4.78 from 45 reviews

Jalapeno Corn Chowder

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We cannot get enough of this Jalapeño Corn Chowder with soup season in full swing!

I’m not kidding, we’ve made this once a week for the last 5 weeks and still aren’t tired of it yet. ☺️

I’ve also been also making this Creamy Wild Rice Soup and Tomato Tortellini Soup like nobody’s business!

It’s filled with hearty russet potatoes, spicy fresh jalapeños, sweet corn and fresh thyme. You’ll love this Jalapeño Corn Chowder because it isn’t too rich, it’s an easy to make and is a great soup for a quick-fix weeknight dinner.

corn chowder in a pink bowl garnished with bacon, cheddar and jalapeno

This creamy corn chowder is such a good go-to comforting dinner.

Why this recipe works

  • Can be made with fresh corn in season, canned or frozen
  • Has the perfect texture and creamy consistency
  • Can be easily made without the jalapeno
  • Uses real, simple ingredients
  • Perfect for summer or a cold winter night!
corn chowder in a pink bowl garnished with bacon, cheddar and jalapeno

Ingredients you will need

For the ingredient measurements and entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.

ingredients to make chowder in small glass dishes.
  • Chicken broth: or vegetable broth
  • Whole milk: you can use 2% or skim if you prefer, we just love the richness whole milk provides
  • Corn: (canned, frozen or fresh all work)
  • Jalapeños: remove the flesh and seeds if you don’t like it too spicy!

Step by Step Directions

For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the blog post to the recipe card.

step by step photos making corn chowder.
milk being poured into a corn chowder soup.
a portion of the soup blended and being added back into the soup in a dutch oven.
  1. Sauté the onion and celery. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery and onions and cook until the onion has softened.
  2. Melt butter in the pan and sprinkle with flour. Stir or whisk to combine until vegetables are coated.
  3. Add in broth, milk, potatoes, jalapeños, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper and paprika. Cook until potatoes are tender
  4. Add in corn and heavy cream. Stir to combine.
  5. Blend some of the soup: Ladle some of the soup out of the pot and transfer to a high powered blender.
  6. Allow soup to come back to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
  7. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with bacon, cheddar cheese, chives, more jalapeños, etc.
corn chowder in a ladle.

Tips for making Jalapeno Corn Chowder

  • Add in leftover rotisserie chicken or ham for a heartier soup.
  • Omit paprika if preferred but we love the smoky flavor it adds to the soup.
  • If fresh corn is in season I recommend using that (4-5 ears of corn is plenty). If not, frozen corn or canned corn do the trick.
  • Blending a portion of the soup helps to create the creamy corn chowder we all love.
  • You can use Yukon gold potatoes in place of Russet potatoes.
  • Two jalapeños can be very spicy, use 1 or even half of 1 if desired for a less spicy soup.
a hand dunking some bread into a bowl of corn chowder.

What to serve with Corn Chowder:

Which do you purchase more often?

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

4.78 from 45 reviews

Creamy Jalapeño Corn Chowder

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 people
This creamy corn chowder is spicy, loaded with sweet corn and is a perfect year-round soup! It's always nice to have a quick-fix weeknight soup on hand! Serve it up with bacon and cheese!

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 large Russet potatoes, washed, peeled, small dice
  • 2 jalapeños, diced*
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tsp. garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. smoked paprika
  • 2 (15.25 oz. cans) yellow corn, drained (can sub with fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • garnish ideas: bacon, cheddar cheese, chives

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Sauté the onion and celery: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, abut 5-8 minutes.
    2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 medium white onion, diced, 2 stalks celery, diced
  • Melt the butter in the pan and sprinkle with flour. Stir or whisk to combine until vegetables are coated. Cook for a few minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
    1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup flour
  • Turn the heat to high. Add in broth, milk, potatoes, jalapeños, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper and paprika. Bring this to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cover. Cook for ~8-10 minutes or until potatoes are tender but not mushy, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of your pot.
    2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth), 2 cups whole milk, 2 large Russet potatoes, washed, peeled, small dice, 2 jalapeños, diced*, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped, 1 tsp. garlic, minced, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1/8 tsp. smoked paprika
  • Add in corn and heavy cream. Stir to combine.
    2 (15.25 oz. cans) yellow corn, drained (can sub with fresh or frozen), 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Blend some of the soup: Ladle 3 cups of the soup out of the pot and transfer to a high powered blender (like a Vitamix). Blend until smooth and add back into the soup.
  • Allow soup to come back to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with bacon, cheddar cheese, chives, more jalapeños, etc.

Video

Notes

  • Soup may thicken as it sits. When reheating leftovers, you may need to add in a little more milk.
  • Leftovers are best reheated in a saucepan on the stove. 
  • *Two jalapeños can be very spicy, use 1 jalapeño or less if desired for a less spicy soup.
  • Add in leftover rotisserie chicken or ham for a heartier soup.
  • Omit paprika if preferred but we love the smoky flavor it adds to the soup.
  • If fresh corn is in season I recommend using that (4-5 ears of corn is plenty). If not, frozen corn or canned corn do the trick.
  • Blending a portion of the soup helps to create the creamy corn chowder we all love.
  • You can use Yukon gold potatoes in place of Russet potatoes.
 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 273kcal (14%), Carbohydrates: 35g (12%), Protein: 9g (18%), Fat: 12g (18%), Saturated Fat: 7g (44%), Cholesterol: 36mg (12%), Sodium: 649mg (28%), Potassium: 778mg (22%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 7g (8%), Vitamin A: 585IU (12%), Vitamin C: 10mg (12%), Calcium: 149mg (15%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Photography: photos taken in this post are by Megan from The Broke Girl Table.

Krolls Korner

Krolls Korner

Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.

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Claudia

Made it today and it was so good! Not a big fan of onion but I know it’s needed in soups so I diced it as small as I could and used 1/2 of the recommended amount. Would make it again, it was delicious!

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Laura Galindo

I have been dying to make this recipe and I finally did today! If you’re in Fresno, it was RAINY. This soup did not disappoint. I made it EXACTLY as Tawnie did, no modifications at all and it was so perfect. My boyfriend said “maybe the best soup we’ve ever had!” 10/10 – so easy to make!

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Kristina

This recipe is simple and absolutely delicious. I’m new to cooking and it was amazing.

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Julie

OMG this is delicious! I’ve made several of your recipes and love them all but this one is so so good. I used fresh sweet corn, added some diced poblano in addition to the jalapeno and also added shredded chicken breast. Otherwise, the rest was just as you made it and I’m in LOVE!! I literally just shared your recipe to my entire team at work. Yum!

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Jessica

Does this freeze well?

Andrea

I’ve made this several times and it is now my favorite food. All of the flavors work together to make something so delicious and perfect.

Courtney Elvira

Can you make this is a crock pot?

Ashley

Huge hit with me and my husband! Just wondering if there is an instant pot version?

Kechi

This corn chowder looks so cozy! I want it tomorrow for lunch; will love to serve it with a slice of cornbread.

veenaazmanov

Delicious combination and creamy texture takes this to another level of goodness. Best Dinner option too.