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Instant Pot Clam Chowder is one of my favorite Instant Pot soups. It’s tasty, comforting and warming on chilly days, and also good on a summer day! It’s easy to make my pressure cooker clam chowder recipe!
Instant Pot Clam Chowder
I grew up in Seattle, the place where Ivar’s Acres of Clams was a big deal! If you have ever had the pleasure of strolling along the waterfront in Seattle, you would have seen Ivar’s Clam Bar. They serve up yummy deep fried clams, as well as fish and chips, salmon and chips, clam chowder, and more. I have memories of that place and their clam chowder as far back as… Well, pretty far back! We still like to go there.
This Instant Pot Clam Chowder recipe is one of my most popular recipes.
Many people in states along any coast will have their own recipe for clam chowder. Some are really loaded with stuff, while others are simpler. My Instant Pot Clam Chowder leans towards the simpler, but it has great flavor! My mom made a version very similar, and my recipe is based on hers that we ate growing up.
This pressure cooker clam chowder recipe has a nice amount of clams in it. If you are a clam super fan, go ahead and add in an extra can! This recipe also doubles nicely. Just keep the cook time the same.
The feedback on this recipe has been awesome! I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to let me know that they love my Instant Pot Clam Chowder recipe! Pin this recipe on Pinterest and share the love!
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Sandy’s Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Clam Chowder
Ingredients
- (3) 6.5 oz cans Chopped Clams* (reserve the clam juice)
- Water or a small bottle of clam juice. (to add to clam juice)
- 5 slices Bacon, chopped
- 3 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Onion, diced
- 2 stalks Celery, diced
- 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme (or 1/4 tsp dried)
- 2 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 1 ¼ tsp Kosher Salt (3/4 tsp table salt) or to taste
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 1 ½ lbs Potatoes, 4 cups diced (I use gold potatoes and don't peel them. If you use russets, you may want to peel them.)
- ½ tsp Sugar (optional)
- 1 ⅓ cups Half and Half
- 1 ½ Tbsp Potato or Corn Starch (optional, for thickening)
- Chopped Chives, for garnish
Instructions
- Open the cans of clams and drain the clam juice into a 2 cup measuring cup. Add enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. Set the clams and juice/water aside.
- Turn on the pressure cooker's Sauté function and add the chopped bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has rendered out of it, but not crispy.
- Add the butter, onion, celery, and thyme. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to get up all of the brown bits, until the onion starts turning translucent.
- Add the garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add the potatoes, sugar (if using) and clam juice/water mixture and stir.
- Put the lid on the pot and lock in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Cancel the Sauté function.
- Set to Pressure Cook/Manual, and use the + or - (or dial) to choose 4 minutes (High Pressure). When cook time has ended, let the pot rest undisturbed for 3 minutes, then do a controlled Quick Release.
- When the pin in the lid has dropped down, carefully open the lid, facing away from you, and stir the contents.
- Use a potato masher to carefully mash some or all of the potatoes, as desired.
- Turn the Sauté function back on, and use the Lowest setting (on the IP is called Less).
- Add the clams and the half and half. Let the chowder heat through, but try not to boil it.
- If you want it thicker, you can thicken it with potato or corn starch mixed with some of the half and half, mixed well, and stir it in.
- Turn off the pot and garnish the clam chowder with chopped chives, and serve with crackers or some nice bread or rolls.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Clam Chowder recipe and more
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Made this the other night and loved it. 4 adults and 4 kids and we all ate it without complaint and added it to the keeper list. I did add 2 cups of frozen corn to the recipe which just helped to thicken it so I didn’t have to add the starch.
Thanks so much. Definitely making this again.
Awesome! Thanks for your review!
I grew up in Tacoma near the zoo. Ivars rocks! Moved to California in 2001. But visit often.
This recipe looks amazing. Re remember skippers clam chowder? Also delicious. And their fish? OMG!
WONDERING if you have an IP recipe for butternut squash soup?
We are coming up again to get razor clams in the spring during the season and this recipe is definitely a keeper!
Hi Karen, oh yes, I remember Skipper’s! I LOVED their cocktail sauce! I miss them. I do have a butternut squash recipe. Here it is: https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/instant-pot-butternut-squash-soup/ You can just add more squash if you don’t want to add the pumpkin. That was just a fun add-in.
Good morning, this is the first recipe I’ve tried with the Instapot. The soup was so delicious. My only complaint was not your recipe but the fact I bought chopped clams from Sprouts and they were gritty. So disappointed. I’ve never had issues when I’ve used clams in the past. I won’t buy them from sprouts again. I will share and make it again thank you,
Hi, darn, gritty clams are not good! Well, now you know not to get that brand again! I hope you do make this soup again and love it!
Hi, can this recipe be made in a 3 quart instant pot? Just wanted to make sure before I try it as I don’t want the soup to be coming out of the pressure valve. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Someone told me they did make it in their 3 qt. I suggest letting it do a longer natural release, or a controlled release (in shorter bursts) as the pot will be pretty full and you don’t want the clam chowder spewing out with the steam!
Next time a little less salt but recipe blew me away with the flavour and speed of cooking
Good, although I think I cut the potatoes a bit on the small side. Almost no actual potato chunks in there at all, a couple of seasoning mods as well, but a really good base to work with.
I am trying your recipe this weekend. Looks ah-mazimg! Thank you for sharing. I love your blog!!
That’s great, Julie! Let me know how you like the clam chowder!
Any idea how long the leftovers would be good for in the fridge?
Maybe 3 days.
This is incredibly delicious.
Used a pound of wild caught flash frozen clams and a bottle of clam juice.
Turned out amazing!!
This is a “Keeper” as my family puts it.
Hi Jaci, that’s great! I’m glad you and your family liked this clam chowder! Thank you for your review!
I have one person in my family who doesn’t eat bacon and one person who doesn’t eat potatoes will this still come out good if I take those two out or what would be a good substitution for them?
It’s good without bacon, but I have never made it without potatoes. Maybe add some cauliflower?
I just made this tonight and used diced radishes as a substitute for the potatoes They cook up soft and without their “bite.” They do, however, add a slight pinkish tinge to the broth. Everyone loved it and my husband said he thought it was better than Ivar’s.
Wow! Now that’s awesome! Thank you, Jamie!