of chowder, and still to this day, this chowder is tops on my list.

What’s in This Clam Chowder?

You may be asking, what’s the difference between Boston, New England, and Manhattan clam chowder? As a young chowderhead I only knew of New England clam chowder, which is the same as Boston clam chowder with a white creamy broth made from a flour and butter roux. Manhattan clam chowder has a tomato broth.

The ingredients list for this creamy chowder soup is fairly short for such a flavorful dish.

This New England style clam chowder is not made with bacon. And before you ask me, no, you can’t substitute low-fat versions of any of the ingredients listed below because the chowder will be thinner and not as savory. Homemade clam chowder just doesn’t taste good when you try to make it healthier, so instead, just eat a little less and revel in it’s lush flavor.

Here are the clam chowder ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:

  • Potatoes
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Green pepper
  • Leeks
  • Clams
  • Salt and pepper
  • Dried thyme
  • Bay leaves
  • Tobasco
  • Sherry wine
  • Butter
  • Water
  • Flour
  • Half and half

How to Make Chowder

First, add everything except the flour, half and half, and butter to a large pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are soft.

Stir the melted butter and flour in an oven-safe container and bake for 30 minutes to eliminate the raw flour flavor. Once baked, stir the flour mixture into the chowder, then remove from the heat.

Slowly stir in the half and half, then return the clam chowder to the heat. Cook until it reaches your desired serving temperature.

Can I Freeze Clam Chowder?

I don’t recommend doing so since this recipe contains a lot of butter and half and half. If you freeze and reheat this clam chowder soup, I think the dairy would split and your chowder would have an odd texture.

Can I Make This Gluten-Free?

I’ve only ever made this chowder recipe as written, so I’m not sure if you can use a gluten-free flour base to make the roux. If you make a gluten-free version of this easy clam chowder recipe and it turns out well, please leave a comment below letting me know!

Tips for Making This Recipe

Use canned or frozen clams in this clam chowder recipe. Use whichever is easiest for you to find, and make sure to chop them up so they’re easier to eat.

For the best flavor and texture, use real butter, not margarine or another butter alternative. If you use salted butter, give the soup a taste before adding additional salt, just to be safe.

I don’t recommend using whole milk in place of the half and half. The half and half contains more fat, which makes this chowder super flavorful, creamy, and rich.

More Creamy Soup Recipes You’ll Love

  • Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup
  • The Best Cheeseburger Soup
  • Tomato Basil Soup
  • Fish Chowder
  • Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

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BEST Clam Chowder Recipe (Market Street Copycat) | foodiecrush.com (9)

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4.74 from 67 votes

The BEST Clam Chowder (Market Street Grill Copycat)

This creamy New England clam chowder recipe comes from one of Salt Lake City's longest running restaurants, Market Street Grill, and is easy to make at home.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword clam chowder

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 10

Calories 407kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup potatoes , diced ½ inch
  • 1 cup celery , diced ½ inch
  • 1 cup onion , diced ½ inch
  • 1 cup green pepper , diced ½ inch
  • 1 cup leeks , tops and bottoms, diced ½ inch
  • ¾ cup chopped clams , canned or frozen
  • ¾ tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ tablespoon salt
  • ¾ tablespoon dried thyme
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco
  • ¾ cup sherry wine
  • ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter , melted
  • 2 cups water
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 quarts half and half

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients except butter, flour and half and half. Simmer together until potatoes are thoroughly cooked.

  • Combine melted butter and flour in an ovenproof container and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes to eliminate the raw flour flavor and stabilize chowder.

  • Stir roux (butter flour mixture) into chowder and cook and stir until thick. Mixture will be slightly less thick than cookie dough. Remove chowder from heat. Stir in half and half until blended. Heat to serving temperature, stirring occasionally and serve immediately with crusty sourdough bread and extra Tabasco.

Notes

Recipe from The Utah Dining Car Cookbook, Ogden Junior League.

Nutrition

Serving: 10g | Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 1439mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1163IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 290mg | Iron: 3mg

More Clam Recipe Ideas

  • The Best Clam Dip EVER
  • Linguine con Vongole (Linguine with Clam Sauce)
  • How to Make the Best Steamed Clams
  • Ina Garten’s Easy Cioppino Recipe

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BEST Clam Chowder Recipe (Market Street Copycat) | foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

What two ingredients must be present for the soup to be called a chowder? ›

Chowder is a soup made with a liquid base of broth and thickened milk or cream featuring seafood or vegetables. Classic chowders are very thick and are often served with a garnish of crackers or hard biscuits.

What is the best thickener for clam chowder? ›

This clam chowder recipe should produce perfectly rich soup. If you'd like your chowder a little thicker, though, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Simply stir cornstarch into a small amount of cold water (or another liquid, such as wine or stock), then stir the mixture into the simmering chowder.

What is the grit in clam chowder? ›

If you, like me, buy your clams in the market, make sure you give them a good rinse to get rid of excess sand. A little sand in your chowder is okay, it's part of the experience.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What ingredient does chowder always have? ›

Customarily, chowder included onion, potatoes, and cream.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

Can Muslims eat clam chowder? ›

Just be sure to avoid using any prohibited ingredients in cooking, such as wine in fish broth or bacon in clam chowder. For cooking, use whole ingredients like vegetables and grains, and when using partially processed foods like broth or sauces, carefully check the ingredients and look for a Halal seal.

Is clam chowder good for you? ›

Clam chowder is high in carbohydrates and saturated fats but can be healthy when prepared with lower-fat ingredients. Choose a recipe with low-fat cream or milk and reduce the butter used. Clams are rich in iron, a nutrient that promotes immune system function.

Why does my clam chowder taste bland? ›

Sometimes, this can occur when the chowder sits in the fridge, as the texture and taste become watered-down, as mentioned by FoodsGuy. Or, when you're adding salt to the soup while the potatoes are cooking, the potatoes may absorb all that saltiness and leave the broth wanting more, explains DeadSpin.

How do I thicken my chowder? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How long is homemade clam chowder good for? ›

If it is homemade clam chowder, try to consume it within 2 to 3 days of making. If you didn't open your canned soup, the 'best by' date printed on the can would typically be about 2 to 5 years from the production date and indicates when the soup will maintain optimal flavor and quality.

What makes clam chowder thicker? ›

"Authentic New England chowders are never thick, however, with most relying on the starch from the potatoes to slightly thicken the broth and milk or cream," explains Charlie Burke, at the online magazine The Heart of New England.

What are the three types of clam chowder? ›

Many regional variations exist, but the three most prevalent are New England or "white" clam chowder, which includes milk or cream, Manhattan or "red" clam chowder, which includes tomatoes, and Rhode Island or "clear" clam chowder, which omits both.

Does Campbell's clam chowder have real clams? ›

CAREFULLY CRAFTED: Real clams and potatos blended with fresh cream and traditional herbs and spice create this balanced chowder. SIMPLE PREP: We've carefully crafted this soup to be delicious as-is or garnished to your liking—just add water and heat.

What makes a soup a chowder? ›

Chowder is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc. Some cream-style chowders do not use cream, and are instead prepared using milk and a roux to thicken them.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

What are the 2 basic categories of soup? ›

Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. In traditional French cuisine, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups.

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