Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

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Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - delicious soup made in a pressure cooker. This rich and creamy chowder is packed with fresh corn, potatoes and crispy bacon.

If you enjoy hearty soups, you need to try my Potato Ham Chowder too. My Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is another great way to enjoy corn!

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (1)

INSTANT POT CORN CHOWDER WITH BACON

One of our favorite summer soups to make is corn chowder. It's creamy, satisfying and full of flavor. Especially since I make it in my pressure cooker. If you have an Instant Pot and never tried to cook soup in it, you have to do it! You will love it! The flavors are as intense as if the soup was simmering on the stove for hours, when in fact it takes under 30 minutes to have it done from the time you cut the corn off the cob. Besides, there is bacon involved and that is always a good thing. I love the meaty flavor it adds to this chowder.

Cooking the bacon in the pot first creates a base for this delicious soup. I also add the fresh corn to veggies to saute before closing the lid to let it caramelize just a bit. All of these flavors make this Instant Pot Corn Chowder one of the best I have ever had!

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2)

How to make Instant Pot Corn Chowder?

  • Start by heating up the Instant Pot on the saute setting. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove and place on a plate.
  • Saute garlic and onion in bacon grease. Add corn kernels and saute for a few minutes. Press "cancel/off" button to turn off the saute setting.
  • Add remaining ingredients, along with half of the bacon. Close the lid, press "manual" or "pressure cook" setting and set the timer to 10 minutes. Once done, let the Instant Pot release pressure for 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
  • Add cornstarch whisked with half and half and stir into the soup. Let it sit for 10 minutes. If the chowder is not as thick as you like, remove 2 cups and blend the rest with an immersion blender.

Fresh corn vs. frozen corn

I buy fresh corn on the cob at ALDI's. The package comes with 4 cobs and I used all of them in this recipe. The amount of time the chowder cooks in the pressure cooker, allows the corn to cook but not get mushy and completely broken down. It has it's texture and you can still enjoy the fresh corn flavor. You can also use canned (drained and rinsed) or frozen corn without adjusting the time. It is just needed for the potatoes to cook.

How to thicken up Instant Pot Corn Chowder?

If you like smoother texture chowder, feel free to spoon two cups into a bowl and blend the rest in the pot with an immersion blender. Add reserved chowder back in and enjoy.

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (3)

Check out myInstant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance!

More easy Instant Pot recipes:

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Instant Pot Soup Recipes Roundup(all in one place)

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (4)

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (5)

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon

Author: Anna

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - delicious soup made in a pressure cooker. This rich and creamy chowder is packed with fresh corn, potatoes and crispy bacon.

www.crunchycreamysweet.com

4.89 from 17 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 11 minutes mins

Total Time 21 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 308 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ears corn on the cob
  • 4 slices bacon chopped
  • 2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 4 red potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock or water
  • 1.5 cups half and half
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Turn pressure cooker on. Press SAUTE button. Wait 2 minutes for the pot to heat up. Add chopped bacon. Cook until almost all of is crispy. Remove onto a plate.

  • Add garlic and onion to pot with bacon grease. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.

  • Cut corn kernels off the cobs. Add to pot with onion. Saute for 2 minutes, stirring often.

  • Press OFF button on Instant Pot.

  • Add potatoes, water, stock and half of cooked bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Close lid, set to sealing position. Press MANUAL button and set timer to 10 minutes. The pressure cooker will start cooking. It will take it a few minutes to come to pressure.

  • When the Instant Pot is done it will beep. Click OFF button. Let pressure cooker naturally release the pressure for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, whisk together half and half and cornstarch. Quick release pressure. Add half and half to pot and stir. Let sit for 10 minutes.

  • Serve chowder garnished with reserved bacon and chopped parsley.

Notes

Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days. You can use canned corn (drained and rinsed) in this recipe. You don't have to adjust the cooking time. It is needed for the potatoes to cook. The smaller the dice of the potatoes, the quicker they will cook. Do not dice them too small.

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 668mg | Potassium: 942mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Vitamin C: 18.5mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know!

  1. Kim D says

    Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (10)
    Great recipe, thanks for sharing! If it helps anyone, I made these mods:

    I used 6 corn cobs and 4 big red potatoes (had to use it all).
    After removing the corn, I broke the cobs in two and boiled them in 6 cups of water (boil then good simmer). I was left with 4 cups of liquid, which I used instead of straight water and broth.

    I did not add any dairy, and because of the "corn water" the chowder was just the right thickness. No need for cornstarch. The potatoes were tender enough that the smaller pieces gently broke apart for added thickness.

    Reply

  2. Liz says

    Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (11)
    I made this for supper and found it a bit too watery. Next time I will try to eliminate the water and use 2 cups of broth only. I think that might be enough with the added half and half. I am not a big salter but we needed to add salt to our bowls.

    Reply

    • Courtney A says

      Absolutely amazing!! I added extra bacon & instead of fresh corn used two cans of peaches and cream and one of creamed corn. Will be making in the future for friends and family!!

      Reply

  3. Arina says

    So excited to try this today! Will this freeze well?

    Reply

    • Courtney says

      Yes, mine freeze really well!

      Reply

« Older Comments

Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to thicken corn chowder? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

What is usually a main thickening agent of chowder? ›

A roux is the most common thickener for sauces and soups and comes in three colors and strengths: white, blond, and brown.

How do you make chowder less watery? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

How much cornstarch to add to chowder? ›

How Much Cornstarch to Thicken Soup? Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly.

How do you thicken leftover chowder? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Cornstarch Slurry

I made a classic slurry by whisking cornstarch and hot broth until smooth in a small bowl. I drizzled it into the soup gradually, and brought it to a boil to fully activate, thicken, and cook out the starch flavor before adding more.

Will heavy cream thicken chowder? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

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