• About
  • Work with Me
    • Hire Rocky Mountain Woman
    • Portfolio
  • Recipes
    • How To
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Cocktails
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Wild Game
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Cocktails
  • Loves
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

The Rocky Mountain Woman

Recipes from a Mountaintop

  • How To
  • Appetizers
  • Main Dishes
  • Wild Game
  • Cocktails
  • Desserts
  • Salads
  • Soups
  • Side Dishes
  • Condiments
  • Breakfast
  • Sandwiches
You are here: Home / Recipes / Soups / Clam Chowder

Soups

Clam Chowder

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

canned-clam-chowder

I came home from Oregon with a couple of large cans of diced clams. Typically I use them to make a thick, rich clam chowder full of butter and heavy cream. This year I decided to try and lighten it up a little. It’s still pretty decadent, but not as crazy rich as I usually make it (the original version could stand in for clam dip if you served it chilled).

Instead of complaining that the chowder wasn’t as good as it usually is, my friends and family actually said they liked the lightened up version more than they did the heavy cream version. It is definitely more of a broth than a cream, although it has plenty of richness.

Here’s how I made it:

 

Print

Clam Chowder

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Rocky Mountain Woman

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 stalks of celery, diced
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T butter
  • 4 T flour
  • 1 small bottle clam juice
  • 2 cups half n half
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 t dried thyme
  • 1 large can of diced clams (51 oz)
  • bay leaf
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. Saute diced onions & celery in olive oil and butter for about 5 minutes
  2. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook, stirring constantly for a few minutes
  3. Whisk in the clam juice
  4. Add milk, heavy cream and seasonings
  5. Add clams and parsley
  6. Let simmer for 15 minutes

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

I’ve made it with and without the clam juice and I personally like it better without, but my family likes it better with the juice.  You won’t have to worry about getting too thin eating this, but it’s less fattening than the original.  I left out the potatoes that I typically use which made the focus all on the clams as well it should be!

I like it with a glass of pinot noir and a handful or two of oyster crackers.

 

 

 

 

Related


10 Comments

Get our Recipes via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Get our Recipes via Email

Previous Post: « Baby Bello Beef and Mushroom Stew
Next Post: Baked Rice with Spinach »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Velva-Tomatoes on the Vine says

    February 22, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    There is plenty of good stuff in this lightened version to keep it creamy and rich. Looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Velva

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rocky Mountain Woman says

      March 4, 2016 at 4:14 pm

      Velva,

      It’s not low fat by any means, just a bit lighter.

      RMW

      Reply
  2. Pondside says

    February 24, 2016 at 7:33 am

    Oh my but that looks yummy.
    With so many seafood restaurants here I rarely make my own clam chowder anymore. I should give this a try, because there is really nothing better than homemade. Many restaurants make it to thick with potatoes and thickener. I made Jambalaya last week – having a hankering for homemade seafood dishes I guess.

    Reply
    • Rocky Mountain Woman says

      March 4, 2016 at 4:13 pm

      Pondside,

      You’d like this one I think. I agree that the potatoes and thickener don’t add anything good to chowder!

      RMW

      Reply
  3. Jenny Matlock says

    March 2, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    My husband would adore this dish. Perhaps one day I shall make it for him…and arrange the crackers into the heart shape that he so richly deserves!

    Miss you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rocky Mountain Woman says

      March 4, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      Miss you too, Jenny.

      xxoo…

      Reply
  4. Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella says

    March 13, 2016 at 6:40 am

    I like the sound of this! I think if it’s warmer then a lightened up version does the trick beautifully! 😀

    Reply
  5. Barbara says

    April 27, 2016 at 2:28 pm

    My husband is very picky when it comes to clam chowder. Up until I made this recipe, our favorite was one we enjoyed in Kansas City, Missouri. Unfortunately, that’s rather a long ride from Florida. Spending much of my adult life in New England, I know good clam “chowda” and this recipe fits the bill.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rocky Mountain Woman says

      May 4, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      Barbara,

      Thank you for your kind words! It makes me happy that you like my recipe! I lived in the northeast growing up and then lived in Florida for many years so we have some geographical reference points.

      xxoo,

      RMW

      Reply
  6. 2pots2cook says

    December 17, 2016 at 3:45 am

    Thank you for this version. I’m in. Definitely. Thank you for sharing and have a pleasant weekend.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Meet The Rocky Mountain Woman

I have a condition called Obsessive Compulsive Food Disorder (OCFD). I can’t walk by a restaurant without checking out the menu or past a bookstore without going in to check out the newest cookbooks. Food is the lens that I view my life through. Read More…

Random image

Get our Recipes via Email

Latest Recipes

Spatchcock Chicken with Bread Salad

Leave a Comment

This chicken is based loosely on Zuni Kitchen's famous roast chicken. It's ... continue reading...

Elk Stroganoff

Elk Stroganoff

Leave a Comment

Creamy, rich elk stroganoff is a show shopper of a dish. It may look ... continue reading...

Elk Stew With Root Vegetables

Leave a Comment

Elk Stew with root vegetables in the Instant Pot is a hearty, meaty meal ... continue reading...

Elk Swedish Meatballs

Leave a Comment

These Elk Swedish Meatballs were the best thing I've made in a long time. ... continue reading...

The Best Creamy Tomato Bisque Soup

Leave a Comment

My all time favorite tomato soup based on an Ina Garten recipe. It's like a ... continue reading...

RMW Wine Reviews

Wine

Cecchi Chianti classico

Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a nice, inexpensive red wine to drink with all of ... continue reading...

Old Town Cellars Rose’

2 Comments

  I bought this rose' on the recommendation of a nice lady in ... continue reading...

Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris

1 Comment

Their wines are inexpensive, but really good, especially the whites  I ... continue reading...

RMW Shares her Food Travels

Food Travel

Salmon with Cherries

5 Comments

The very first cherries are starting to appear in the markets so I decided ... continue reading...

Clamming in Oregon

2 Comments

I fell in love with the Oregon Coast at first sight.  My boyfriend had been ... continue reading...

Oregon, Again…

2 Comments

\ I'm here again.  I can't stop coming here.  You understand, don't ... continue reading...

My Instagram

    Search RMW’s Monthly Archives

    Search RMW Categories

    Search RMW Tags

    appetizers apples beef boar bread breads cake Cast Iron Cooking chicken cocktails cookies desserts desserts cookies entertaining fish food obsessions game German food gluten free Grandma O's recipes holidays instapot jams & jellies lamb main dish main dishes meat Mexican pasta pie pizza pork potatoes pressure cooker rice salad sandwiches sauces seafood She Shoots soup vegetables vegetarian venison wild boar

    Get our Recipes via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Footer

    More from My Loves

    Liberty Fresh Market – Salt Lake city

    Orphan Train

    The Kitchn Cookbook

    How to be the Best Cook in the Neighborhood

    I LOVE RODEO!!!

    More from The Rocky Mountain Woman 'Loves'

    Copyright © 2025 · Divine theme by Restored 316

    Copyright © 2025 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

     

    Loading Comments...