Easy Salmon Chowder Recipe

I have to give credit where credit is due — and the credit for this recipe for salmon chowder comes from an old coworker. She was obsessed with this chowder, and after I got a taste of it, I became obsessed, too! It’s so easy to make and is the definition of a simple, accessible comfort food. I love how you don’t have to fuss around with it and it always turns out so delicious. And as someone who didn’t always love seafood, I can appreciate how this soup showcases just how delicious fish can be.

In this salmon chowder recipe, I use pre-smoked salmon instead of fresh salmon to speed up the cooking time and add a smokey flavor to the chowder. If you’re confused about where you can pick up smoked salmon, I’ve always had success finding great smoked salmon at Trader Joe’s and Costco or in the seafood section of most grocery stores.

How to Make Simple Salmon Chowder

Despite its decadent taste, salmon chowder only requires a handful of simple ingredients and takes a few steps to make. It really is mostly a matter of dicing/chopping and tossing the ingredients into the pot!

• Dice & cook the vegetables: Using a sharp knife, dice the carrots and celery into similar-sized cubes and mince the green onions. Sauté them over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven until they’re tender.
• Toss in the flour & pour the broth: Next, add in the flour and red pepper flakes, cooking for a few minutes to lift the raw flavor out of the flour. Pour in the water and broth and bring the soup to a rolling boil. Stir occasionally.
• Add the potatoes & salmon: Dice up the potatoes and salmon and add them into the soup pot.
• Finish with cream: Add the heavy cream to the soup and bring it to a boil. Immediately remove it from heat, top with the minced green onions, and enjoy!

Chowder Tips & Tricks

How do you make the most of this chowder soup? I’ve got a few tips that’ll help you each time you make this delicious dinner.

• Dice the veggies into similar bite-size pieces: Make sure the veggies are all the same size so they cook evenly and you don’t get spoonfuls of undercooked or raw veggies.
• Use Yukon gold potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes have the best texture for soup and a mildly sweet taste. Unlike Russet potatoes, they don’t have as high a starch content and tend to stay more firm.
• Opt for homemade chicken stock: If you’re feeling extra ambitious, substitute the broth base with homemade chicken broth.
• Add in some bacon or corn (optional): Do you love bacon? Feel free to crisp some bits up and cook your veggies in the bacon fat for a nice depth of flavor to the chowder. If you love corn chowder, add a couple of cups of frozen or fresh corn.

Salmon Chowder Storage Tips

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, there are a couple of different ways you can store it.

• Refrigerator: Store the leftover cooled soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. It’ll actually marinate and further develop its flavors!
• Freezer: I don’t typically recommend freezing salmon chowder because of the cream and potatoes, but in a pinch, it’ll stay safely frozen for up to three months. Store it in an airtight container or portioned out into freezer-safe plastic bags. To prevent the cream from curdling too much and the potatoes from turning too chalky, allow the soup to thaw in the fridge overnight before slowly reheating.

More Tasty Soups & Chowders

• Easy Clam Chowder Recipe – Classic clam chowder
• Fish Soup aka Ukha – Light and herby Slavic salmon soup
• Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Classic chicken noodle soup
• Cabbage Roll Soup – Slavic cabbage and ground beef soup

Recipe

Easy Salmon Chowder Recipe

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Servings

15 Servings

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This salmon chowder recipe is smokey, silky, and ridiculously comforting. It's perfect as a meal all on its own or a fancy starter at your next dinner party!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil for cooking
• 3 small carrots diced
• 1/2 celery stalk diced
• 1/2 bunch of green onions minced
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 qt water
• 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon beef or chicken
• 1 large potato Yukon Gold
• 1 lb smoked salmon diced or chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp kosher salt adjust to taste

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Dice the carrots and celery into small cubes. Next, mince the green onions and set aside. Preheat a soup pot or Dutch oven with a bit of oil. Add in carrots and celery and cook them until they soften.
  
• Add flour and red pepper flakes to the mixture, stirring to combine. Cook the flour for a couple of minutes to remove the raw flavor.
  
• Add the water and broth concentrate. Bring to a boil.
  
• Dice the potatoes and smoked salmon into small cubes.
  
• Add the smoked salmon and potatoes to the soup pot. Cook until the potatoes are tender.
  
• Add the heavy whipping cream to the soup. Bring it to a boil and immediately remove it from heat. Season with salt to taste.
  
• Garnish the soup with green onions and enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Easy Salmon Chowder Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 82 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 18mg6%

Sodium 414mg17%

Potassium 102mg3%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 2196IU44%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.