Best 8 Clam Chowder For A Crowd Recipes

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Clam chowder is a classic New England dish that is perfect for a crowd. It is a hearty and flavorful soup that is easy to make. With its creamy broth, tender clams, and flavorful vegetables, clam chowder is sure to be a hit. There are many different recipes for clam chowder, but they all share a few key ingredients. These include clams, potatoes, onions, celery, and butter. Some recipes also include carrots, bacon, and herbs. No matter what recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and satisfying soup.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

CLAM CHOWDER FOR A CROWD



Clam Chowder for a Crowd image

"Clam Chowder for a Crowd is a very popular dish at church camp and our family reunion," notes Mrs. Lynn Richardson of Bauxite, Arkansas. "It has a thinner broth than most chowders but is very flavorful," she confirms.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h10m

Yield 60-65 servings (1 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 11

10 quarts water
3 tablespoons salt
8 pounds red potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 large onions, chopped
1 cup butter, cubed
4 large carrots, grated
16 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) chopped clams
3 cans (12 ounces each) evaporated milk
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 to 2 tablespoons pepper
2 pounds bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Steps:

  • In two stockpots, bring water and salt to a boil. Carefully add potatoes; cook until tender (do not drain). In another large pan, saute onions in butter until tender. Add onions and carrots to potato mixture; heat through. , Drain clams if desired. Add the clams, milk, parsley and pepper to vegetable mixture; heat through. Just before serving, stir in bacon.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 107 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 14mg cholesterol, Sodium 451mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

CLAM CHOWDER FOR A CROWD



Clam Chowder for a Crowd image

Needed a BIG pot of soup for a group function and couldn't choose from the many Clam Chowder variations I saw, so I made my own. The pot was empty at the end of the night. Hope you like it!

Provided by farrangel

Categories     Chowders

Time 1h

Yield 16 1.5 cups, 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

6 tablespoons butter
2 cups onions, finely diced
2 cups leeks, finely diced
2 cups celery, finely diced
1 cup carrot, finely diced
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons dried celery flakes
5 -6 cups potatoes, small dice
8 ounces clam juice
4 cups water
6 1/2 ounces minced clams (juice reserved)
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 cups half-and-half
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, saute onions, leeks, celery carrot and garlic in butter over medium heat until tender (~10 minutes).
  • Add potatoes, clam juice (including juice drained from minced clams), spices, vinegar and water to stockpot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes (until potatoes are tender).
  • Combine 3 C half and half with flour, then add to stockpot.
  • Add clams, remaining half and half and Tabasco to stockpot and stir to combine well.
  • Heat through, stirring to mix. As it heats through soup will thicken.
  • Be sure to taste chowder before serving and season further with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Serve and enjoy!

MIKE'S CLAM CHOWDER



Mike's Clam Chowder image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 25m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

5 cups clam juice
1 pound potatoes, diced
5 slices bacon, 1/2-inch dice
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half and half
2 pounds fresh or frozen clams, diced
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
Kosher salt and white pepper

Steps:

  • Bring the clam juice and diced potatoes to a boil in a large soup pot. Cook until the potatoes are tender. Set aside.
  • To make roux: In a pot, render the bacon, until crispy. Stir in the onion until it's translucent. Add bay leaves, thyme and butter and let it melt. Whisk in the flour and let the roux cook until it turns golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Bring the clam juice and potato back to a boil. Whisk in a ladleful of clam juice into the roux then gradually whisk the roux into the soup pot until it thickens. Then whisk in the half and half and heat to a simmer while whisking. Add the clams and let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the parsley and kosher salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with oyster crackers.

CLAM CHOWDER



Clam Chowder image

Provided by Tyler Florence

Categories     main-dish

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

2 dozen littleneck clams
2 dozen cherrystone clams
1 quart water
1 head garlic, sliced in 1/2 horizontally
3 bay leaves
2 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ounces pancetta, cut into cubes
1 celery stalk, diced
1 onion, diced
2 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
Freshly ground black pepper
1 handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Parmesan Oyster Crackers, recipe follows
2 cloves garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 stick unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups oyster crackers
1 handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Steps:

  • Wash and scrub the clams to get rid of the dirt. Set the littlenecks aside in the refrigerator, and combine the cherrystone clams with the water, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme leaves in a large pot. Cover, and steam over medium-high heat until the clams have all popped open, about 15 minutes. Check every 5 minutes to pull out the clams that have opened (some take longer than others), and give the pot a stir. Pull the opened clams out of their shells and chop them roughly. Cover them and set aside. Pour the broth into a big bowl through a strainer that you've lined with cheesecloth, just in case there is leftover sand; set the broth aside.
  • Rinse out the pot and melt the butter over medium heat. Add the pancetta, celery, and onion. Saute this together for 5 minutes, until the vegetables soften. Sprinkle the flour into the pot; stir and coat everything well. Gradually pour in the strained clam broth, whisking constantly to break up any lumps of flour. When all the broth is incorporated, fold in the potatoes, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for about 15 minutes. The soup will start to thicken from the potato starch.
  • Reduce the heat to low and fold in the cream, milk, and chopped clams. Toss in the littleneck clams and cover the pot to let them steam open, about 5 minutes. Season the soup with many turns of freshly ground black pepper and stir everything together to heat through, but do not let it boil. Serve this in nice big bowls with some chopped parsley and Parmesan Oyster Crackers.
  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Chop garlic cloves then sprinkle with some salt and smash to make a paste. Set a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add butter, oil and garlic and swirl pan. Add oyster crackers and chopped flat-leaf parsley and toss to coat. Spread out on a sheet tray, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with shredded Parmigiano. Pop into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and crispy.
  • Yield: 2 cups

RICH CLAM CHOWDER



Rich Clam Chowder image

"I came across a chowder recipe I liked several years ago and have made just enough changes to give it a unique flavor...and feed a pretty large crowd. People always go back for seconds, then ask for the recipe." -Teresa Dastrup, Meridian, Idaho.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h10m

Yield 22 servings (1 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 cups diced peeled red potatoes
3 large onions, finely chopped
6 celery ribs, finely chopped
3 cups water
6 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) minced clams
1-1/2 cups butter, cubed
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
8 cups half-and-half cream
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a stockpot, combine the potatoes, onions, celery and water. Drain clams, reserving juice; set clams aside. Add juice to potato mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Gradually stir in cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Gradually stir into potato mixture., Add the vinegar, parsley, salt, pepper and clams. Cook 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 318 calories, Fat 21g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 85mg cholesterol, Sodium 675mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 8g protein.

MY BEST CLAM CHOWDER



My Best Clam Chowder image

A delicious, traditional, cream based chowder, this recipe calls for the standard chowder ingredients: onion, celery, potatoes, diced carrots, clams, and cream. A little red wine vinegar is added before serving for extra flavor.

Provided by PIONEERGIRL

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Seafood

Time 50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams
1 cup minced onion
1 cup diced celery
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
¾ cup butter
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 quart half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
  • Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
  • Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 501.2 calories, Carbohydrate 28.4 g, Cholesterol 136.6 mg, Fat 32.7 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 23.9 g, SaturatedFat 19.7 g, Sodium 712.3 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

CROWD PLEASER MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER



Crowd Pleaser Manhattan Clam Chowder image

This recipe was given to me by a bachelor who enjoys cooking, and making large quantities when he does.. It freezes well, and he makes up many individual servings for himself. I was never very fussy about clam chowder, but have to admit, I love the flavor of this one. I think the spicey clamato juice is the key to awesome flavor.

Provided by Cat..atude

Categories     Chowders

Time 1h30m

Yield 25 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 (14 ounce) cans clam broth
1 (28 ounce) can clams
1 (14 ounce) can clams
2 liters of extra spicy clamato juice
84 ounces diced tomatoes
1 lb bacon, diced
2 cups dice onions
2 cups diced carrots
4 cups diced potatoes
1/3 cup pot barley
1/3 cup rice
2 -3 drops Tabasco sauce (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
Tabasco sauce, to suit taste

Steps:

  • Saute lightly, onions and bacon.
  • Drain clams reserving juice.
  • In a large stock pot, boil clamato juice, clam broth and drained broth from clams.
  • When broth and clamato come to a boil, add bacon and onions.
  • Bring back to boil,then add barley, rice,and carrots.
  • Bring back to boil and then simmer for 1/2 hour.
  • Now add tobasco, pepper and potatoes.
  • Simmer again for another 45 minutes.
  • Add clams.
  • Thicken soup if desired (equal amounts of flour and water mixed together.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 220, Fat 9, SaturatedFat 2.8, Cholesterol 29.8, Sodium 792.3, Carbohydrate 24.8, Fiber 2.6, Sugar 7.4, Protein 10.4

CLAM CHOWDER



Clam chowder image

Clam chowder is a rich and creamy soup, bursting with the flavours and textures of shellfish, bacon and potatoes. Serve with crusty bread for a starter

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Categories     Dinner, Fish Course, Lunch, Main course, Soup, Starter

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1½ kg clams or a mixture of clams and cockles
50g butter
150g unsmoked bacon lardons, cubed pancetta or chopped streaky bacon
1 onion , finely chopped
sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp plain flour
150ml milk
150ml double cream
2 medium potatoes - about 250 grams, cut into cubes
chopped parsley and crusty bread to serve

Steps:

  • Rinse the clams in several changes of cold water and drain well. Tip the clams into a large pan with 500ml of water. Cover, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 mins until the clams have just opened. Tip the contents of the pan into a colander over a bowl to catch the clam stock. When cool enough to handle, remove the clams from their shells - reserving a handful of empty shells for presentation if you want. Strain the clam stock into a jug, leaving any grit in the bottom of the bowl. You should have around 800ml stock.
  • Heat the butter in the same pan and sizzle the bacon for 3-4 mins until it starts to brown. Stir in the onion, thyme and bay and cook everything gently for 10 mins until the onion is soft and golden. Scatter over the flour and stir in to make a sandy paste, cook for 2 mins more, then gradually stir in the clam stock then the milk and the cream.
  • Throw in the potatoes, bring everything to a simmer and leave to bubble away gently for 10 mins or until the potatoes are cooked. Use a fork to crush a few of the potato chunks against the side of the pan to help thicken - you still want lots of defined chunks though. Stir through the clam meat and the few clam shells, if you've gone down that route, and simmer for a minute to reheat. Season with plenty of black pepper and a little salt, if needed, then stir through the parsley just before ladling into bowls or hollowed-out crusty rolls.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 433 calories, Fat 29 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 19 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 4 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 22 grams protein, Sodium 2.9 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Clams: Fresh clams are essential for the best flavor. Look for littleneck or cherrystone clams that are tightly closed. If they are open, tap them gently; if they close, they are still alive.
  • Prep the Clams Properly: Before cooking, soak the clams in cold water for 20 minutes to remove any grit or sand. Then, scrub the shells with a brush to remove any debris.
  • Use a Large Pot: Clam chowder is a hearty soup, so you'll need a large pot to make it. A 6-quart or larger pot is ideal.
  • Don't Overcook the Clams: Clams cook quickly, so be careful not to overcook them. Once they are opaque and tender, remove them from the pot.
  • Add Vegetables: Vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions add flavor and texture to the chowder. Dice them evenly so they cook evenly.
  • Use a Good Quality Broth: The broth is the base of the chowder, so it's important to use a good quality one. Chicken broth or fish stock are both good options.
  • Season to Taste: Season the chowder with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to taste. Be careful not to overseason it, as the clams themselves are quite flavorful.
  • Serve with Crackers or Bread: Clam chowder is traditionally served with crackers or bread. This helps to soak up the delicious broth.

Conclusion:

Clam chowder is a classic New England dish that is perfect for a crowd. It's hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. By following these tips, you can make a delicious clam chowder that everyone will enjoy. Whether you're serving it at a party or a potluck, this soup is sure to be a hit.

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