This made-from-scratch Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder is exceptionally thick, wonderfully creamy, and serves as the perfect culinary canvas to breathe new life into your leftover ham. With the irresistible combination of crispy bacon, tender carrots, aromatic onion, and hearty potatoes, this soup promises a profoundly satisfying and utterly delicious dining experience. It’s truly a bowl of comfort!

The Ultimate Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder: A Recipe for Comfort

Welcome to the ultimate guide for crafting a truly exceptional Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder. This recipe isn’t just about making soup; it’s about creating a warm, comforting experience that brings everyone to the table. We’re going beyond the basics to ensure your chowder is not only thick and rich but bursting with layers of flavor, making it an instant family favorite. Whether you’re looking for a cozy meal on a chilly evening or an inventive way to utilize holiday leftovers, this chowder delivers on every front.

Transform Your Leftover Ham into a Culinary Delight

Do you often find yourself with an abundance of leftover ham after holiday feasts like Easter, Christmas, or even a simple Sunday dinner? Instead of letting those flavorful remnants go to waste, this Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder offers a brilliant and incredibly tasty solution. It’s a fantastic way to stretch your ingredients and create an entirely new, satisfying meal that tastes nothing like “leftovers.” Beyond this hearty chowder, other excellent uses for ham include Easy Ham and Cheese Quiche or delicious ham sandwiches. But for a truly transformative experience, turning that savory ham into a creamy, cheesy soup is unbeatable. Serve it alongside some warm, fluffy Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins, and you’ve elevated a few bits of leftover ham into a wholesome, filling, and unforgettable meal.

Repurposing leftover ham isn’t just economical; it’s a testament to smart cooking. Ham, with its naturally smoky and salty profile, lends itself perfectly to chowders, imbuing the soup with a depth of flavor that’s hard to achieve otherwise. This recipe specifically harnesses that inherent deliciousness, allowing the ham to be a star ingredient rather than just an afterthought.

The Secret to Extraordinary Flavor: Bacon!

Every truly great chowder needs a foundation of robust flavor, and in this Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder, that foundation begins with the humble yet mighty bacon. It’s almost impossible to go wrong when you start a dish with crispy, savory bacon. The process starts by dicing thick-cut bacon and cooking it until it reaches peak crispiness. This not only gives you a wonderful garnish to sprinkle over your finished chowder but also provides the magical ingredient for the next step: bacon grease.

The rendered bacon grease is a flavor powerhouse. Rather than draining it away, we wisely utilize it to sauté the onions and carrots. This isn’t just about being efficient; it’s about infusing every single vegetable with an incredible smoky, savory depth right from the start. As Southern cooks often say, “We don’t waste anything good!” This practice elevates the entire soup, adding layers of umami that simply can’t be replicated with plain oil or butter alone. The rich aroma that fills your kitchen at this stage is just a preview of the deliciousness to come.

Achieving a Luxuriously Thick and Rich Texture

The hallmark of a truly comforting chowder is its thick, velvety texture. For this Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder, all-purpose flour serves as our primary thickening agent, creating a classic roux. After the onions and carrots have softened in the glorious bacon grease, the flour is sprinkled over them. Stirring constantly, it cooks for just a minute, allowing the raw flour taste to disappear and forming a golden, nutty roux. This is the cornerstone of our chowder’s body.

Gradually, milk and water are stirred into this flavorful roux, transforming it into a smooth, creamy base. The flour works its magic, thickening the liquid to a luxurious consistency that perfectly coats every ingredient and satisfies with every spoonful. For those who desire an even greater degree of richness and thickness, a simple swap can make a big difference: substitute half a cup of the milk with heavy cream or half-and-half. This small adjustment will enhance the chowder’s decadent mouthfeel, making it feel truly indulgent.

Beyond the roux, further layers of flavor are built with essential seasonings. Better Than Bouillon is added for an intense, savory depth, complementing the ham and bacon beautifully. Garlic powder contributes a subtle warmth, while both black and white pepper provide a gentle kick and a more nuanced spice profile. Once these aromatics and liquids are combined, diced russet potatoes are introduced to the pot, simmering until they become perfectly tender, soaking up all the incredible flavors of the broth.

The grand finale comes just before serving: the addition of the diced ham and, of course, a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese. The cheese is arguably what elevates this chowder from great to utterly irresistible. As it melts into the hot soup, it creates a luscious, gooey texture and an unparalleled savory taste that’s hard to resist. This cheesy goodness not only contributes to the flavor but also further enhances the soup’s thick and hearty consistency, making each spoonful a pure delight.

A Quick and Easy Soup Recipe for Any Day

One of the most appealing aspects of this Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder is its impressive efficiency. Despite its rich flavor and hearty texture, this recipe comes together remarkably quickly. From start to finish, you can have a steaming bowl of this delicious chowder on your table in under 30 minutes of active cooking time. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you crave a homemade, comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for impromptu family dinners or when you need a speedy solution for those holiday ham leftovers.

Choosing the Best Potatoes for Your Chowder

The type of potato you choose can significantly impact the texture of your chowder. For a soup that holds its shape well and doesn’t become overly mushy, Yukon Gold potatoes and red potatoes are excellent choices. Their waxy texture helps them maintain integrity even after extended simmering, adding a pleasant bite to the chowder.

While Yukon Golds and red potatoes are often preferred for their firm texture, russet potatoes also work wonderfully, and are what I typically use because they are often readily available in my pantry. Russets tend to break down a bit more, contributing to a slightly thicker, creamier soup base, which can be a desirable quality for some. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of these varieties, so feel free to use whichever you have on hand or prefer for its specific characteristics. Just ensure they are peeled and diced into even pieces for consistent cooking.

Explore More Comforting Chowder Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting warmth of this Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder, you’re in for a treat! The world of chowders is vast and varied, offering a delightful array of flavors and textures to explore. Whether you prefer seafood, poultry, or vegetable-based options, there’s a chowder out there for every palate and occasion. Expand your culinary repertoire with these other fantastic chowder recipes:

• Cajun Shrimp and Corn Chowder: A spicy, vibrant chowder bursting with Gulf Coast flavors.
• Curried Chicken Chowder: An exotic twist on a classic, with aromatic spices and tender chicken.
• Crock Pot Cheesy Ham and Corn Chowder: A convenient slow cooker version for hands-off cooking, similar to this recipe but with added corn.
• Turkey Corn Chowder: Perfect for post-Thanksgiving leftovers, combining turkey with sweet corn.
• Corn and Crawfish Chowder: A rich and savory Southern delight, featuring succulent crawfish and sweet corn.
• Southwestern Shrimp Chowder: A zesty chowder with a kick, blending shrimp with bold Southwestern flavors.

Don’t forget to try the incredibly convenient slow cooker version of ham chowder for those days when you need a delicious meal with minimal effort.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder

Rating: 4.87 out of 5 stars from 38 votes

By Christin Mahrlig

Prep:
10 mins

Cook:
25 mins

Total:
35 mins

Servings:
6

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This made from scratch Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder is thick and creamy and the perfect way to breathe new life into your leftover ham.

Equipment

• Dutch Oven

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1 medium yellow or sweet onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 cups diced ham
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Cook diced bacon in a Dutch oven until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Leave about 3 tablespoons bacon grease in the Dutch oven.
3. Add onion and carrots to bacon grease and cook over medium heat until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Sprinkle flour over onions and carrots. Stir and cook for 1 minute to create a roux.
5. Gradually stir in milk and water until smooth. Add Better Than Bouillon, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, and diced potatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
6. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
7. Turn the heat to low. Stir in the diced ham and shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese is completely melted and the chowder is creamy.
8. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with the reserved crispy bacon, and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade Cheesy Ham and Potato Chowder!

Notes

Storage: Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or a larger amount in a pot over medium-low heat on the stovetop. If the chowder becomes too thick upon reheating, thin it with a splash of milk or broth until your desired consistency is achieved.

Variations: Feel free to add other vegetables like frozen corn or peas during the last 5 minutes of simmering. A pinch of fresh thyme or chopped chives can also add an extra layer of flavor.

Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and can vary greatly based on brands of products used and exact portion sizes.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 34g
|
Protein: 25g
|
Fat: 24g
|
Saturated Fat: 12g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
|
Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
|
Trans Fat: 0.02g
|
Cholesterol: 82mg
|
Sodium: 915mg
|
Potassium: 786mg
|
Fiber: 2g
|
Sugar: 9g
|
Vitamin A: 3980IU
|
Vitamin C: 9mg
|
Calcium: 445mg
|
Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Originally published March 29, 2017. Updated and re-optimized for 2024.