Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

New England clam chowder belongs in a soup category of its own. So creamy and comforting, there is nothing like good clam chowder.

However, after taking a closer look, you’ll often find high-carb veggies and all-purpose flour lurking in every spoonful. These two ingredients turn what could be a keto-friendly staple into a carb-laden soup.

It’s time to flip the script on clam chowder by making it both healthy and satisfying with one simple keto recipe.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (1)

Is Clam Chowder Keto? Carbs in New England Clam Chowder

Whether it is Manhattan or New England clam chowder, they are rarely made in a keto-friendly way. Both versions rely on high-carb veggies, especially New England clam chowder.

After adding potatoes, carrots, and all-purpose flour, the net carb content reaches over 18 grams in each serving. Some recipes even come with over 30 grams per cup!

Fortunately for us keto dieters, it is easier to take out the carbs than it is to add them in. In fact, all it takes is a few simple changes to make clam chowder keto.

How to Make Delicious, Healthy, and Keto-friendly Clam Chowder

The secret to cutting the carbs from your chowder without losing flavor is to keep it simple.

Rather than relying on watery ingredients and using flour to thicken it, use thick and flavorful keto ingredients and let the broth and clam juice thin it.

With this clam chowder recipe, for example, you’ll use cream cheese and heavy cream as your soup base. Along with that, you’ll be incorporating exclusively low-carb ingredients, which will add all the flavors and textures we love without the unnecessary carbs.

Cooking Tips For The Best Keto Clam Chowder

By following this keto recipe step by step, you’ll be able to make a super satisfying clam chowder. There are, however, a few extra steps you can use to elevate your experience even more:

  • Start by carmelizing the onions in bacon fat. Before adding the onions to your slow cooker, carmelize them in the leftover bacon fat. This will add an extra kick of umami and bacon flavor to your keto clam chowder.
  • Save some crisp bacon for garnishing. To add another level of texture, sprinkle some crisp bacon on top of your chowder serving.
  • Don’t forget the salt! If the flavors are falling flat for you, you may need to add a pinch of salt to bring them out.
  • Add a touch of hot sauce. This keto clam chowder pairs wonderfully with spice. Try serving with your favorite hot sauce to add an extra punch of flavor.
  • Replace the potatoes with a low-carb vegetable. If you crave the mouthfeel of a starchy potato in your chowder, try using a keto-friendly vegetable The two best potato substitutes for keto are daikon radish and cauliflower. Simply cut your veggies into spoonable pieces and add them to the slow cooker with the other vegetables. (Just remember to add the extra macronutrients from those veggies with the nutrition info for the clam chowder recipe.)
  • Serve with keto crackers. If you love having chowder with a side of something crunchy and bready, try making our Pesto Keto Crackers. They are the perfect low-carb replacement for oyster crackers.

Common FAQs for Keto Chowder: Stovetop and Clam-free Options

This clam chowder recipe is surprisingly versatile as well. It can easily be converted in a way that fits your flavor and cooking preferences.

Do I Need a Slow Cooker? How to Make a Quick Stovetop Chowder

If you want to shorten the cooking time, simply cook it in a large pot on your stovetop.

First, cook the veggies through (in the chicken stock). Then, add the clams, clam juice, bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Your chowder will be done once it has reached your desired temperature, and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Are There Any Clam-free Keto Chowder Options?

If you are not a fan of clams, replace the clams and clam juice with your preferred seafood, meat, or low-carb vegetables.

For some culinary inspiration, give this low carb chowder recipe a try: .

Yields 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

1. Prep all ingredients. Put the slow cooker on low setting.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2)

2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (3)

3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (4)

4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (5)

5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (6)

6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (7)

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

NUTRITIONCALORIESFATCARBSFIBERNET CARBSPROTEIN
1/4 cup chicken broth3.70.10.300.30.4
1 medium onion, chopped410.29.51.38.21.3
1 small leek, sliced380.39.41.28.21
2 ribs celery, diced140.131.21.80.6
4 cloves garlic, minced180.140.33.70.8
2 tablespoons butter204230000.2
2 teaspoon sea salt000000
1 teaspoon black pepper50.11.30.50.80.2
3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams3757.51501567.5
8 ounce thick-cut bacon1061803.903.977
8 ounces cream cheese794781301314
1 1/2 cups heavy cream12141299.809.810
1 teaspoon dried thyme3.30.10.80.40.40.1
Totals3771318.5704.965.1173.1
Per Serving (/8)471.439.88.80.68.121.6
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Print

Keto Clam Chowder

Total Time: 8 hours

Yield: 8 servings

Calories per serving: 471

Fat per serving: 39.8

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (8)

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

  1. Prep all ingredients. Put slow cooker on low setting.
  2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.
  3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.
  4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
  5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

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Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat too much bacon on keto? ›

Bacon is high in fat and protein, so it can be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy ketogenic diet. The recommended serving size for bacon is three ounces (or 85 grams). This amount provides enough nutrition without overloading calories or fat.

What is the best thickener for clam chowder? ›

This clam chowder recipe should produce perfectly rich soup. If you'd like your chowder a little thicker, though, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Simply stir cornstarch into a small amount of cold water (or another liquid, such as wine or stock), then stir the mixture into the simmering chowder.

What kind of bacon is keto-friendly? ›

If you're looking for keto bacon, turn to Coleman Natural's line of uncured bacon products. Our Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon contains only one gram of carbohydrates per serving, and our Sugar-Free Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon is carb-free. Coleman Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon is free from chemical preservatives.

Is clam chowder high in carbs? ›

A 1-cup serving of canned condensed New England clam chowder prepared with 2 percent milk contains 154 calories, 18.8 g of carbohydrate, 8.16 g of protein, 5.09 g of fat and 0.8 g of fiber. The calorie composition is approximately 49 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat and 21 percent protein.

Can I eat bacon and eggs every day on keto? ›

Bacon and eggs is a staple ketogenic breakfast for many people on the keto diet, so I figured I'd add this in here to really let you take it to the next level! The key to great scrambled eggs is to never overcook, and always add more richness to them.

Will bacon kick me out of ketosis? ›

If you've been asking —is bacon keto, we're here to tell you yes (and also encourage you to eat it). Among otherpork products, bacon is high in fat, making it in the ideal candidate for a keto-friendly, low carb breakfast.

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.

How to make can clam chowder better? ›

directions
  1. Pour soup into 2 quart sauce pan.
  2. Add chopped clams and 2 tablespoons of juice from clams.
  3. Add thyme, salt and pepper.
  4. Stir all together and heat over medium heat until bubbly then let simmer on low for 20 minutes.
  5. Place in individual bowls and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and serve.

What is the correct way to cool 5 gallons of clam chowder? ›

Use ice water bath

An ice water bath is effective for cooling soups. This method helps decrease the food temperature quickly and safely. Fill a large container or clean sink with ice and a small amount of water. Place the kettle of soup into the ice bath.

How many eggs a day on keto? ›

It's totally fine and safe to eat up to 6 eggs a day while on the keto diet. You can consume even more eggs per day occasionally, as long as you make sure that you eat your greens, healthy fats and proteins from other sources.

What cheese can you have on keto? ›

Some cheeses suit the keto diet better than others. This mainly comes down to their carb and fat content and level of processing. The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties.

Can you eat mayo on keto? ›

Yes — assuming you avoid mayonnaise that's high in sugar or other carbs. Since ketosis is about restricting carbs to low levels and initiating your body's consumption of fats over sugars, mayo's high-fat, low-sugar profile makes it very keto-friendly.

How unhealthy is clam chowder? ›

Clam chowder nutrition

And Walsh agrees, “Clam chowder is one of the worst soups a person can eat. It's high in fat, calories and sodium.” There is 180 calories in a cup of clam chowder. The macronutrient breakdown in a cup of clam chowder is 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

How to thicken clam chowder without flour? ›

Adding cornstarch results in very thick clam chowders. The most common way to add cornstarch is to first mix it with cream and then slowly pour the mixture into the soup while stirring. Flour, on the other hand, is first made into a roux by mixing it with a fat such as oil, butter, or bacon grease.

Does clam chowder raise blood pressure? ›

Clam chowder is a heart-healthy meal because it contains B vitamins essential for preventing fatigue and reducing muscle and neuropathic pain. It also provides a good source of potassium, which can help lower high blood pressure.

What happens if you eat too much bacon? ›

One of the biggest risks of bacon is associated with two preservatives, nitrates and nitrites, that can form cancer-causing compounds. In addition to increasing your risk of colon and stomach cancer, eating processed meat increases your risk of prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and dying from all types of cancer.

Is 4 strips of bacon a day too much? ›

Four slices of bacon take most people about halfway to the recommended limit of saturated fat and one-third of the way to the daily limit for sodium for a day. For those reasons, Smith suggests that bacon be enjoyed in moderation, like other high-fat or high-sodium foods.

What happens if you overeat on keto? ›

People who consume too many calories may gain weight, even if they are in a state of ketosis. It is, therefore, important that people keep track of the number of calories that they consume. Sticking to a balanced meal plan can help a person work toward their ideal weight.

What happens if you eat too much meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

References

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