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Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder

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Creamy fresh corn zucchini chowder loaded with seasonal corn and zucchini! This lightened up chowder is made with fresh sweet corn from the cob, no flour, and half and half.

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

There is no doubt we love soup in our household! I think it’s a Russian thing. I grew up eating soup or borscht almost every day, usually for lunch. Now, I’ve carried on the same tradition in my house.

My kids LOVE LOVE soups and I love it that they do! It gives me a chance to pack them up with all kinds of veggies without hearing them fuss about it.

So for us having soup year round is absolutely normal, even in the summer time!

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

This fresh sweet corn and zucchini chowder is summer in a bowl! Made with sweet corn from the cob, zucchini, celery, carrots, onions, and potatoes. It’s a veggie packed soup that is not only tasty but so good for you.

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

I took the idea of a traditional corn chowder and loaded it up with more veggies, cut out the flour completely, and instead of heavy cream, used half and half to lighten it up.

You get the same scrumptious creamy taste, double the veggies, with a bit of smokiness from the bacon BUT without the crazy calories!

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Key to creating thick and creamy chowder without the added flour or heavy cream is puréeing some of the chowder. I’ve used and talked about this technique in some of my favorite soups.

You basically take about two cups of cooked chowder and purée it until smooth in either a blender or food processor, then stir the mixture back into the chowder.

I so so love using this technique to lighten up some of my favorite soups!

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

To serve, a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and cayenne pepper is absolutely a must. Well, cayenne pepper is very optional but SO recommended!

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

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Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

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Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder

★★★★★ 4.9 from 55 reviews
  • Author: Katya @ Little Broken
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 55 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: One-Pot
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Creamy chowder loaded with fresh corn and zucchini is the best summer food! This lightened up chowder is made with fresh corn from the cob, no flour, and half and half.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion, about 1/2 large onion
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped (1/3 cup)
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled + chopped (1/2 cup)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
  • 2 medium (1 lb.) russet potatoes, peeled, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 4 cups water (or veggie stock)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 ears of sweet fresh corn, husk + silk removed and kernels cut from cob (2 3/4 cup corn)
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced into 1/2-inch cubes, (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 cup half and half
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • chopped fresh parsley, to garnish
  • cayenne pepper, to serve, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large heavy-duty bottom stockpot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until bacon renders its fat and begins to brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and thyme; cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring couple times, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add potatoes, water, and bay leaf. Raise the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer, then lower the heat back to medium and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the potatoes are halfway cooked.
  4. Add zucchini and corn; season with salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for additional 8-12 minutes or until the vegetables are completely tender.
  5. Discard the bay leaf and then transfer 2 cups of chowder to a food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Stir the mixture back into the pot. Add half and half and cook just until heated through. Taste for salt and pepper.
  6. Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley and sprinkle of cayenne pepper, optional.

Notes

  • To make it VEGAN: replace butter with 2 Tbsp. of olive oil, replace bacon with 1 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika or even better some type of southwest seasoning blend that has smoked paprika in it, such as this one (affiliate link). Lastly, replace the half and half with 1 cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk (make sure to shake the can first). To make these substitutions, you would first heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the veggies (step 2) , plus the smoked paprika. Cook until veggies are soft. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. If you need further clarifications, please ask in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer.

Keywords: corn soup, summer, seasonal, meatless chowder

 

Summer Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder - the BEST healthy chowder! At only 173 calories, NO flour, NO heavy cream | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Comments

  1. Jenn says

    Made this tonight for dinner and it tasted so good. I used leftover bacon from breakfast (i just crumbled it in as a topper) and added a 1/2tbsp butter since i didnt have the bacon fat. Definitely keeping this in my recipe book since i can eat soup year round. Thank you for a delicious but healthy soup recipe.

    Reply

  2. Alex says

    Added chicken, we all agree – best corn chowder recipe EVER!!! Cayenne a must, seriously best summer soup.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  3. Apple Grace says

    This soup was delicious! I was expecting it to be a little bland since it’s mostly veggies, but it was beautifully sweet from the corn and summery and wonderful. I even used canned corn since that’s what I had, so I can only imagine this would be even better with fresh corn. My one tip would be don’t be afraid to add salt! It makes a big difference.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Katya says

      You should definitely try it with fresh corn, especially if you can get your hands on really good sweet corn. It’s amazing. But either way so glad you decided to make it! Thank you for your feedback 🙂

      Reply

  4. Tiana says

    Made this today! Used 2 cans of Steamcrisp corn and 2 zucchini and subbed the carrot for sweet potato and it was amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. Shyla says

    This was amazing! I left out the bacon and substituted veggie stock and coconut milk. I never thought it would be soooooo scrumptious! Very thankful for the recipe!

    Reply

  6. Janet B says

    I had to triple this for my family of 4, we loved it.
    Sometime I can’t make enough when I serve it Xmas a main
    dish.

    Reply

  7. Mikayla says

    We made this recipe the other night and it has quickly become one of our go to recipes! We added cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes, double bacon, use chicken stock instead of water, and left out the celery. It was amazing!

    Reply

  8. Mikayla C says

    Made this and it has quickly become one of our go to recipes! We doubled the bacon, left out the celery, used chicken stock instead of water, and added red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper, it was AMAZING!

    Reply

  9. Rene says

    I added oregano, parsley and mozzarella cheese. I left the bacon out, added chicken broth instead of water and used squash too. Hubs loved it!

    Reply

  10. Rizi Harris says

    This is delicious! An easier way to get partial puree is with a stick blender. Less dishes to wash after!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  11. Karly Anderson says

    I love love love this soup! (I am also obsessed with corn, so it makes sense why I would love it so much). We did not do the bacon, just because we didn’t have any, but I bet the bacon would be fantastic if added. Instead, I just added extra butter for flavor and because there wasn’t any bacon fat. I also added a little extra zucchini and it was perfect! Totally making this again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  14. Cammie says

    This totally works as a vegan chowder! I left out the bacon and half and half. Sauteed my veggies in olive oil and added a half tsp or so of smoked paprika to make up for the lack of smoky bacon flavor. Otherwise followed the recipe as written, EXCEPT instead of using plain water, I simmered my corn cobs in about 5 cups of water after removing the kernels. Kept the cobs simmering while I proceeded with the recipe. When I got to to the step when water was to be added, i removed the cobs and used the corn broth (came to about 4 cups). The broth smelled super fresh and corny!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  15. Mikki says

    I’ve got this in my crockpot now & can’t wait til dinner time! We ate all of our bacon a couple nights ago (blt wraps for dinner), so I used beef broth instead of the water to give it some extra flavor. I also used about double the amounts for the potatoes & zucchini. All I had on hand was frozen corn, so that’s what went in. And I’m out of thyme, so I added some basil & parsley instead. I just threw everything into the crockpot together and am cooking on high for about 3-4 hrs. I’ll let you know how it turns out 🙂

    Reply

  16. A says

    This was great!
    what a sigh of relief looking at your recipe list. I try to stay away from soups that have flour which this type of soup normally has. What s nice suprise… no flour:) This was delicious and pretty light.

    I added a tsp of sour cream on top with a few bacon bits.
    Definately will make it again.
    Thanks katya for making healthy and nutritious recipes that actually taste good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  17. Amanda says

    I made this soup today! It just needed some salt and I added herbes de Provence and topped it with more bacon! Super good! I definitely recommend this recipe!

    Reply

  18. Stacey says

    I made this again, both times with fantastic results. Since I am dairy-free, I substituted the diary with coconut milk. Instead of water, I used homemade chicken broth. I doubled the recipe so I can freeze the other half. Hopefully the potato and zucchini hold up a little.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Katya says

      Thank you for sharing Stacey! I had someone else asking about coconut milk so I know it will be helpful to other readers. So happy it turned out well for you 🙂

      Reply

  19. Flannery says

    Had an extra zucchini from the farmer’s market and found this on Pinterest – IT WAS DELISH! Wonderful flavors and perfect for a summer soup. I added a chicken stock cube as I was cooking and it was great.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  21. Brenda says

    I love this recipe! I simply added 1 pound of shrimp to increase protein and make it a perfect lunch!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  22. Christina says

    Just made this for my lunches this week! Instead of potatoes, I used potatoes flakes. My mom’s family always uses potato flakes in soups with potatoes to thicken without adding too much extra cream. It’s perfect; very thick and creamy! I also added a chicken breast for some extra protein. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  24. Molly says

    I know I’m a little early in the season for this recipe, but our grocery store had really nice zucchini this week, so I gave it a go (full disclosure: I used canned corn). I used Coconut Milk (from the can) in lieu of the half and half and I let the bacon render in its own fat rather than butter. It was fantastic! It was a perfect weeknight meal. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  25. Katie says

    So I found this soup and think it looks amazing!! however, I do not have the fresh corn available. I’m wondering if it would taste the same without the corn??

    Thanks!

    Reply

  26. kathy says

    Made this for dinner tonight using the last of fresh summer corn and zucchini. It came together quickly and I think it would be tasty with other seasonal veg like butternut. Delicious just as written!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  28. Rachel says

    I just made this and my husband and I loved it! I made some modifications: no bacon, 3 potatoes instead of 2, two zucchinis instead of 1, and veggie broth instead of water. I would make this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Katya says

      I’m glad you loved it despite no bacon! Another reader mentioned that she omitted bacon but it was missing smokiness but glad it worked for you. Thanks so much for your feedback!

      Reply

  29. Summer Drum says

    I just finished making this! I used reduced-sodium chicken broth instead of water, substituted 1/2 cup of the half and half for milk, added some red pepper flakes, added an extra zucchini, and omitted the bacon. It is so delicious, but I feel like it’s missing a little bit of depth or smokiness (probably because I omitted the bacon). Any ideas for what I could add next time?

    ★★★★

    Reply

    • Alli says

      Try paprika for that smokiness… I don’t eat pork but my hubs says paprika gives a good smoky flavor in recipes I omit the bacon! Good luck!

      Reply

    • Karly Anderson says

      I didn’t add the bacon either, but I did add extra butter for flavor (since you don’t get any bacon fat). You could also add bacon bits to the top, or a bit of cheese! I added some cheese and that gave it some more depth.

      Reply

  31. Chantel Castellano says

    Made this tonight for dinner, and it was so delicious! It was perfect for all the fresh corn I bought today. I definitely will be making this again! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  32. Crystal says

    This soup was AMAZING. the only alteration my boyfriend made was to add a few extra strips of bacon…. There is so much flavor in this soup. It will be staying in my recipes for a long time!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  34. Candace says

    Made this last night! Amazing! My boyfriend loved it! I added cumin, parsley and used red onion instead of white for more flavor. I love all the vegetables. Definitely making this again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  35. snezana says

    I made this soup over the weekend and love the flavors! I prefer a soup with more broth so used 6 cups of water and did not puree it and it was wonderful! Thank you, I’m making another batch tonight.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  36. Amanda Schiller says

    Wow! I just made this for my family for dinner and I can’t wait to make it again! It is so delicious and everyone loved it! Thank you so much for sharing!!! I never comment on recipes but felt the need to with this one.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  38. Sylvia says

    I’m making this tonight and also using chicken broth for extra taste. Sounds so good with everything being homegrown.

    Reply

    • Katya says

      If you’re talking about the main then you can pretty much do anything. Even though it’s loaded with ton of veggies it’s not overly heavy so you can easily serve it as a side. It’s also great with saltine crackers and/or oyster crackers.

      Reply

  40. KP says

    This chowder is DELISH!!!! I made it for dinner tonight and we loved it!! I added a splash of Louisiana hot sauce to my bowl. So good!! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  41. Elizabeth says

    I just made this for dinner tonight. It was SO good! I omitted the bacon and used chicken broth instead of the water but kept everything else the same. Even though it’s in the high 80s right now, I loved it!

    ★★★★

    Reply

  42. Melanie says

    This soup is delicious and the leftovers make for a really tasty lunch the next day! Thanks for sharing it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  43. Debbie says

    I made this soup this morning and had it for lunch today. I followed the recipe to the T. It was so so good and looked just like the picture. I plan on having a bowl for dinner too. AWESOME!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  44. StayC says

    I made this a couple of days ago. Thank you for this delicious recipe. Because I don’t tolerate dairy, I used coconut milk. Instead of water, I used my homemade chicken broth. And I used frozen corn. My family loves this chowder–we’re finishing the last bit of it today. I will definitely make this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  45. Debbie says

    HI. I eat soup every day too. Love it. I have everything to make this soup except the half & half. I going to get that in the morning and make this delicious looking soup. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Katya says

      You totally can Debbie! I’ve used gallon size ziploc bags that I’ve filled up halfway with soup, then laid flat to freeze. Thaw out in the fridge overnight and then re-heat on low on stovetop.

      Reply

    • Katya says

      Hi Lindsy: Honestly, I can’t really answer that as I’ve only made the chowder on the stovetop but if you do end up making it in the crockpot, I would love to know how it turns out for you.

      Reply

  52. Debbie says

    I’m a year around soup person. I love soups and eat a bowl every day for lunch and sometimes even dinner. The chowder looks fantastic. I have every on hand to make this except the bacon. I will be making this soup this week. Can’t wait. Thanks for sharing.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  53. Shinee says

    Katya, I’m so trying this! I love your thickening method too. We’ll have a huge corn crop later this year, and I know what I’ll be making tons!! Yum!

    Reply

  54. Naomi says

    Hi! Just curious, because I’m trying to watch my intake after losing weight, may I know how you gather your nutritional info? Is there some website that you use? By the way this recipe was wonderful! Just made it 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  3. […] Corn and Zucchini Chowder – a lot of really yummy ingredients that would be a perfect weeknight dinner. […]

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