This truly is The Best Clam Chowder Recipe ever. The secret is steaming fresh clams yourself. It’s easier than you think and totally worth the extra effort!
The Best Clam Chowder Recipe
Our Dad is a clam chowder fanatic. He orders clam chowder everywhere he goes – from coast to coast from Maine to Massachusetts to Alaska to Washington and everywhere in between. Out of all the clam chowders he has had, this is his absolute favorite. It is rich and creamy and made with fresh clams. We like to serve this chowder in a bread bowl or with a loaf of sourdough bread. It is also delicious topped with oyster crackers, bacon, and fresh thyme.
Where to Purchase Fresh Clams
The secret to this delicious clam chowder recipe is the fresh clams. If you leave near the coast, you’ve probably seen them in your grocery stores at the meat and seafood counter. If you live more inland, they might be harder to find. I live in Arizona so I knew I’d have to do some research. I called the meat and seafood counter at our Kroger store and they didn’t have them, but they said I could call a few days ahead and they could put in a special order for me. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a couple of days so I kept looking. I called a few more grocery stores with no luck. Then, I went to our local Asian market and found fresh clams there! It took a little extra time to track them down, but it was totally worth it!
How to Clean Fresh Clams
For best results, you want to use the clams the same day you purchase them. Clams should not smell fishy, they should smell briny like the ocean. Clean your clams thoroughly before use. Follow these simple steps to make sure you have squeaky clean clams:
- Inspect each shell for cracks or chips. Discard any cracked or chipped clams. Openings in the shell can let in bacteria.
- If any shells are open, tap the outside lightly with a spoon. The clam should close tightly when tapped. Discard any clams that do not close when tapped.
- In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of water with 1/3 cup of salt. Place all clams that passed your inspection into the bowl. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Transfer clams into a new clean bowl with a new salt and water mixture. Refrigerate for another 20 minutes. This process draws the dirt out of the clams. If any clams float to the top during this process instead of settling at the bottom, discard them.
- Remove clams from the water, but do not pour into a strainer. Pouring everything into a strainer can put dirt back into the clams. Use your hands or a slotted spoon.
- Finally, brush the outsides of the shell with a vegetable brush to remove any remaining dirt from the outside of the shell.
Can I use Canned Clams in this Clam Chowder Recipe?
If the fresh clams route is sounding a bit overwhelming, rest assured you can use canned clams. I think that fresh clams taste better and have a better texture, but canned clams will absolutely work. Use 3/4 cup of canned clams, chopped. You can save the juice from the cans to use in the recipe as well.
How to Steam Fresh Clams
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2-3 pounds fresh clams, cleaned (see above for cleaning instructions)
Using a large skillet with a lid, bring the water, chicken broth, and garlic to a boil. Add the clams into the skillet and place the lid on top. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Watch closely. Once all the clams have opened, remove from heat immediately. Do not overcook – your clams will be rubbery. Reserve some of the liquid for use in the chowder, and scoop the meat out of the shells.
More Tasty Soup Recipes:
If you love our Best Clam Chowder recipe, try some of our other favorite soups!
- Lasagna Soup: This is a tomato-based soup but it is loaded with noodles and meatballs. It is topped with a creamy cheese mix that gives it the delicious flavors of lasagna.
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Sausage: Another tomato-based soup with sausage and seasonings that give it a rich and hearty flavor.
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup: Chicken and Rice Soup warms you up on cold fall and winter days. It is also ideal for busy days. The ingredients go into the Slow Cooker in the morning and a nice, hot meal awaits in the evening.
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: There are so many different vegetables in this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup. It is very healthy and hearty.
- Creamy Butternut Squash Soup: A rich, sweet, and savory soup that is delicious in the fall. It is topped with croutons and roasted pecans.
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup: This is one of the easiest soups you will ever make. It is filled with flavorful meat and vegetables. Everyone loves it!
How to Make The Best Clam Chowder Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup celery finely diced
- 1 cup onions finely diced
- 1 cup leeks finely diced
- 3 cups red potatoes diced (if you like a thinner clam chowder use less)
- 3/4 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 3/4 tablespoon whole thyme
- 6 bay leaves
- 4 shakes Tabasco sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup clam juice
- 2 quarts half & half
- 3/4 cup clams chopped, see post above for fresh clam instructions, you can also use canned clams
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325. In a glass baking dish, whisk together flour and melted butter until combined. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and crumbly. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter and add celery, onion, and leeks. Cook on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes or until soft and slightly transparent.
- Add all the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the butter/flour mixture, half & half, and clams. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through and fork tender.
- Add the butter/flour mixture into chowder and stir until thick. The mixture will be extremely thick.
- Remove chowder from heat and stir in half & half until blended and smooth. Heat to serving temperature (do not bring to a boil), stirring occasionally. Once the chowder has thickened slightly, stir in the clams. Serve immediately.
Heather says
This is more of a question than a comment…why wouldnt you use all clam juice instead of chicken stock also wondering why your baking flour and butter instead of a roux
Favorite Family Recipes says
The clam juice comes in a bottle from the grocery store, you can typically find it in the canned meats section (by the tuna and canned clams) and it is more expensive than chicken broth. Usually the bottle it comes in has about 3/4 cup to 1 cup clam juice in it. We like to use what’s in the bottle and then use broth for the rest. Also, using 100% clam juice might make it taste a little TOO clammy. If you prefer using all clam juice, you absolutely can. As for the butter and flour, baking it pretty much does the same thing as making a roux. This is just the method a chef taught us and it works great with this recipe!
Suzy says
So creamy and flavorful! This chowder was a hit with the family!
wilhelmina says
This made such a rich and creamy soup! This recipe is a keeper, for sure!
Christian Guzman says
What a great, hearty meal! It really hit the spot after a hard day of being outdoors chopping up firewood.
Emily Liao says
This really is a great clam chowder! Perfectly creamy and delicious 🙂
Charla says
I used to be nervous about making clam chowder and the overall preparation process but your recipe post has instilled me with confidence. Thank you so much!
Alisa Infanti says
I have always had trouble getting clams and mussels free from sand no matter what I do. I used your method and it work amazing!
Dannii says
oh yum! This reminds me of travelling around New England. I am going to have to try making it myelf.
victoria says
so i hate potatoes, not a general opinion but whatevs, if i made this with no potatoes would that be okay? i can sub carrots maybe?
Favorite Family Recipes says
You can substitute them, but the soup will turn out a little thinner since the starch from the potatoes act as a thickening agent.
Matt Taylor says
I love clam chowder! This is such a great recipe. I want to put it in a bread bowl.
Lauren Kelly says
Oh my word, this is SO delicious! I was nervous to make it but it was easy and so comforting!!
April says
Who knew you could make your own clam chowder? This blows all the other clam chowders I’ve ever eaten clear out of the water.
Lori Neiley says
Excellent
Sheri Sanders says
FYI there is a HUGE difference in the brands of Kosher salt also. You might want to check into that!
Favorite Family Recipes says
Thank you for your comment. We typically use Morton’s because it is widely available.
Tracy Kurtz says
This was a good clam chowder but very salty.. Did you mean a tablespoon and a half for kosher salt or was it supposed to be a teaspoon! I love salt but this was extremely salty and had to delete it with the rest of our half and half which made it very thin and was still salty.
Favorite Family Recipes says
The measurements are accurate. I have noticed that it seems more salty sometimes depending on the brand of chicken broth I use. You could use reduced-sodium broth next time or simply reduce the salt to your liking. Sorry this didn’t turn out for you as expected! I hope you will give it another shot in the future.
Addie says
My husband is also a clam chowder fanatic. Claiming his mom’s was the very best. Well, I made this variation for him and he stated ”this is better than mom’s”. Round two tonight and he is beyond excited! This recipe is delicious, to say the very least. Five stars.
Favorite Family Recipes says
Oh man! A “better than mom’s” compliment has got to be the highest honor we could hope to achieve! haha that seriously just made my day!
matt says
are clams small? do you cut them or just throw the whole clam in the soup?
Linda says
What type of clams do you recommend?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I just use the regular clams that I can find at my local butcher (they just have one kind). I know this isn’t the most helpful. Do you have different options available?
Carolyn M Turner says
I am going to try this recipe and see if it is as good as the Sizzler Original Clam Chowder. I am hope that it is because I really loved it very much.
Echo says
I used to work at Sizzler and I like their clam chowder too, but you can tell it comes from a can. You are going to love this recipe!
Nina says
This recipe took much longer to prepare than expected- about two hours! Additionally, after adding the half and half it was very thin and took adding a rue (of the broth and flour) and about 30 minutes to make it “chowder” consistency. Lastly, I would say that it was extremely peppery– I would suggest using half the amount and then letting people add it to taste if they would like more.
Ray says
LOL…there’s no pepper in the recipe…?
Tracy says
I thought it called for 3/4 tbsp fresh ground pepper. ? Am I reading the correct recipe from above.
Donna says
Recipe certainly states 3\4 tsp FRESH ground black pepper.
Tina says
3/4 tablespoon! That’s some pepper!!!
Sandy says
How many servings does thus Best a Clam Chowder make?
I’m looking for a good Clam chowder recipe to make for a Sr Citizen Ctr where I serve but can’t tell servings. Do u think (if fresh clams in large qty is too expensive) canned would work– and how many cans— & would how many jars of clam juice?
AmISparky says
The title of this recipe is so right on. My husband went to Alaska awhile ago and we have been trying various new recipes with the halibut and salmon he brought back. We have only been trying clam chowder recipes with the clams and I am very sad that we tried this one with the last of our clams. Sad because I want to eat more of THIS clam chowder soon–like today–but alas no more fresh clams. He tried to tell me we would purchase some canned clams and I told him “but the recipe says. . .only fresh clams”. (We will see who wins this one.) Thank you again for sharing your recipes.