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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Soup and Stew

    Ham & Potato Chowder

    Published: Oct 20, 2019 · Modified: Mar 17, 2020 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. 9 Comments

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    Ham and Potato Chowder is a delicious and comforting soup that is great for colder weather. There are not a lot of complicated flavors in this recipe, instead the ingredients are straightforward letting you really taste the potato, ham and cream. It is especially great to make when you have leftover ham.

    Ham and Potato Chowder in two white bowls over a napkin with green onions and parsley on top

    Two other great ham recipes are Ham Balls and Overnight Ham & Egg Breakfast Casserole!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 What is Chowder
    2 Instant Potato Flakes
    3 What Ham to use for Ham Chowder
    4 How To Make Ham and Potato Chowder
    5 Ham & Potato Chowder Recipe
    6 Ham and Potato Chowder

    What is Chowder

    Chowder is a soup or stew that has a milky or creamy base. It is also thickened with a roux or starch of some kind. In this ham chowder recipe we thicken with three ingredients:

    • Potatoes
    • Heavy Whipping Cream
    • Instant Potato Flakes

    Chowder is also commonly served with oyster crackers or saltine crackers.

    One bowl of ham and potato chowder

    Instant Potato Flakes

    This is not the time to snub your nose at Instant Potato Flakes! I know they have a bad reputation BUT they are perfect in this recipe. Promise! 

    Instant Potato Flakes in a measuring cup

    Now, I would not use them for the potatoes on my Thanksgiving table, but they make the perfect thickener for potato soups. They add a great layer of potato flavor and they thicken the soup perfectly! I also use them in this Instant Pot Creamy Potato Soup recipe and this Cauliflower and Potato Chowder .

    What Ham to use for Ham Chowder

    If you have leftover spiral cut or bone in ham from the holidays or a celebration, lucky you!!! This is the perfect recipe to use up your leftover ham. (if you have a lot of ham check out this post on 20 ways to use up leftover ham).

    Bone in ham steak with some pieces cut

    If you do not have leftover ham, don’t despair there are great options in the grocery store! You can buy a ham steak and it will still give you amazing ham flavor in your soup. If you can find a bone in ham steak like the one pictured above, buy that one!

    How To Make Ham and Potato Chowder

    A note about SALT before you get started….You may be saying to yourself, “well she forgot the salt, I’ll just add a little”. STOP RIGHT THERE…there are a lot of salty ingredients in this recipe, so do not salt until you taste the finished product at the end, or you could ruin an entire pot of soup. That would be too sad. So pump the brakes and wait until the end.

    Now on to the chowder recipe….

    ham chowder in a white bowl on a gray napkin

    Start with a large pot on your stove top over medium, medium-low heat. Saute the onions in olive oil until they begin to turn translucent, about 5-8 minutes.

    Add the water, chicken base, and potatoes and turn the heat to medium, medium-high. Cook with a light boil until the potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes.   

    Lower your heat to medium-low and add the ham, dried basil, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.

    Now it’s time for the yummy creamy-ness. Slowly pour in 1 ½ cups of heavy whipping cream. Then stir in the potato flakes. Cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the cream and potato flakes to thicken the soup. 

    Now is the time to taste for additional salt.

    Serve topped with green onions. Some other great toppings would be sour cream, bacon bits, cheese, tabasco…. Anything you like on top of a loaded baked potato!

    potato and ham chowder being served out of a large bowl into smaller white bowls, garnished with green onions and parsley

    Ham & Potato Chowder Recipe

     

    One bowl of ham and potato chowder

    Ham and Potato Chowder

    A thick and creamy potato chowder with ham. This is a great recipe to use up leftover ham.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large yellow or white onion chopped (about 2 cups)
    • 6 cups water
    • 4 teaspoon chicken base I use Better Than Bouillon brand
    • 3 cups potatoes - I like to use yukon gold or russet peeled and roughly diced
    • 2 cups cooked ham (leftover spiral cut ham, bone-in ham, ham steak or bone-in ham steak) roughly chopped into small cubes, ½ inch
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • black pepper to taste
    • 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
    • ¾ cup potato flakes regular or buttery flavor
    • green onions chopped for garnish *optional, but recommended

    Do not salt until you taste the final soup! You may not need any salt.

      Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

      Instructions

      • In a large pot over medium-low heat cook the onion in the oil until they become translucent.
      • Add the water, chicken base, and potatoes to the onions. Cook over medium-high heat until the potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes.
      • Lower heat to medium-low and add the ham, dried basil, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.
      • Whisk in the cream.
      • Slowly whisk in the potato flakes. Continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
      • Serve garnished with green onions.

      Notes:

      To Make Ahead:
      Prepare completely, cool, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
      To serve slowly warm on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, making sure it does not come to a boil.
      You may need to add a little liquid (milk or chicken stock) as it will thicken in the fridge.
      Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
      Jump to Comments

      If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

       

      Originally Posted April 2017- Copy & Photos updated October 2019

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      About Susie Weinrich

      Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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        Recipe Rating




      1. Sonia Kuczynski

        December 23, 2021 at 1:21 pm

        5 stars
        I made this Soup and left out the Potato flakes as My Husband does not like that. I used an Immersion Blender. I added some dried thyme for seasoning and a little Salt + Pepper , 1.2 cup 35% Cream . I Also put some Bacon Bits and Croutons on Top with sliced Green Onions . It was Delicious . Thank You for the Recipe .

        Reply
        • Susie Weinrich

          December 24, 2021 at 9:21 am

          Beautiful…but I think this was your recipe. Great changes!!! Cheers!

          Reply
      2. Wendy

        November 16, 2020 at 5:33 pm

        5 stars
        This is an awesome soup, I make it with leftover honey baked ham and it’s amazing!!!!

        Reply
      3. Emily Bruno

        November 01, 2019 at 11:32 am

        5 stars
        This soup looks perfect for a cold night- adding it to my menu asap!

        Reply
      4. Lauren Grant | Zestful Kitchen

        October 21, 2019 at 7:45 pm

        5 stars
        OK this soup is SO good, so creamy and so cozy! You hit this one out of the park, thank you!

        Reply
      5. Tawnie Kroll

        October 21, 2019 at 11:16 am

        5 stars
        Made this for dinner last night and Cameron loved it – thank you!

        Reply
      6. Lauren Nagel

        October 20, 2019 at 7:29 pm

        5 stars
        My favorite soup!!! Love the ham in this too.

        Reply
      7. John

        August 12, 2018 at 7:35 pm

        5 stars
        Ham people….anything with ham including this delicious soup is sooooooo good!

        Reply
        • Susie

          August 12, 2018 at 11:26 pm

          HAM.

          Reply

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