Rich and creamy shrimp and bacon corn chowder with fresh veggies and flavors so bold and tasty you’ll want to eat this soup all year round!
Want more soup recipes to try? My Vegetable Beef Soup, Panera Bread Cheddar Broccoli Soup, and Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup are just a click away!
Well, it’s definitely Fall around here! I’m still a little blown away by the difference in weather from two weeks ago til now. Blazing hot to rainy and cold within a couple of days. I’m hoping it’s just a cold spell and we’ll have slightly warmer temps to look forward to throughout October because heaven knows I’m not ready to skip ahead to a snowy Winter.
For now I’m staying cozy in my favorite sweater with a steaming hot bowl of this shrimp and bacon corn chowder and not one bit mad about it. First soup of the season and let me tell you, it is a WINNER.
We are seafood fans around here, if you didn’t already notice. Bring on the salmon, the lobster, and of course all the shrimp. Bonus points for combining more than one of those in the same dish (I’m looking at you Salmon New Orleans!)
I’ve always liked corn chowder but this is hands down my favorite variation I’ve tried yet.
This soup is incredibly easy to make in just 30 minutes with simple ingredients, but the flavor is absolutely outstanding. Even picky eaters will beg for seconds!But what do you expect when you combine shrimp, BACON, and creamy corn chowder??
Speaking of picky eaters, my twin two-year olds never touch soup and my boy ate this chowder. My little gal still turned up her nose but we’re working on her and I know she’ll come around soon. No one can resist this soup for long!
What people are saying about this Shrimp and Bacon Corn Chowder
“I made this tonight for my family and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! My wife said it was the best meal she’s had in awhile.” – Courtney
“I made this about 2 weeks ago. My family and I were ready to fight for the leftovers the next day.”
“Great dish and it really did take only 30 minutes. It was loved by everyone and great as a leftover (freezes well). Thanks for this recipe.” – Carol
“I prepared this dish tonight for my dinner party, it was a hit! My guests took what was left home. Thank you!” – Sylva
Shrimp and Bacon Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon - chopped
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 pound large shrimp - de-veined and tails removed
- 1 15-ounce can corn - drained
- ½ cup sliced carrots
- 2 ribs celery - chopped
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt - or to taste
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes - (optional)
- 1 pound baby red potatoes - quartered, (pieces should be no bigger than 1 inch max)
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream - or half and half, (see note)
Instructions
- Add bacon to a large pot and cook over medium-high heat for 4-8 minutes until crisp. Transfer to a towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Add garlic and shrimp to pot and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until garlic is fragrant and begins to brown and shrimp turns opaque.
- Add corn, carrots, celery, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, potatoes, and chicken/vegetable broth and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then pour in heavy cream. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are tender. Stir in bacon and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or thyme and cracked black pepper, and serve.
Can you freeze the leftovers?
Yes 🙂
Quick question – do i remove the shrimp after sauteeing with garlic? I feel like the shrimp would overcook otherwise. Thank you!
No, you don’t take them out but if you prefer to you can take them out and add them again
Absolutely delicious flavors in this soup! And I love how quick and easy it is to make. Even my picky husband likes it, esp with a crusty loaf of bread and butter. Thanks for an awesome recipe! 💕
I’m glad you both enjoy this recipe! 🙂
LAWD HAVE MERCY! This was so delicious, flavorful and fast. My family inhaled it! Next time I need to double it. Thank you for a great recipe.
Would you add the shrimp with the bacon at the end. I would think boiling the shrimp with the rest of the soup would make them rubbery.
You can do that. Or you can brown them in the pot at the beginning, take them out and add them again at the end. Whichever you prefer!
I make my own broth at home here, so adds that extra goodness, love to make homemade soup, food that is at a very high level.
Instruction state to cook bacon and transfer to towel lined plate…..then to add shrimp and garlic to pot. Is the shrimp and garlic to be cooked in the bacon grease….or should the grease be discarded before adding the shrimp and garlic?
I cook them in the grease but if you don’t want to, you don’t necessarily have to.
Loved the shrimp and bacon corn chowder. Delicious and plan on making it again. It makes a generous 4 servings. Had some left and tried freezing it for future warm up but that was not a good option. So needs to be eaten up right away or within a day or two.
Hi there
Have you used a non dairy option? Like oat milk or coconut milk?
I have not. If you try and do this substitution, however, oat milk or coconut milk won’t be thick enough on their own. For example if you want to use oat milk, you need to also use cornstarch, vegan butter or olive oil.
Fresh corn and a chopped Vidalia onion makes this recipe mind blowing! Made as recipe directed with only two fresh swaps – sweet corn cut from the cob and a chopped vidalia onion in place of canned corn and onion powder. The depth of flavor and warmth from the spices make this taste like it simmered all day. Will be making this again and again. Winner!! 🙂
By leaving shrimp to simmer 10-12 minutes won’t that overcook it? Looks delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Made this last night. So delicious. I didn’t have any heavy cream. An internet search result said I could substitute a mixture of equal parts Greek yogurt and milk. I think it would be better with the cream. Still, this was delicious. The flavors were rich and layered. Very satisfying. I used pre-cooked shrimp and that worked just fine.
can you make this with pre cooked shrimp?
You could.
This was delicious. Very good flavor and my whole family loved it! I used half and half because that was all I had, and I thought it was still plenty creamy.