Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

New England clam chowder belongs in a soup category of its own. So creamy and comforting, there is nothing like good clam chowder.

However, after taking a closer look, you’ll often find high-carb veggies and all-purpose flour lurking in every spoonful. These two ingredients turn what could be a keto-friendly staple into a carb-laden soup.

It’s time to flip the script on clam chowder by making it both healthy and satisfying with one simple keto recipe.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (1)

Is Clam Chowder Keto? Carbs in New England Clam Chowder

Whether it is Manhattan or New England clam chowder, they are rarely made in a keto-friendly way. Both versions rely on high-carb veggies, especially New England clam chowder.

After adding potatoes, carrots, and all-purpose flour, the net carb content reaches over 18 grams in each serving. Some recipes even come with over 30 grams per cup!

Fortunately for us keto dieters, it is easier to take out the carbs than it is to add them in. In fact, all it takes is a few simple changes to make clam chowder keto.

How to Make Delicious, Healthy, and Keto-friendly Clam Chowder

The secret to cutting the carbs from your chowder without losing flavor is to keep it simple.

Rather than relying on watery ingredients and using flour to thicken it, use thick and flavorful keto ingredients and let the broth and clam juice thin it.

With this clam chowder recipe, for example, you’ll use cream cheese and heavy cream as your soup base. Along with that, you’ll be incorporating exclusively low-carb ingredients, which will add all the flavors and textures we love without the unnecessary carbs.

Cooking Tips For The Best Keto Clam Chowder

By following this keto recipe step by step, you’ll be able to make a super satisfying clam chowder. There are, however, a few extra steps you can use to elevate your experience even more:

  • Start by carmelizing the onions in bacon fat. Before adding the onions to your slow cooker, carmelize them in the leftover bacon fat. This will add an extra kick of umami and bacon flavor to your keto clam chowder.
  • Save some crisp bacon for garnishing. To add another level of texture, sprinkle some crisp bacon on top of your chowder serving.
  • Don’t forget the salt! If the flavors are falling flat for you, you may need to add a pinch of salt to bring them out.
  • Add a touch of hot sauce. This keto clam chowder pairs wonderfully with spice. Try serving with your favorite hot sauce to add an extra punch of flavor.
  • Replace the potatoes with a low-carb vegetable. If you crave the mouthfeel of a starchy potato in your chowder, try using a keto-friendly vegetable The two best potato substitutes for keto are daikon radish and cauliflower. Simply cut your veggies into spoonable pieces and add them to the slow cooker with the other vegetables. (Just remember to add the extra macronutrients from those veggies with the nutrition info for the clam chowder recipe.)
  • Serve with keto crackers. If you love having chowder with a side of something crunchy and bready, try making our Pesto Keto Crackers. They are the perfect low-carb replacement for oyster crackers.

Common FAQs for Keto Chowder: Stovetop and Clam-free Options

This clam chowder recipe is surprisingly versatile as well. It can easily be converted in a way that fits your flavor and cooking preferences.

Do I Need a Slow Cooker? How to Make a Quick Stovetop Chowder

If you want to shorten the cooking time, simply cook it in a large pot on your stovetop.

First, cook the veggies through (in the chicken stock). Then, add the clams, clam juice, bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Your chowder will be done once it has reached your desired temperature, and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Are There Any Clam-free Keto Chowder Options?

If you are not a fan of clams, replace the clams and clam juice with your preferred seafood, meat, or low-carb vegetables.

For some culinary inspiration, give this low carb chowder recipe a try: .

Yields 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

1. Prep all ingredients. Put the slow cooker on low setting.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2)

2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (3)

3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (4)

4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (5)

5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (6)

6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (7)

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

NUTRITIONCALORIESFATCARBSFIBERNET CARBSPROTEIN
1/4 cup chicken broth3.70.10.300.30.4
1 medium onion, chopped410.29.51.38.21.3
1 small leek, sliced380.39.41.28.21
2 ribs celery, diced140.131.21.80.6
4 cloves garlic, minced180.140.33.70.8
2 tablespoons butter204230000.2
2 teaspoon sea salt000000
1 teaspoon black pepper50.11.30.50.80.2
3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams3757.51501567.5
8 ounce thick-cut bacon1061803.903.977
8 ounces cream cheese794781301314
1 1/2 cups heavy cream12141299.809.810
1 teaspoon dried thyme3.30.10.80.40.40.1
Totals3771318.5704.965.1173.1
Per Serving (/8)471.439.88.80.68.121.6
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Print

Keto Clam Chowder

Total Time: 8 hours

Yield: 8 servings

Calories per serving: 471

Fat per serving: 39.8

Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (8)

The Preparation

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, sliced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 ten-ounce cans whole baby clams, drained
  • 2 cups clam juice
  • 8 ounce thick-cut bacon, chopped and cooked
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

The Execution

  1. Prep all ingredients. Put slow cooker on low setting.
  2. Add chicken broth, onion, leek, celery, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.
  3. Once vegetables have softened, add clams, clam juice, cooked bacon, cream cheese, and heavy cream.
  4. Stir together until cream cheese is softened and well incorporated. Add thyme and stir again. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
  5. Optionally: Turn slow cooker to high and leave the lid off for 30 minutes if you want to reduce the chowder to make it thicker.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Makes a total of 8 servings of Keto Clam Chowder. Each serving comes out to be 471 calories, 39.8g fat, 8.1g net carbs, and 21.6g protein.

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Keto Clam Chowder Recipe [Slow Cooked with Bacon] (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat too much bacon on keto? ›

It has no carbs. But it's not smart to eat that much cured meat with a high sodium content, nitrates and nitrites, week in and week out. It's all about balance! Incorporating bacon into your keto diet in moderation is generally fine, but consuming excessive amounts may have health implications.

What kind of bacon is keto friendly? ›

If you're looking for keto bacon, turn to Coleman Natural's line of uncured bacon products. Our Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon contains only one gram of carbohydrates per serving, and our Sugar-Free Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon is carb-free.

Is bacon grease allowed on keto diet? ›

The great thing about bacon grease is that it keeps for a VERY long time. So, if you've had a container of it sitting around, it's likely perfect for this keto recipe. Give it a little sniff, if it smells good, you're in the clear!

How do you thicken clam chowder without flour? ›

How can you thicken your clam chowder without using flour or a roux? To thicken this low carb clam chowder, I used mascarpone cheese. Think of it as solid heavy cream – it melted into the broth and gave it the most silky, creamy texture!

What is the number 1 worst carb? ›

1. Sugary Foods. Most people already think of many of the foods in this category as unhealthy treats. Candy, soft drinks, and sweet desserts such as cake, chocolate, and ice cream are all expected entries on a list of carbs to avoid to lose weight.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

How many pieces of bacon can I eat a day on keto? ›

Bacon is high in fat and protein, which makes it an excellent choice for people on a low-carb diet. To stay in ketosis, you should only eat about 3 ounces of bacon per day. This amount gives you enough fat to stay full while staying within the ketogenic diet's recommended range of macros.

Which cheese is best for keto? ›

The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties. If you're following the keto diet or know someone who is, be sure to keep these cheeses in mind to promote ketosis and meet dietary goals.

Is cottage cheese okay on keto? ›

While cottage cheese is known for its high protein content, it also contains a relatively high amount of carbs and not that much fat, making it a less-than-ideal choice for keto. A ½-cup serving of cottage cheese contains 88 calories, 2.4 g of fat, 4.5 g of carbs, and 11.6 g of protein, per the USDA.

Can you eat peanut butter on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Can I eat tomato on keto? ›

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

Can I eat beans on keto? ›

Yes, you may include beans in a ketogenic diet. But, be cautious of their carb content. It's best to stick to low-carb options like green beans and black soybeans. Remember, it's all about portion sizes, so choose beans that have the least carb counts.

What can I substitute for heavy cream in clam chowder? ›

Evaporated milk works well as a substitute for heavy cream in sauces or soups calling for whole milk. In the making of evaporated milk, regular cow's milk is pressure-cooked until it sheds about half of its water content, making it thicker in consistency. For a healthy substitute, try evaporated skim milk.

What is a substitute for flour in chowder? ›

Cornstarch is a great option as it is a natural thickening agent, but you'll want to be careful about how much you use. Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked together with cold water to create a slurry. Then, gradually add the slurry to the soup, letting it boil for one to two minutes before adding more.

How many carbs are in clams on keto diet? ›

In 100 grams of raw clams (that's 100 grams of the flesh, without the shell), there are only 3.57 grams of carbohydrates.

How many slices of bacon can you have on a keto diet? ›

A good rule of thumb for a reasonable portion size of bacon is about one ounce per person. That's one slice per person, which comes in at around 44 calories and 1 gram of saturated fat. Plus, that one piece of bacon is so flavorful, it goes a long way.

Is 4 strips of bacon a day too much? ›

High in saturated fat, just 3–4 slices of bacon represents about a fifth of your daily limit for saturated fat. Eating too much saturated fat will raise your cholesterol levels, increasing your risk for heart disease.

What happens if you eat too much bacon? ›

One of the biggest risks of bacon is associated with two preservatives, nitrates and nitrites, that can form cancer-causing compounds. In addition to increasing your risk of colon and stomach cancer, eating processed meat increases your risk of prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and dying from all types of cancer.

What happens if you overeat on keto? ›

People who consume too many calories may gain weight, even if they are in a state of ketosis. It is, therefore, important that people keep track of the number of calories that they consume. Sticking to a balanced meal plan can help a person work toward their ideal weight.

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