Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

New England clam chowder belongs in a soup category of its own. So creamy and comforting, there is nothing like good clam chowder.

However, after taking a closer look, you’ll often find high-carb veggies and all-purpose flour lurking in every spoonful. These two ingredients turn what could be a keto-friendly staple into a carb-laden soup.

It’s time to flip the script on clam chowder by making it both healthy and satisfying with one simple keto recipe.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (1)

Is Clam Chowder Keto? Carbs in New England Clam Chowder

Whether it is Manhattan or New England clam chowder, they are rarely made in a keto-friendly way. Both versions rely on high-carb veggies, especially New England clam chowder.

After adding potatoes, carrots, and all-purpose flour, the net carb content reaches over 18 grams in each serving. Some recipes even come with over 30 grams per cup!

Fortunately for us keto dieters, it is easier to take out the carbs than it is to add them in. In fact, all it takes is a few simple changes to make clam chowder keto.

How to Make Delicious, Healthy, and Keto-friendly Clam Chowder

The secret to cutting the carbs from your chowder without losing flavor is to keep it simple.

Rather than relying on watery ingredients and using flour to thicken it, use thick and flavorful keto ingredients and let the broth and clam juice thin it.

With this clam chowder recipe, for example, you’ll use cream cheese and heavy cream as your soup base. Along with that, you’ll be incorporating exclusively low-carb ingredients, which will add all the flavors and textures we love without the unnecessary carbs.

Cooking Tips For The Best Keto Clam Chowder

By following this keto recipe step by step, you’ll be able to make a super satisfying clam chowder. There are, however, a few extra steps you can use to elevate your experience even more:

  • Start by carmelizing the onions in bacon fat. Before adding the onions to your slow cooker, carmelize them in the leftover bacon fat. This will add an extra kick of umami and bacon flavor to your keto clam chowder.
  • Save some crisp bacon for garnishing. To add another level of texture, sprinkle some crisp bacon on top of your chowder serving.
  • Don’t forget the salt! If the flavors are falling flat for you, you may need to add a pinch of salt to bring them out.
  • Add a touch of hot sauce. This keto clam chowder pairs wonderfully with spice. Try serving with your favorite hot sauce to add an extra punch of flavor.
  • Replace the potatoes with a low-carb vegetable. If you crave the mouthfeel of a starchy potato in your chowder, try using a keto-friendly vegetable The two best potato substitutes for keto are daikon radish and cauliflower. Simply cut your veggies into spoonable pieces and add them to the slow cooker with the other vegetables. (Just remember to add the extra macronutrients from those veggies with the nutrition info for the clam chowder recipe.)
  • Serve with keto crackers. If you love having chowder with a side of something crunchy and bready, try making our Pesto Keto Crackers. They are the perfect low-carb replacement for oyster crackers.

Common FAQs for Keto Chowder: Stovetop and Clam-free Options

This clam chowder recipe is surprisingly versatile as well. It can easily be converted in a way that fits your flavor and cooking preferences.

Do I Need a Slow Cooker? How to Make a Quick Stovetop Chowder

If you want to shorten the cooking time, simply cook it in a large pot on your stovetop.

First, cook the veggies through (in the chicken stock). Then, add the clams, clam juice, bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Your chowder will be done once it has reached your desired temperature, and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Are There Any Clam-free Keto Chowder Options?

If you are not a fan of clams, replace the clams and clam juice with your preferred seafood, meat, or low-carb vegetables.

For some culinary inspiration, give this low carb chowder recipe a try: .

Yields 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

1. Prep all ingredients. Put the slow cooker on low setting.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2)

2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (3)

3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (4)

4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (5)

5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (6)

6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (7)

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

NUTRITIONCALORIESFATCARBSFIBERNET CARBSPROTEIN
1/4 cup chicken broth3.70.10.300.30.4
1 medium onion, chopped410.29.51.38.21.3
1 small leek, sliced380.39.41.28.21
2 ribs celery, diced140.131.21.80.6
4 cloves garlic, minced180.140.33.70.8
2 tablespoons butter204230000.2
2 teaspoon sea salt000000
1 teaspoon black pepper50.11.30.50.80.2
3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams3757.51501567.5
8 ounce thick-cut bacon1061803.903.977
8 ounces cream cheese794781301314
1 1/2 cups heavy cream12141299.809.810
1 teaspoon dried thyme3.30.10.80.40.40.1
Totals3771318.5704.965.1173.1
Per Serving (/8)471.439.88.80.68.121.6
  • specialtyitems
  • cookingaccessories
  • kitchenproducts
  • supplementnecessities

Print

Keto Clam Chowder

Total Time: 8 hours

Yield: 8 servings

Calories per serving: 471

Fat per serving: 39.8

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (8)

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

  1. Prep all ingredients. Put slow cooker on low setting.
  2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.
  3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.
  4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
  5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

https://www.ruled.me/keto-clam-chowder/

Copyright 2023 | Ruled.Me

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

FAQs

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.

Is clam chowder high in carbs? ›

A 1-cup serving of canned condensed New England clam chowder prepared with 2 percent milk contains 154 calories, 18.8 g of carbohydrate, 8.16 g of protein, 5.09 g of fat and 0.8 g of fiber. The calorie composition is approximately 49 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat and 21 percent protein.

What is a good substitute for potatoes in chowder? ›

Replacing the potatoes is easy and you've got some choices here. My favorite substitute for keto soups and stews is turnip, as I think it ends up most like potatoes in taste and texture. Daikon radish is also a great alternative. Simply cube these vegetables the same way you would a potato and add it in.

What's the difference between Boston clam chowder and Manhattan clam chowder? ›

New England clam chowder is thick, creamy, and milky-white. Manhattan clam chowder is tomatoey, brothy, and clear. Both types share a clean, briny, and slightly-sweet flavor thanks to the clams—but that's about it.

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

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

How to thicken clam chowder without flour? ›

How can you thicken your clam chowder without using flour or a roux? To thicken this low carb clam chowder, I used mascarpone cheese. Think of it as solid heavy cream – it melted into the broth and gave it the most silky, creamy texture!

How unhealthy is clam chowder? ›

Clam chowder nutrition

And Walsh agrees, “Clam chowder is one of the worst soups a person can eat. It's high in fat, calories and sodium.” There is 180 calories in a cup of clam chowder. The macronutrient breakdown in a cup of clam chowder is 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

Can you eat clams on keto? ›

Steamed Clams and Winter Melon are perfect for those on a keto diet or gluten-free since they are low in carbs and sodium. What is this? Winter Melon has many health benefits since it is high fiber, high antioxidants, high water content, and low calories.

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

The difference between chowder, soup, and stew is that chowder is a soup made with broth that is thickened with flour and cream, with seafood and/or vegetables mixed in. Soup is made with water or broth and can host a variety of ingredients like pasta, vegetables, fruits, grains, meats or seafood.

What is a good substitute for potatoes on keto? ›

When following a low-carb diet and looking for alternatives to potatoes, consider incorporating cauliflower, zucchini, turnips, or rutabaga into your meals. These vegetables can be roasted, mashed, or used in various recipes as substitutes for potatoes while keeping your carb intake in check.

Can I use sour cream instead of cream in chowder? ›

If you prefer to use sour cream or Greek yogurt, you can “temper” it to prevent it from curdling. Simply place the sour cream or yogurt in a heat-safe bowl. Add a few splashes of the warm soup liquid, stirring after each, until the mixture is warmed through. Then stir the mixture into the soup.

What is the most popular clam chowder? ›

New England Clam Chowder is the most famous and most popular clam chowder. It's been around for centuries, so it's possible its longevity has contributed to its popularity. It's also thick and velvety, making it a comforting palate-pleaser, particularly on cold days.

What ingredient does chowder always have? ›

Types. 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 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.

Which thickener is most often used in chowders? ›

A roux is the most common thickener for sauces and soups and comes in three colors and strengths: white, blond, and brown. Brown roux is cooked longer to brown the flour and butter to deepen the flavor.

What can I use to thicken 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.

What is chowder soup typically thickened with? ›

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.

Will heavy cream thicken chowder? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 5918

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.