How To Thicken Clam Chowder – The Best Way

Clam chowder is a timeless classic. This hearty soup has many variations but nearly all of them have one thing in common – a rich and creamy texture. But clam chowder doesn’t always turn out as thick as you want it to. 

How do you thicken clam chowder? To thicken clam chowder, add either more starch or more fat to it. It is best to thicken clam chowder with flour or cornstarch. An alternative way to thicken an already cooked clam chowder is with potatoes or crackers. You can also use heavy cream instead.

In this article, you will get step-by-step instructions and additional tips for thickening clam chowder easily and effectively. Let’s get started!

Should Clam Chowder Be Thick or Thin?

People have different preferences when it comes to the consistency of clam chowder.

While some say that clam chowder should be thick and creamy, others claim that a New England clam chowder should be on the thinner side.

Additionally, if you are making traditional clam chowder, you may need to use heavy cream which makes the chowder quite creamy and thick. According to many people, the best consistency of clam chowder is when it is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. 

It seems safest to say the consistency of clam chowder is really a matter of preference! Besides, even if there is one “right” way, at the end of the day, we like what we like.

But for those who want a thicker clam chowder than they’re getting, read on.

Why Is My Clam Chowder Not Thickening?

Home-made always tastes better right? Well, usually anyway. If you don’t want to go with store-bought, a homemade clam chowder can be rewarding, but only if you can nail that perfect texture.

Clam chowder may turn out watery if you leave out one of the thickening ingredients in the recipe, such as heavy cream or butter. If you replace either with dairy-free alternatives, you may be using thinner ingredients and that can affect the texture.

Also, attempts to make low-calorie clam chowder, some people leave out or add less of the starchy ingredients, including flour and potatoes.

Doing this causes the chowder to become watery. These starchy and high-fat ingredients are what make clam chowder rich and creamy. 

Why Does Clam Chowder Become Watery?

A big batch of clam chowder goes a long way. You can store it in the fridge and have a hearty dinner for a few days in a row. 

But a common problem with clam chowder stored in the fridge is that it becomes watery.

Why does this happen?  The answer is simple. The fats harden as the chowder cools down making the overall consistency watery.

Your clam chowder will regain its initial texture as soon as you reheat it either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Stir the chowder while it heats to quickly break down the congealed fats. 

How to Thicken Clam Chowder?

Whether you are in the process of making clam chowder or it is already cooked and ready – but not of your desired consistency – you can save the situation.

Luckily, there are multiple ingredients to help you thicken the soup and improve its consistency. These ingredients, for the most part, are always at hand. We’ll show you how to use each.

Using Flour 

Flour is a staple ingredient in every kitchen. To make a creamy and thick clam chowder you need to start with a roux. Roux is a combination of flour and fat. It is used as a base for sauces and soups to achieve a thick consistency.  

To use flour to thicken clam chowder, follow these steps:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of butter, oil, bacon grease, or any other fat with an equal amount of flour (in a 1:1 ratio).
2. Cook on low heat. While the mixture bubbles, whisk it vigorously to get rid of the clumps. 
3. Add the chowder broth only when the flour gets golden brown in color. This may take you around 4 minutes. 

When using flour to make creamy and thick clam chowder, make sure to use flour that contains gluten. Regular wheat flour works best for this reason. Using gluten-free flour won’t make any difference in the soup in terms of improving its texture. 

If gluten isn’t an option, try adding a different ingredient from this list, such as potatoes or xanthum gum.

Using Cornstarch 

For a really thick clam chowder, cornstarch is the ingredient to go for.

A tablespoon of cornstarch along with cream will take your clam chowder into another level of richness and make it exceptionally thick and creamy.

Here’s how to add cornstarch to your chowder the best way:

1. Add a tablespoon of cornstarch into the cream. 
2. Mix to get it evenly spread through the cream and get rid of any clumps. 
3. Slowly pour the mixture into the soup and stir. 

For some people, adding the cream is enough to reach their desired texture. But sometimes the chowder may turn out thinner than expected. In such cases, adding a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with cold water will work.

Mix the starch with cold water and pour the water into the chowder. This mixture will instantly make it thicker. 

Using Potatoes 

It is relatively hard to thicken a clam chowder that has already been cooked. An easy and effective way to make an already cooked clam chowder thick is to add potatoes.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Peel and wash the potatoes.
2. Cut the potatoes into chunks and add them to the soup. 
3. Let the soup simmer until the potatoes cook. As the potatoes cook, they will release starch which will thicken the soup. 

Tip: Pick starchy potatoes. Some of the most widely available varieties of starchy potatoes are russet and Idaho. Adding waxy potatoes to a chowder, such as Yukon Gold, will not work.

Using Xanthan Gum 

Xanthan gum is not as common of an ingredient as flour or cornstarch. However, some people do prefer it as a thickener and stabilizer. This food additive comes from fermented sugar and is completely safe for consumption. 

A small amount of xanthan gum can bring your clam chowder to your favorite consistency. Here’s how to use it:

1. Mix ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum with the broth. 
2. Stir the broth for a few minutes. 
3. Check the consistency of the broth and add a little more of the xanthan gum powder until you reach your desired consistency. 

Using Crackers 

One of the easiest ways to thicken a watery clam chowder is with crackers.

Adding crackers is as easy as this:

1. Choose your favorite crackers and put them in a zip-top bag. 
2. Crush the crackers using a rolling in. 
3. Pour the crushed crackers into the chowder while it’s simmering and let it simmer for a few additional minutes. As the chowder simmers and softens the crackers, the starch in the crackers will thicken it. 

When using crackers to thicken clam chowder, make sure that they are not too salty. Unless you haven’t added much salt to your chowder, super salty crackers could ruin the flavor of your carefully made chowder.

Tips for Making Creamy and Thick Clam Chowder

Here are a few additional tips you can use for a rich, creamy, and thick clam chowder. 

1. Make Clam Chowder with Mascarpone Cheese

Some people don’t like thick clam chowder because of the amount of flour that is usually in it. If you are one of these people, consider making clam chowder with mascarpone cheese. 

Thanks to its texture, mascarpone cheese is widely used to thicken soups. It is used instead of cream and makes the dishes rich and creamy. 

2. Use Arrowroot Powder Instead of Cornstarch

Arrowroot powder is a healthier cornstarch alternative. This ingredient is an effective thickening agent used in soups and sauce.

As opposed to cornstarch, arrowroot powder leaves the soup clear and gives it a glossy look. Additionally, it doesn’t have a flavor. 

Arrowroot powder contains more dietary fiber and calcium compared to cornstarch. This makes it perfect for those looking for health benefits in every ingredient.

One of the benefits of using arrowroot powder to make creamy and thick clam chowder is that it helps to retain the texture of chowder when you freeze and defrost it. 

When substituting cornstarch with arrowroot powder, use twice as much arrowroot powder as the recipe calls for cornstarch. 

3. Use a Blender to Improve Your Clam Chowder Texture 

If you want to improve the texture of your clam chowder and thicken it without adding flour or any other ingredients, do it with the help of a blender.

This method will work whether you have an immersion blender or a classic countertop blender.

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Remove 2 cups of the clam chowder from the pot and transfer it into the blender.
2. Transfer it into a bowl if you are using an immersion blender. 
3. Blend the chowder until it reaches baby food consistency. Add the blended chowder back into the bowl with the soup and mix well. 

4. Add Instant Mashed Potatoes 

Instant mashed potatoes are not the healthiest food. Potatoes that go through the process of cooking, mashing, and dehydrating contain a high amount of sodium.

But instant mashed potatoes are a lifesaver when you want to quickly, easily, and efficiently thicken your clam chowder. 

Add the instant mashed potato powder to the clam chowder, stir, and you will see the chowder thickening before your eyes. Be careful not to overdo it with the powder, though.

5. Use Heavy Cream in Clam Chowder

If you don’t want to add flour and starchy ingredients to the clam chowder to thicken it, another route to take is to add more fat. It is best to add heavy cream as the traditional clam chowder recipe calls. 

Some recipes call for milk. While milk for clam chowder works decently, substituting it with heavy cream will result in a richer and creamier texture – and more calories, of course!

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