March 28, 2024

Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken Chowder

Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken Chowder is a dish that is deceptively easy and rich. Aside from crumbled bacon theres no precooking involved either!

We’re a huge fan of soups during the cold wintery months (ok ok, it isn’t that cold in California but I reserve the right to feel like this kid from the Campbell’s Soup snowman ad).

One of my favorite things about soups is cooking them low and slow. I think we’re so used to fast meals done in 30 minutes sometimes you forget the great flavors that come from simmering something on the stove. Except no one has time for that! Especially not during the holidays.

So Slow Cooker Soups are HUGE for us. The most popular one on the site by far is theSlow Cooker Ham and Potato Soupand this one is a similar style, full of thick, rich, creamy flavors!

Tips for making the perfect Chicken Chowder:

  • Especially in a slow cooker the most important thing is bold flavors. I love bacon, extra chicken base, cream cheese, heavy cream and garlic in this dish together.
  • Pump up the flavor even more, cook the onions in the bacon fat before adding them to the slow cooker.
  • I used chicken breast here because more of my clients liked white meat, but chicken thighs are an obvious swap here too.
  • Turkey meat is a great swap as is shrimp. If making a shrimp and bacon chowder, add in the shrimp in the last 20 minutes and use a seafood base instead of chicken (Like fish, clam or lobster – I use lobster and it is AMAZING).
  • Yukon potatoes are rich and buttery and hold up well in the slow cooker.
Looking for more Slow Cooker Soups?

Tools Used in making this Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken Chowder:
Slow Cooker: Love this slow cooker and how programmable it is, it has been a workhorse for me.
Pig Tail Flipper: I use this to flip bacon easily. I use this tool EVERY time I cook something that requires flipping, it is amazing.
Chicken Base: I almost never buy boxes of broth because I keep the beef, chicken and vegetable version of this Better Than Bouillon.

Yield: 12 servings

Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken Chowder

Prep:15 minutes

Cook:8 hours

Total Time:8 hours 15 minutes

Slow Cooker Bacon Chicken Chowder cooks low and slow all day long for a hearty, easy rich chowder with buttery potatoes and lots of bacon.

Ingredients:
  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1″ cubes
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 yukon potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2 inch cubes
  • 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 4 cups chicken broth*
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 pound thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 8 ounces (1 package) cream cheese, cut into small chunks
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Directions:
  1. Add the chicken, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper, broth, thyme, oregano and half the bacon to the slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 7 hours.
  3. Add the cream cheese to the slow cooker.
  4. Mix the cornstarch with the heavy cream and add it to the slow cooker.
  5. Cook on high for an hour.
  6. Mix in the remaining bacon and serve.

*Instead of broth I use Better than Bouillon. So I’d add double the strength it calls for to get an even more rich flavor.

Nutrition Information

Yield: 12 servings, Serving Size: 1/12th recipe

  • Amount Per Serving:
  • Calories: 285 Calories

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