Light Ham Potato Chowder (Printer View)

Comforting chowder blending ham, potatoes, corn, and celery in a creamy, savory broth.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 cup celery, diced
03 - 1 cup frozen or fresh sweet corn kernels
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Proteins

06 - 1 cup lean cooked ham, diced

→ Dairy

07 - 1 cup low-fat milk
08 - 1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream

→ Pantry

09 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Herbs and Spices

13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and celery; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic and diced ham; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add potatoes, corn, dried thyme, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir into the pot and simmer 2 to 3 minutes to thicken slightly.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in milk and half-and-half; warm gently without boiling. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Stir in chopped parsley. Ladle chowder into bowls and garnish with additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can have a restaurant-quality soup on the table without the stress.
  • The combination of ham, potato, and corn is unexpectedly sophisticated—comfort food that feels a little bit fancy.
  • It's naturally lighter than most chowders, so you can enjoy a big bowl without feeling sluggish afterward.
02 -
  • Don't rush the sautéing step at the beginning—those few minutes of letting onion and celery soften are what prevent your chowder from tasting watered down.
  • Always add dairy to hot soup, never the other way around, and keep the heat low when you do—this prevents any weird curdling that ruins the whole thing.
03 -
  • If your potatoes are taking forever to soften, cut them smaller next time—consistency matters more than you'd think.
  • Taste as you go and don't be shy about seasoning; soup needs more salt than you think because the volume dilutes flavors, so build it gradually.
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