My easy to make Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder is perfect for summer! It is broth based with a little cream keeping it light yet satisfying. This chowder also incorporates fresh summer corn straight from the cob for maximum flavor! (and there's bacon in there too!) The chicken adds protein and also makes it hearty enough to eat as a main dish. We love this delicious summer soup!

When cooking in the heat of the summer I always think quick and easy! It's hot here in FL, so the last thing I want to do is add more heat by turning on the oven. I shoot for easy one-pot meals that take 30 minutes or less & use fresh ingredients for maximum flavor (and bacon), but also incorporate some short cuts so I can spend more time enjoying summer fun with my family! This Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder meets my summer cooking criteria and we LOVE all the fresh tastes in this summer soup.

The flavors in this tasty summer soup (BACON) combine to create a hearty meal all in one delicious bowl! From the fresh corn and herbs to the rotisserie chicken, salty bacon (yep, there's bacon in there too!), and filling potatoes this chowder hits the spot! One taste and Don said "mmmmmm!" He was a happy camper and had 2 big bowls!

After picking up some fresh corn on the cob from the roadside produce stand, I had flashbacks of shucking corn as a kid. If you ever had to get to the fresh corn on the cob under all that silk, you know what I mean! I was not going to get silk all over the place this time! Sometime ago there was a video going around Facebook that claimed microwaving the corn in the husk for about 3 to 4 minutes worked like a charm and the corn would just slide right out, leaving all the messy silk in the husk. I had to try it!! 

I microwaved the corn in the husk for 3 1/2 minutes and then cut off the bottom end...

Then I picked up the corn by grasping the leaves right above the top of the cob (using my oven mitt because it was blazing hot) and giving it a shake until the cob slid right out virtually free of that messy silk! 

How awesome is that?! I just had to share in hopes of stopping the madness of making the kids shuck the corn the hard way! Remember to use an oven mitt when handling the corn - it gets really hot!!

Allow the corn to cool and cut the corn off the cob. A mess-free way of doing this is using a bundt pan. That's another kitchen hack I learned recently. It keeps all the corn contained in the pan instead of just flying willy-nilly all over the house! Can you tell I really don't like cleaning up after my kitchen adventures?!

Now that I have all of this delicious, sweet summer corn, I need to put it to good use! I picked up a convenient 3-pack of Swanson Chicken Broth and a rotisserie chicken from Sam's Club and set out make my chowder. Sam's Club also offers a 6-pack of Swanson Chicken Broth. I use chicken broth (and bacon) year round, so the bigger packs mean we can enjoy my Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder all summer long with just one trip to the store! I like that!!

Let's get started! Check out my full ingredient list below and gather everything you need to have it close at hand. Don't forget the BACON...

Cook 1/4 lb thick-cut bacon (thick-cut just tastes better, imho) in a stockpot over mid-high heat until a little on the crispy side and set it aside to cool. Add 1 cup finely diced onion, 3/4 cup finely diced red pepper, and 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic into the pot with the bacon drippings and cook until soft...

Add 2 tablespoons flour to the vegetables in the pot and stir to combine with all the bacony goodness...

Pour in 32 ounces of Swanson Chicken Broth...

and add 4 cups of finely diced potatoes. Bring this mixture to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Add 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot and 2 to 3 cups fresh corn cut from the cob and stir to combine.

Add in 1 cup half & half, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and...

2 cups of diced rotisserie chicken. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Stir to combine, cover, and cook another 5 minutes.

Garnish with the reserved bacon, shredded cheddar, and freshly chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

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Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder

By Life Tastes Good
Published 07/27/2015

Ingredients

• 1/4 lb thick-cut bacon (about 3 strips of thick-cut bacon)
• 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
• 3/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 32 ounces of Swanson Chicken Broth
• 4 cups of finely diced potatoes (I used 4 Yukon Gold potatoes)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
• 2 to 3 cups fresh corn cut from the cob (I used 4 ears of corn)
• 1 cup half & half
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2 cups of diced rotisserie chicken
• salt and fresh black pepper to taste
• Shredded cheddar cheese (garnish)
• Freshly chopped cilantro (garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook 1/4 lb thick-cut bacon in a stockpot over mid-high heat until a little on the crispy side and set it aside to cool.
2. Add 1 cup finely diced onion, 3/4 cup finely diced red pepper, and 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic into the pot with the bacon drippings and cook until soft.
3. Add 2 tablespoons flour to the vegetables in the pot and stir to combine.
4. Pour in 32 ounces of Swanson Chicken Broth, and add 4 cups of finely diced potatoes. Bring this mixture to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
5. Add 1 1/2 cups shredded carrot and 2 to 3 cups fresh corn cut from the cob and stir to combine. Add in 1 cup half & half, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and 2 cups of diced rotisserie chicken. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Stir to combine, cover, and cook another 5 minutes.
6. Garnish with the reserved bacon, shredded cheddar, and freshly chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins.

Cook time: 20 mins.
Total time: 30 mins.

Tags: Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder, Summer, Soup, Chowder, Corn on the Cob, Fresh Ingredients, Chicken, Rotisserie Chicken, Main, One Pot Meal