Shrimp and Corn Chowder
This Shrimp and Corn Chowder is quick to make and full of smoky chipotle flavor. It’s one of my all time favorite soups and tastes amazing. You’ll love how cheesy and delicious it is; definitely restaurant-worthy!
For more delicious soup recipes, be sure to check out my Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup, Beer Cheese Soup, and Instant Pot Lasagna Soup.
With the summer months just ahead of us, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes for using fresh summer corn.
I like to make this Shrimp and Corn Chowder year round, and usually I make it with frozen corn. But in the height of summer when delicious, sweet corn is in season, there is nothing better than a bowl of this soup to highlight its fresh flavors.
I created this Shrimp and Corn Chowder recipe a few years ago to model one of my favorite soups from a local restaurant in town. They are known for their awesome tacos, but I have come to adore their other menu offerings, including their Chipotle Corn Chowder.
I knew I had to try and make it at home, so I did! I’ve made this countless times now over the years, and it’s one of my family’s favorite soups. There is so much flavor in this Shrimp and Corn Chowder, and it’s really the perfect soup to enjoy year round.
Ingredients for Shrimp and Corn Chowder (See measurements in the recipe card below!)
- unsalted butter
- shrimp
- bacon
- onion
- red bell pepper
- celery
- all purpose flour
- chicken broth
- heavy cream
- jarred chipotle chiles
- diced green chiles
- oregano
- salt + pepper
- ground cumin
- corn (fresh or frozen)
- shredded sharp cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheese
How to Make Shrimp and Corn Chowder – Step by Step
Step 1: Cook the shrimp
Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the shrimp start to curl up and turn light pink. Remove the shrimp from the pan and drain any liquid from the pot.
Step 2: Cook the vegetables
Place the pot back on the stove over medium high heat and add the bacon. Cook until fat renders and it begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, red bell pepper, and celery, and cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes more.
Step 3: Thicken and cook
Step 4: Serve
Shrimp and Corn Chowder – Tips and Notes
- Frozen, Fresh, or Canned Corn will all work. You can replace the frozen corn with fresh corn when it’s in season, or even canned corn that has been drained really well. I also LOVE this with grilled corn!
- Feel free to leave the shrimp out of the recipe if you don’t have any on hand, or if shrimp isn’t your thing. You could also replace the shrimp with sliced, smoked sausage.
- My favorite kind of cheese to use in this Shrimp and Corn Chowder is a combination of sharp cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses, though it also tastes delicious with regular cheddar cheese. I also recommend shredding your own cheese from a large block as it will melt into the soup much better.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
What kind of shrimp to use
I use a pound of small shrimp that has been deveined with the tails removed. You can use larger shrimp if that’s your preference. Frozen or fresh shrimp will both work, just make sure to throughly thaw your shrimp beforehand if you’re using frozen.
What to serve with Shrimp and Corn Chowder
Like most soups and chowders, this recipe pairs perfectly with a big hunk of crusty bread. I also like to pair it with a lighter side dish, like Strawberry Spinach Salad, to balance out the richness of the soup.
More Seafood Recipes You Should Try!
- Air Fryer Fish and Chips
- Shrimp Enchiladas
- Salmon Teriyaki Bowls
- Seafood Pasta Salad
- Mexican Tuna Cakes
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*If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!
Recipe: Shrimp and Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 pound small shrimp, deveined and tails removed
- 4 slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces, (I use thick cut)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 stalk of celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 cups chicken broth, (I use low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons jarred diced chipotle chiles
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese
- chopped cilantro for serving, optional
Instructions
- Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the shrimp start to curl up and turn light pink. Remove the shrimp from the pan and drain any liquid from the pot.
- Place the pot back on the stove over medium high heat and add the bacon. Cook until fat renders and it begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, red bell pepper, and celery, and cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes more.
- Add the remaining Tablespoon of butter and stir until melted. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and bacon, and cook stirring for one minute. Add in the chicken broth and heavy cream, chipotle chiles, green chiles, oregano, salt, pepper, and cumin. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to medium.
- Add the corn and cheeses. Stir, and allow to cook for 5-10 more minutes until corn is cooked through and cheese is melted. Stir in the cooked shrimp. Serve and sprinkle each bowl with chopped cilantro if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Frozen, Fresh, or Canned Corn will all work. You can replace the frozen corn with fresh corn when it's in season, or even canned corn that has been drained really well. I also LOVE this with grilled corn!
- Feel free to leave the shrimp out of the recipe if you don't have any on hand, or if shrimp isn't your thing. You could also replace the shrimp with sliced, smoked sausage.
- My favorite kind of cheese to use in this Shrimp and Corn Chowder is a combination of sharp cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses, though it also tastes delicious with regular cheddar cheese. I also recommend shredding your own cheese from a large block as it will melt into the soup much better.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
The first time I made this it was for my family, they loved it especially my son in law who just loves heat. I added and extra chipotle which gave it just the right amount. I then made a batch for my coworkers, they were all asking for the recipe which I quickly shared. Well done !
This was incredible! I’m making another pot of it today! The only change I made was using andouille sausage in place of the bacon. I just bought pre-cooked sausage and shrimp and ground them up roughly in the food processor. It emulated a Mexican Chowder I had eaten at a restaurant near Seattle, which was exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you, Ashlyn! I’m going to subscribe. I can’t wait to see what else you’ve created!
Soooooooo good!!!!!!
made chowder, outstanding. had 6 ears of grilled corn on cob, used 3 ears for chowder; additional 3 ears I put in blender w heavy cream and pureed corn w additional chipolte pepper in adobe sauce and added to chowder
I added a bit more chipotle chilies and a tad more salt and itโs excellent!!!
I normally don’t leave reviews but this recipe tasted so good that I thought I had to let fellow cooks know. The only thing I left out were the chipotle chilis. Also, to make the shrimp go further I bought medium and cut them up into chunks; that way you have shrimp in almost every spoonful.
Instead of bacon I put in 1 t of smoked
Paprika. I also used fresh corn. It was amazing.ย
Unless I am missing it, recipe doesn’t seem to include adding the shrimp back in? Would suppose that would be the very last step? Can’t find the diced chipotle chiles in a jar, so am going to try a 1/2 teaspoon or so of dried chipotle powder. Recipe looks great – can’t wait to try it now that corn is in season.
Oh thank you for catching that! The shrimp gets added back in at the very end. I’ve updated the recipe. Hope you enjoy it!
Is this too spicy for little kids? Would it work just as well with crab or lobster?
This does have a kick to it, so you can always reduce or leave out the chipotle chiles if you need to keep the spice level at a minimum. I think it would be delicious with crab or lobster, too!
Absolutely delicious! I used GF flour for my lovely wife.
The directions donโt mention returning the shrimp so I added them with the cheese and corn.
Good idea to add shrimp! I love Chowders and this is perfect! Comforting!
Corn chowder is such a yummy comfort food. I love the idea of adding shrimp to it!
This looks delicious, can’t wait to try it! It’s perfect for summer!
This looks so creamy! I need to make it asap
Can I freeze leftovers of this
Yes you can, but due to the heavy cream and the cheese in the soup, it may separate when you reheat it.