Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder

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Perfect for those cool winter days, this Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder is hearty, comforting, and absolutely delicious. This delicious chowder is chocked full of sweet corn, buttery potatoes, tender chicken, and let’s not forget bacon!

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What Is Chicken Corn Chowder?

This Chicken corn chowder Instant Pot recipe is a hearty, rich soup that is perfect for those cool winter days. This comforting chowder is made with tender chicken, fresh corn kernels and other vegetables, making it the best creamy chicken corn chowder around.

Is Chicken Corn Chowder Healthy?

While chicken corn chowder does contain some heavy cream and cooked bacon, it is still a relatively healthy soup. With plenty of protein-rich chicken and fibre-rich vegetables, this soup makes for a satisfying meal that won’t leave you feeling guilty or sluggish.

What Spices Go Is Corn Chowder?

In this Instant Pot chicken corn chowder recipe we use garlic, paprika and black pepper as well as a splash of Worcestershire sauce.

Why We Love Chicken Corn Chowder

The aroma of this chicken corn chowder as its cooking is enough to lure everyone to the table. With rich flavors and complex textures, this meal will have everyone asking for seconds. Here’s why we love it:

1. Hearty and satisfying– This Instant Pot chicken corn chowder is packed with protein, veggies, potatoes, and cheese for a complete meal that leaves everyone full and satisfied.
2. Ready in less than an hour– This recipe is ready to devour in just 40-minutes making it the perfect meal on a busy weeknight.
3. Simple ingredients– Made with mostly staple ingredients, this recipe is budget-friendly and super easy to make.

Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder Ingredients

This chicken corn chowder recipe uses simple wholesome ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen, making it a cost-effective way of serving a crowd. Here’s what you need to make Instant Pot Corn Chowder

• 6 Strips Bacon– You’ll need about 6 pieces of chopped bacon for this recipe. If you choose, you can use the bacon grease to sauté your veggies instead of butter for more flavor.
• 2.5 Cups Chicken– Cut your boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1/2-inch cubes, or bite-sized pieces.
• 2 Tablespoons Butter– If you are using bacon grease, you can omit the butter.
• Fresh veggies– For this recipe, you’ll need 1/2 fresh white onion and 1/2 red bell pepper.
• 2 Tablespoons Minced garlic– Minced fresh garlic cloves are always best, but you can use pre-made minced garlic from a jar as well.
• 2.5 Cups Potatoes– I use Russet potatoes for this recipe because they get nice and tender, but not mushy. Peel and dice your potatoes into 1-inch cubes. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes for this recipe.
• 1 Can Sweet Corn & 1 Can Creamed Corn You will need both a can of sweet corn and a can of creamed corn for this recipe.
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese– I used mild shredded cheddar cheese. Colby, Cheddar, and Mozzarella cheese melt the best.
• 2 Cups Chicken Stock– You can use chicken stock or broth. If you don’t have broth, you can make it with 2 cups of water and 2 chicken bouillon cubes.
• 1 Cup Whole Milk and 1 Cup Cream– You will need to use whole milk and heavy whipping cream.
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch– This helps to thicken up your chowder.
• 1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder

Whether you’re serving a crowd, or just some really hungry teenagers, everyone will be full and satisfied after a delicious bowl of this Instant Pot corn chowder. Follow the steps below for a quick and easy dinner!

Step 1: Sauté The Bacon

Hit your sauté or sear button on your Instant Pot. Once it is hot, cook the bacon until crispy. Place the crispy bacon on a plate and set it to the side.

Step 2: Sauté The Veggies

Either discard the bacon fat and add butter to the Instant Pot, or use the grease to sauté the onions and bell peppers for about 3-minutes. Next, add the garlic and continue to cook for 1-minute.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken

Add the chicken breast pieces to your veggies. Sauté the chicken until it is fully cooked.

Step 4: Deglaze the Pot

Hit cancel. Then, add the chicken broth to the pot. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot and remove any residue to prevent a burn notice during pressure cooking.

Step 5: Add Potatoes, Corn and Seasonings.

Next, add the diced potatoes, corn, paprika, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Mix everything well.

Step 6: Pressure Cook Corn Chowder

Close the Instant Pot lid and put your pressure valve into the sealing position. Hit manual or pressure cook, and set the pot to high pressure for 6 minutes.

When the Instant Pot beeps, move the pressure valve to the venting position to quickly release the pressure.

Step 7: Whisk Milk and Cornstarch

Whisk your cornstarch and milk together until fully combined. Then, add the mixture and the heavy cream to your chowder. Stir well.

Step 8: Simmer the Chowder

Press the sauté or sear button, again. Allow the chicken chowder to simmer for 5-8 minutes to thicken the soup.

Step 9: Add Bacon and Cheese

Once the chowder has reached your desired consistency, hit cancel and add your bacon and cheese. Stir until the cheese has fully melted.

Step 10: Serve And Enjoy

Pour the soup into bowls and serve while hot. Enjoy your delicious Instant Pot corn chowder with bacon! Top with extra cheese and green onions for something different!

Do I Have to Cook the Chicken First?

No, you don’t. I like the seared flavor of the chicken, but you can pressure-cook the chicken, instead. However, you will need to increase the time from 6 minutes to 10 minutes to ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken Pieces?

Yes, if you want to use frozen chicken pieces simply add the chicken before pressure cooking and add an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time.

Can I Use Shredded Chicken?

If you have a rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken that needs using up then you can use this instead of diced chicken breast. Reduce the cooking time down to 4 minutes as the chicken will already be cooked.

Can I Use Frozen Corn Kernels Instead Of Canned Corn?

Yes, you can use either canned corn or frozen corn kernels in this Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder. The cooking times remain the same whether you choose to use fresh or frozen corn.

Can I Use Sweet Potatoes Instead Of Russets Or Yukon Gold Potatoes?

Yes, you can use sweet potato instead of russets or Yukon gold potaoes. Just reduce the cooking time to 4 minutes if you want them tender but still firm as sweet potato cooks faster than regular potatoes.

Can I Make This Into A Dairy-Free Chowder?

If you’re looking for a dairy-free chowder then this recipe can still be made dairy-free. Simply leave out the butter, heavy cream, and cheese and replace with olive oil or coconut oil. You can also add a little extra chicken broth to make up for any thickness from leaving out the dairy ingredients.

How Do I Store Leftover Chicken Corn Chowder?

Any leftover chicken corn chowder can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-days.

Can You Freeze Corn Chowder?

Yes, you can freeze chicken corn chowder for up to 3 months. To freeze, let the soup cool completely and then store it in airtight containers or freezer bags.

How To Thaw Corn Chowder?

This soup cuisine can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator, or by running it under warm water until entirely thawed. You can also reheat frozen chowder without any problems.

Simply allow the soup to thaw until fully warm and then add it to a pot on the stove. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

How to Reheat Corn Chowder In The Instant Pot

To reheat your chicken corn chowder in the Instant Pot, hit the saute function and warm the soup, stirring every so often until the creamy soup is hot.

How To Thicken Corn Chowder?

If your soup is too thin and you want to thicken it, try whisking in some more cornstarch.

Simply dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a small amount of cold milk or water, and then add the cornstarch slurry to the chowder while it is simmering. Continue to stir until desired thickness is reached.

Corn chowder should be a creamy soup -perfect for a cold night and in the electric pressure cooker!

How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder Spicy?

To make a spicy chicken corn chowder, simply add some diced jalapeño peppers or hot sauce to the soup while it is simmering. Alternatively, you can sprinkle some chili powder, garlic powder or red pepper flakes.

No matter how you like your Instant Pot chicken corn chowder, this recipe is sure to become a new favorite!

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

The difference between chowder and soup is all in the texture. Corn soup is usually thin whereas chowder is rich, thick, and always chunky.

Corn chowder is heartier than corn soup and has a creamy texture. It’s a hearty soup that many love!

Is Corn Chowder Keto Friendly?

Yes, corn chowder is keto friendly as long as you use low-carb ingredients. For example, you can replace the potatoes with cauliflower or riced broccoli and swap out the milk for coconut milk. You can also omit the cheese to keep this soup dairy-free.

Whether you’re on a keto diet or not, corn chowder is a delicious, comforting meal that everyone will love! So give it a try and enjoy.

What Goes Good With Corn Chowder?

This chicken corn chowder is hearty and filling all on its own, but if your serving it for a crowd or when everyone’s just a little extra hungry, I like to serve it with a salad, a side of Spinach Bread, or a plate of fruit.

Other sides to serve with chicken corn chowder would be:

– Grilled cheese or warm, crusty bread.

– Easy Garlic Breadsticks.

– Steamed vegetables.

– Crusty rolls.

– Baked potatoes with sour cream and chives.

– Taco salad.

– Poached eggs on toast.

– A simple green salad with vinaigrette dressing.

More Instant Pot Soups To Try:

If you love this Instant Pot Chicken Corn Chowder then you’ll love these Instant Pot soup recipes:

• Instant Pot Dump and Dash Taco Soup
• Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
• Instant Pot Clam Chowder
• Instant Pot Corn Soup
• Instant Pot Peruvian Soup