Light Ham Potato Chowder (Print)

Creamy, comforting soup featuring tender potatoes, lean ham, and sweet vegetables in a lighter velvety broth.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 cup celery, diced
03 - 1 cup carrots, diced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Meats

06 - 1 ½ cups lean ham, diced

→ Liquids

07 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 cup low-fat milk
09 - ½ cup fat-free half-and-half or milk of choice

→ Thickeners

10 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

→ Fats

11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Seasonings

12 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
13 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced ham and potatoes to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stirring well to coat vegetables and ham evenly.
05 - Gradually pour in chicken broth while stirring to prevent lumps. Add thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
07 - Stir in milk and half-and-half. Heat through for 3–5 minutes without boiling, stirring frequently.
08 - Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy comfort of traditional chowder without that heavy, post-soup nap feeling
  • The ham and potatoes create such a satisfying, complete meal in one bowl
  • Everything simmers in one pot, leaving you with minimal cleanup and maximum coziness
02 -
  • Never let the chowder boil after adding dairy or it might separate and look curdled
  • Partial mashing of some potatoes against the side of your pot creates the perfect thickness without adding extra flour
  • The chowder thickens considerably as it cools, so plan to add a splash more broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size so they cook evenly and look beautiful in the bowl
  • Invest in an immersion blender if you love soups, it makes partial mashing effortless

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