Instant Pot Clam Chowder (GF)

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This Clam Chowder Instant Pot recipe lives up to the chowder standards. Like all other standard chowder recipes, it’s full of flavor and simple to make. I mean is there anything better than a nice bowl of belly warming chowder?!

This Instant Pot Clam Chowder recipe doesn’t take much more effort than prepping the ingredients.

And like with this Instant Pot Salmon, you can spend less time slaving over the stove to make a stew, chowder or soup, this means more time to spend with your family and friends.

Why You’ll Love It

• Easy to double or triple the batch to feed a crowd.
• Great for meal prep since you can make multiple batches and freeze for later.
• Quick to whip up when you’re running short on time.
• Uses mostly staple ingredients that you already have in your kitchen.
• You don’t have to constantly stir the Instant Pot Clam Chowder recipe as you do with stovetop versions.
• It’s versatile. It can be used for an appetizer or full dinner idea.

Related Link : Instant Pot Shrimp Alfredo.

So folks are you ready to see just how QUICK you can make this Instant Pot Clam Chowder??

Full ingredient quantities and instructions in the recipe card below.

How to Make Instant Pot Clam Chowder 

1. Turn your Instant Pot to Sauté, heat oil and cook bacon in batches until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. Cook chopped onion for about a minute and garlic for about 30 secs.
3. Add clams with juice to the pot. Add the bacon back to the pot with all the other ingredients except the sour cream, cream, and cornstarch.
4. Cover and set to manual pressure / high pressure for 10 mins, until potatoes are tender. Allow for a natural pressure release.
5. Turn the pot back to Sauté mode. In a separate cup, mix the cream and cornstarch until no longer lumpy and add to the  Instant Pot.
6. Add sour cream and stir to combine.
7. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes in the chowder, leaving some lumps. Let simmer for a few mins.
8. Turn off the Instant Pot, garnish with bacon and green onions and serve hot.

Tips

• Cook time does not include time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, or for the pressure to release.
• To make this Clam Chowder Instant Pot recipe EVEN EASIER, prep all your ingredients ahead of time. This makes whipping up this dish even FASTER.
• Add more cream if you like a thinner chowder.

• If you like a thicker chowder, add a tablespoon each of cornstarch and water to the hot chowder and stir it in.
• Do NOT use a quick pressure release because this can cause the soup or soup foam to come out of the top vent.

Chef’s Tip: If you don’t have canned clams, you can use frozen clams with clam juice.

What’s the Difference Between a Chowder and a Soup?

Soup and Chowder are often interchanged, but shouldn’t always be. A chowder is a type of soup that usually has a cream or milk base. Often, chowders are thickened with crackers or a roux. Chowders usually have onion, celery, and potatoes.

Recipe Variations

Clam Chowders can be made in various ways. Manhattan Clam Chowder usually has a tomato base. While New England Clam Chowder (also known as Boston Clam Chowder) has a cream or milk base.

And, Manhattan Clam Chowder typically includes more veggies than the New England variety.

Can You Freeze This?

Yes folks, you absolutely can freeze this hearty and rich soup. This Clam Chowder Instant Pot recipe is a great meal prep solution. It’s easy to make a batch (or two) of this Clam Chowder in your Instant Pot and then store it in the freezer.

To Freeze

• Make sure you let the soup cool completely before transferring to Ziploc bags.
• Press the excess air out of the bags before sealing and label them with the date.
• Place the bags flat in the freezer to store for 2-3 months.

To Thaw and Reheat

• Remove from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge.
• For a faster thaw, you can place the bagged eat in a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions.
• Transfer the thawed eat into a bowl and reheat in a microwave.
• Or, transfer into a saucepan and reheat over low to medium heat. You may need to add in some milk or cream while reheating on the stove or microwave.

Serving Suggestions

• Air Fryer Asparagus.
• Instant Pot Cornbread.
• Air Fryer Steak.

More Quick and Easy Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes.
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.
• Instant Pot Corn Chowder.
• Dump and Start Jamaican Instant Pot Carrot Soup.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 12 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

Pressure Cooker Clam Chowder Video

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