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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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Hi…has anyone tried to triple the recipe in an 8 quart? Would you have to add cook time??
I’m wondering the same thing for my 8 qt. Ultra. I’d also like to convert from simply “clam” to “seafood” but am hesitant although a previous poster stated they’d done this but without any instructions. Don’t get me wrong, I love Clam Chowder as much as anybody but I have a bag of “Mixed Seafood” from Sam’s Club I’m trying to clear out of the freezer and want it to be best utilized as possible 🙂
If the pieces aren’t too big, I would dump them in after pressure cooking so they don’t get tough. If they don’t fully cook in the residual heat of the chowder, you can turn on the sauté setting to Low and cook them a little more. Clam juice is a nice addition to get a little more of that seafood flavor!
I’ve made this recipe at least 5 times now and it comes out perfect every time. On top of that everyone who has tried it absolutely raves about it. I always get requests to bring it to work! Thank you so much for such a delicious recipe!
Thanks Sandy for the recipe. I haven’t made this yet but it’s on my list. Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing
Made this soup last week and my family voted it’s the BEST Clam Chowder recipe I’ve used, so this will now be added to my repertoire of soups I make on a regular basis! You’ve done it AGAIN, Sandy!!! (We too used bread bowls this time around, and yes: you can NEVER go wrong with adding bacon to anything salty and/or savory, of course!)
Hi Sandy,
Great recipe. I have been using Better Than Bouillon Clam base in this soup instead of the clam juice. I love all the BTB products, and I know you use them too. Try the clam base, I really think you will like it.
Also I started using instant potato buds to thicken my soups. More flavor & works great.
Thanks.
Thank you, this was very delicious. I made it with geoduck and I made crusty bread to dunk in it. Will be making this again.
This was amazing! Thank u so much for the recipe. A definite keeper!
Absolutely delish. I’m from Hawaii and visited my niece and family couple weeks ago in Oregon. We went clamming at Netarts and got a whole bunch of different kinds of clams….my first time and so much fun.
We made your chowder using the fresh, cleaned clams and 2 bottles of clam juice.
It came out perfect and with some buttery garlic bread on the side…..a perfect dinner. Will make this again very soon.
Mahalo for sharing a yummy recipe!
Soup was awesome, tho next time I will make it without the bacon…. it just wasn’t the same clam chowder I’m used to, albeit delicious!… 5-stars!!!!
Thank you! Bacon is definitely optional!
This was absolutely delicious! I greatly reduced the salt 1/2 ! Tsp because my mom has high blood pressure but it didn’t matter! I doubled this recipe and I’m glad i did so we have leftovers! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe and i a grateful for my instant pot which made it soooooo fast and easy!!
I’m so glad you and your mom liked this soup, Bridget! Thank you for your review!