Making delicious soups like my creamy New England Fish Chowder isn’t difficult. It’s all about the ingredients and a few simple techniques. And of course, using my fish chowder recipe will make it even easier.
My creamy fish chowder is made from simple ingredients and is as good if not better than any restaurant fish chowder you’ve ever had. And I should know, I made this soup for years in my restaurants!
This may not be a “classic New England Chowder”, it’s a new and improved Fish Chowder that you’re going to love!
Ingredients to make a New England Fish Chowder?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Fish Chowder. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
What kind of fish can I use to make Chowder?
In my restaurant days, I would make this soup out of whatever fish I had left over. You can even save cooked fish in your freezer and use that to make a seafood chowder.
These are some of my favorite fish to use in my chowder.
- halibut
- pollock
- haddock
- salmon
Or use a combination of your favorite meaty white fish and seafood you have on hand.
How do I make New England Fish Chowder?
In a large pot (or dutch oven) over medium heat, cook the bacon until almost done (leave the bacon grease in the pan). Add the onions, celery and chopped carrots and continue cooking for 5-6 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and add the flour to the pot to make a roux. This will thicken the soup.
Allow the roux to cook over low heat for 5- 7 minutes, but don’t let the roux get dark or burn.
Heat the stock in a saucepan over medium-high heat while the roux is cooking. Add the hot stock to the roux and mix well using a wire whisk.
I use chicken stock in my seafood soups because it gives the soup a better flavor and a better mouth feel. Feel free to use clam juice or fish stock if you prefer.
Add the potatoes, sweet corn, and fresh thyme into the pot at this time stirring them into the soup.
I used Yukon gold potatoes in my fish soup, but you can also use red potatoes.
Add the milk and heavy cream to the soup, mixing well. Bring the soup to a light boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After allowing the soup to simmer, add the chopped cod fillets and black pepper. Let the soup continue to simmer over low heat for an additional 15-20 minutes. Or until the halibut is fully cooked.
*If the soup gets to thick, add water to pot. I wouldn’t add any more dairy at this point, just water.
Serve this delicious Fish Chowder with crusty bread or oyster crackers and watch the smiles around the dinner table!
Recipe FAQ’s
Fish chowder will hold up for 4 days in your refrigerator. And the truth is it will taste better the second day when the ingredients have to time build their flavors.
Yes, you can. Let it fully thaw in your refrigerator before heating, and you may need to add a little water to thin the soup out.
*Reheat the chowder to a minimum of 165 degrees for one minute before serving.
More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!
Restaurant Style New England Fish Chowder
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod or other fish or combination of seafood
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 4 strips bacon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion small dice
- 4 stalks celery small dice
- 2 large carrots small dice
- 1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
- 2 medium potatoes cut into ¼-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a 4- 6 quart soup pot add the bacon and cook until almost done over medium-high heat
- Add the butter, onion, celery, and carrots, to the pot. Continue to cook the mixture for 4-6 minutes. Stirring the mixture as needed.
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the flour, making the roux that will thicken the soup.
- Allow the roux to cook over low heat for 5- 7 minutes, but don’t let the roux get dark or burn.
- Heat the stock in a saucepan while the roux is cooking. Add the hot stock to the roux and mix well using a wire whisk.
- Add the potatoes, corn and fresh thyme into the pot at this time stirring them into the soup.
- Add the milk and heavy cream to the soup. Bring to a light boil, reduce the heat to simmer and allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes.
- After allowing the soup to simmer, add the cod and black pepper. Let the soup continue to simmer over low heat for an additional 15-20 minutes. Or until the halibut is fully cooked. **If the soup gets to thick, add water to pot. I wouldn't add any more dairy at this point, just water.
- Serve with crusty bread or crackers.
Lexi
Great soup! Simple, flavorful, and a big hit with everyone who ate it. I was told by New Englanders it was like restaurant fish chowder. I only had precooked bacon to use, so I ended up needing to add a bit of salt and extra teaspoon of butter. I wasn’t sure if the bacon was supposed to be left in the pot the whole while the soup cooked(that’s what I did), but I made an extra piece to crumble a little on top of the bowls for presentation. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my fish chowder. It’s a soup I use to make in during my restaurant days.
Susan
Excellent!
Nancy
This is just fabulous! I’ve always made a good clam chowder but this was really a great change. I love how colorful it looks with the different veggies. Husband & 94 y/o father-in-law both loved it! Thanks Chef Dennis!!
Jackie
It calls for bacon, but the recipe doesn’t mention it? How is it incorporated into the recipe?
Chef Dennis Littley
its the first step in the instructions
Jere Cassidy
So glad you posted this recipe. My hubby always talks about the fish chowders they had in Maine and he wasn’t referring to clam or shrimp chowders, just fish. I can’t wait to surprise him with a big bowl.
Elizabeth
Loved this recipe! Will definitely be making again!
Addie
I live in Maine so I can attest that this is the real deal!
Kristina
Amazing recipe! Clam chowder is my fave soup, and making it with fish instead was a great alternative. Thanks for the easy idea!
Oscar
This was delicious, I loved making it with cod. My kids loved it too.
Nora
What a lovely recipe! Thank you for sharing this restaurant styled soup!
Amanda Dixon
This chowder is an absolute winner! It’s so decadent and creamy — everyone loved it!
Sabrina
Creamy delicious and all the flavours I love in a chowder. Thanks for this recipe!
Freya
This has become a new family favourite!
Alexandra
Yum – what a delicious recipe. Great flavours and so comforting.
Audrey
This was such a delicious chowder.