Southwestern Corn and Potato Chowder

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This week we are sharing Dairy for Dinner recipes.   When I heard that the only thing I could think of was macaroni and cheese with some type of meat.   I was really struggling with this one and I’m not sure why.  I guess I wanted to make sure my meal had plenty of dairy in it and wasn’t just used as a topping like a cheeseburger or a salad with cheese.

A bowl of Corn and Potato Chowder on a wooden backdrop.

I actually asked a few of my friends what they thought of when they heard dairy for dinner and they had a ton of great ideas!  Everything from pasta in cream or cheese sauce to cream or milk based soups to poultry in cream sauces.   They had great ideas and I’m so glad I asked!

This recipe came from another blogger.   I was reading a few weekly menu plans and this recipe for Southwestern Corn and Potato Chowder was on one of them.  I was intrigued because while I love potato soup we have it a lot and I was looking for something different.  With corn season upon us I thought a corn chowder was a great idea.

Ingredients for corn and potato chowder sitting on a cutting board, text overlay, close up of a bowl of corn and potato chowder

To make this soup you need a pile of potatoes, some bell peppers, and corn.   If it’s not corn season you can certainly use frozen corn but I think fresh cut off the kernel is best.  To that you add chicken broth, half and half, and spices.   Then you top it all off with crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, and cilantro.

If you want to spice up the soup feel free to add a small can of green chilies or a few chopped jalapenos.  Either would work really well in the chowder and add a nice amount of heat that wouldn’t be too overwhelming.

A bowl of corn and potato chowder with bits of red pepper sitting on a white wooden backdrop.

I like that this chowder is ready in about 45 minutes as well.  I hate when soup takes forever to cook and you have to simmer it over low heat for hours.  This one basically just needs the time for the potatoes to become tender then it’s good to go.

Pro Tips and Substitutions:

  • Add a 4 ounce can of chopped green chilies or a few seeded and chopped jalapenos for additional spice.
  • You can use whole milk or heavy cream in place of the half and half if that’s what you have in your refrigerator.   I wouldn’t use skim or 1% milk though as it will make the chowder too thin.
  • To make the soup creamier you could add a small can of creamed corn in addition to the amount of corn listed in the ingredients.

A bowl of Corn and Potato Chowder on a wooden backdrop.

Southwestern Corn and Potato Chowder

Creamy potato and corn chowder filled with spices and peppers then topped off with bacon and pepper jack cheese.
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Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 bell peppers any color, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 c. flour
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 t. black pepper
  • 1 t. cumin
  • 1 T. Arizona dreaming seasoning or other spicy Mexican seasoning
  • 1/4 t. cayenne optional
  • 8 c. chicken or vegetable broth
  • 4 c. potatoes 2 large or 3 medium, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 c. corn frozen or fresh
  • 1 c. half and half
  • 1/2 c. Pepper Jack cheese grated
  • 1/2 c. cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Cook the bacon in a large stock pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. This will take about 5 minutes.
  • Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
  • Add the onions, peppers, and garlic to the bacon grease and saute over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, cumin, and Arizona dreaming. Cook for 3 minutes.
  • Slowly add the chicken broth while stirring rapidly. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
  • Add the corn and half and half to the soup and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  • Ladle into soup bowls and top with the crispy bacon, Pepper Jack cheese, and chopped cilantro.

Notes

Recipe from Tide and Thyme
CLose up of a bowl of southwestern corn and potato chowder

 

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