Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon Recipe - delicious soup made in a pressure cooker. This rich and creamy chowder is packed with fresh corn, potatoes and crispy bacon.
If you enjoy hearty soups, you need to try my Potato Ham Chowder too. My Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is another great way to enjoy corn!
INSTANT POT CORN CHOWDER WITH BACON
One of our favorite summer soups to make is corn chowder. It's creamy, satisfying and full of flavor. Especially since I make it in my pressure cooker. If you have an Instant Pot and never tried to cook soup in it, you have to do it! You will love it! The flavors are as intense as if the soup was simmering on the stove for hours, when in fact it takes under 30 minutes to have it done from the time you cut the corn off the cob. Besides, there is bacon involved and that is always a good thing. I love the meaty flavor it adds to this chowder.
Cooking the bacon in the pot first creates a base for this delicious soup. I also add the fresh corn to veggies to saute before closing the lid to let it caramelize just a bit. All of these flavors make this Instant Pot Corn Chowder one of the best I have ever had!
How to make Instant Pot Corn Chowder?
- Start by heating up the Instant Pot on the saute setting. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove and place on a plate.
- Saute garlic and onion in bacon grease. Add corn kernels and saute for a few minutes. Press "cancel/off" button to turn off the saute setting.
- Add remaining ingredients, along with half of the bacon. Close the lid, press "manual" or "pressure cook" setting and set the timer to 10 minutes. Once done, let the Instant Pot release pressure for 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Add cornstarch whisked with half and half and stir into the soup. Let it sit for 10 minutes. If the chowder is not as thick as you like, remove 2 cups and blend the rest with an immersion blender.
Fresh corn vs. frozen corn
I buy fresh corn on the cob at ALDI's. The package comes with 4 cobs and I used all of them in this recipe. The amount of time the chowder cooks in the pressure cooker, allows the corn to cook but not get mushy and completely broken down. It has it's texture and you can still enjoy the fresh corn flavor. You can also use canned (drained and rinsed) or frozen corn without adjusting the time. It is just needed for the potatoes to cook.
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How to thicken up Instant Pot Corn Chowder?
If you like smoother texture chowder, feel free to spoon two cups into a bowl and blend the rest in the pot with an immersion blender. Add reserved chowder back in and enjoy.
Check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance!
More easy Instant Pot recipes:
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Instant Pot Soup Recipes Roundup (all in one place)
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 ears corn on the cob
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 4 red potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock or water
- 1.5 cups half and half
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Turn pressure cooker on. Press SAUTE button. Wait 2 minutes for the pot to heat up. Add chopped bacon. Cook until almost all of is crispy. Remove onto a plate.
- Add garlic and onion to pot with bacon grease. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.
- Cut corn kernels off the cobs. Add to pot with onion. Saute for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Press OFF button on Instant Pot.
- Add potatoes, water, stock and half of cooked bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Close lid, set to sealing position. Press MANUAL button and set timer to 10 minutes. The pressure cooker will start cooking. It will take it a few minutes to come to pressure.
- When the Instant Pot is done it will beep. Click OFF button. Let pressure cooker naturally release the pressure for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, whisk together half and half and cornstarch. Quick release pressure. Add half and half to pot and stir. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Serve chowder garnished with reserved bacon and chopped parsley.
Michelle says
I tried this with some substitutes. I added celery. I subbed fresh corn for frozen and red potatoes for russets and the water and stock for broth. Unfortunately my changes messed it up and it was very watery (I think from the celery, frozen corn, and broth). Next time I will not have those subs or I will adjust the broth accordingly. I’m looking forward to trying the actual recipe 🤣
Elizabeth says
So yummy, my husband who despises onions had seconds! His will definitely be in rotation in my home.
Anna says
That's wonderful, Elizabeth! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Sarah says
Whenever I have a recipe with potatoes that calls for thickening, I use instant mashed potatoes instead of flour or cornstarch. Then I don't have to worry about cooking out their flavors.
Anna says
Great tip, Sarah! Thank you for sharing!
Rick says
Great recipe! Made this today for lunch and I’am going to finish it up for dinner. I was supposed to share this with my partner at work but it was too good. Guess I will be making another batch for her.
Anna says
Hi Rick! Haha! I am so glad the chowder was such a success! Thanks so much for trying the recipe!
Laurie says
Hi! I don't have fresh corn and will use frozen...how many cups is the equivalent of 4 ears?
Thanks!
Anna says
Hi Laurie! On average, one cob will yield about 3/4 cup of corn. I hope this helps!
DeAnna says
Thank you so much! I had the same question and am making this today. Thank you again ☺️
Anna says
Thank you, DeAnna!
Sara Johnson says
Trying this tonight, had lots of fresh corn left and it’s the first almost cook rainy day of fall. So excited, the house smells amazing! Added a little red bell pepper in with the onion for color.
Anna says
Hi Sara! The addition of red pepper sounds delicious! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Tammy Badger says
I just made this. Doubled the recipe. I cooked 8 ears of corn in the instant pot for 2 minutes. Reserved the juice and omitted 1/2 cup broth. I added the reserved 1/2 cup corn juice @ the the end. I sautéed 1 sweet red pepper & added 1 fresh jalapeño both chopped after sautéing the onions & garlic. I also finely sliced 2 celery stalks. Additionally flavoured the mix with 1/4 tsp of smoked paprika. I put 1/2 the mixture in the blender. No cornstarch or flour required. Added 1/2 cup 1/2 & 1/2. Added remaining fresh corn & topped it with bacon, chives and fresh green onions. Absolutely delicious.
Anna says
That's fantastic! Thank you so much for trying the recipe and for sharing your additions, Tammy!
Beth says
I’m going to use turkey bacon. Would I need to add some coconut oil to sauté the veggies as turkey bacon has little fat? Can’t wait to try this!
Anna says
Hi Beth! You can use olive oil too! I hope you love the chowder. Let me know how it goes!
Marina says
I didn’t have a starch so I didn’t add it.
What I did is when soup was ready I blended a cup of it and put it back, it gave a pure appearance and made it more thicker like it was previously suggested. So next time I am not even going to put a starch
Anna says
Hi Marina! That's fantastic! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Anna says
I made this and it was so easy and tasty... I will make again... I think the next time I will change out the bacon for tuna...
Krista E Bandy says
When I need to thicken creamy potato soup I add in a little instant potato flakes. It makes an even more flavorful chowder.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thank you for the tip, Krista! I appreciate it!
Stephanie says
So yummy! I did as suggested by another person and added an extra tbsp cornstarch. That worked nicely to thicken it up. Also, I didn't have red potatoes, but had some tiny potatoes (red and white) that needed to be used up anyway, so I just cut them, keeping their peels on (who wants to peel a tiny potato!?) And, I didn't have parsley, but I did have cilantro. So yummy!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Stephanie! That's wonderful! I am so happy to know you made it and love it! Thank you!!
SandyK says
Thanks for the recipe. I made it last night and my husband loved it. It was a bit thin, but I like the broth. I did need more salt and pepper. A keeper.
Darla says
Mine is really soupy.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Darla! If you want the chowder thicker, you can mash some of the potatoes. It should help!
Shaunie says
Can I use milk instead of the water it calls for in the recipe? Or will milk scald in the instant pot? Thanks!
Becky says
I’ll tell you in a bit since I accidentally added the cream with the other liquids!! 😳🤪
Colleen says
Ooops. I forgot to add - remove cobs before serving.
Colleen says
After you cut the corn off cob - toss cob/(s) into IP (break into smaller pieces). Soup will be sweet and corn-rich.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Oooh! I have to try that! Thank you for sharing, Colleen!
DeAnna says
Thank you so much! Awesome tip about the cobs! I am making this today for my 3 year old twin boys. 🤞🏽 They like it.