Description

This Oyster Chowder is rich, creamy, and deeply comforting, featuring tender oysters, aromatic vegetables, and a smooth dairy base. It delivers a clean coastal flavor with balanced richness, making it an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys classic seafood soups prepared with care and attention to texture.

Ingredients

Turkey bacon chopped and cooked until crisp using Applegate Naturals Turkey Bacon or Butterball Turkey Bacon

Celery stalks finely diced

Carrots peeled and finely chopped

Yellow onion finely diced

Fresh garlic cloves minced

Dried thyme

Potato peeled and chopped into small cubes

Seafood broth low sodium preferred

Fresh oysters shucked with liquid reserved

Half and half for a creamy finish

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Instructions

1. Strain the oysters and reserve the liquid, then strain the liquid again to remove any grit and set both aside

2. Coarsely chop the oysters and keep them chilled while preparing the base

3. Finely dice the celery, carrots, and onion and mince the garlic

4. Cook the chopped turkey bacon in a saucepan until crisp, then remove and reserve, leaving a small amount of fat in the pan

5. Gently sauté the celery, carrots, and onion until tender and translucent without browning

6. Add the garlic and thyme and cook briefly until fragrant

7. Add the chopped potato and seafood broth along with the reserved oyster liquid and simmer gently until the potatoes are just tender

8. Lower the heat and stir in the half and half, chopped oysters, and reserved turkey bacon

9. Heat gently until the chowder is hot and the oysters curl slightly at the edges without boiling

10. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve warm

Notes

Keep the heat gentle after adding the dairy to prevent curdling

Oysters cook very quickly, so avoid prolonged heating once they are added

The potatoes naturally thicken the chowder, so no flour is needed

Fresh oysters provide the best flavor and texture for this recipe

This chowder is best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated gently the next day

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American