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Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon

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This thick and cheesy Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon is made light using cauliflower to thicken it, no cream added. Stove top and Instant Pot directions.

This thick and cheesy Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon is made light using cauliflower to thicken it, no cream added. Stove top and Instant Pot directions.Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon

It’s soup season, if you’re looking for a new easy soup recipe to add to your dinner rotation, I think you will love this chowder! You can also browse all my soup recipes from the archives. A few favorites are the Potato Leek Soup, Dad’s Cauliflower Soup and of course, Classic Chicken Noodle Soup!

This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.

How To Make Corn Chowder

This guest post from Skinnytaste dietitian Heather K. Jones is a tasty recipe that the whole family will devour! Hello, I’m excited to guest post here on Skinnytaste again (thanks, Gina!), and I’m also excited to invite you to my FREE 31-day Master the Weight Loss Mindset Challenge. You’ll find out how to shift from self-sabotage and worry to inspired and good-for-you action, and you’ll set yourself up for long-term success in 2019!

When you sign up for the Mindset Challenge, you’ll also receive a FREE meal prep guide with an entire month of meal plans (with Skinnytaste recipes, of course!). Click RIGHT HERE to transform your mindset about dieting and achieve weight loss freedom in the new year.

This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.

When Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was released many years ago, I was obsessed. The Cheddar Corn Chowder was one my favorite recipes, but with ½ stick of butter, ½ pound of cheddar cheese and bacon, and 2 cups of half and half, it was far from healthy and light (ha).

But after trying Gina’s delicious Cheeseburger Soup, thickened with blended cauliflower, I decided to try and lighten up Ina’s chowder the same way, and holy cow… this MUCH lighter version tastes just as good as the original! It’s considerably lower in calories and fat, but trust me, you’ll never notice. Enjoy!

This corn chowder uses cauliflower to make it creamy, without adding cream. This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights. This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.

More Soup Recipes:

Skinnytaste High Protein cookbook protein

Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon

4.84 from 136 votes
8
Cals:309
Protein:15
Carbs:42
Fat:11
Fiber:5.5
This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.
Course: Dinner, Soup
Cuisine: American
This thick and cheesy chowder with potatoes, corn, cauliflower, and bacon is perfect for cold and cozy winter nights.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Size: 1 2/3 cup

Ingredients

  • 6 strips center-cut bacon, chopped
  • 2 small yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose, or gluten free flour
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 small Yukon gold potatoes, diced
  • 1 12-ounce wedge cauliflower, stem intact
  • 1 pound frozen corn kernels
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 ounces shredded white sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Stove top directions

  • Place bacon in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot and sauté over medium heat, until cooked and crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
  • With the pot still over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onions, add turmeric, thyme, salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.
  • Add the broth, potatoes and cauliflower and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot (this releases the caramelized bits on the bottom). Bring the pot to a boil then decrease to simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 4 ounces (about 2/3 cup) of the corn with a splash of water in a small microwave safe-dish until just defrosted, about 1 minute.
  • Remove the lid from pot and transfer the cauliflower, 1 cup of the soup and warmed corn to a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer puree back to the pot.
  • Add the remainder of the frozen corn, the milk and cheese. Mix then simmer for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and soup is heated through. Taste and adjust salt, if necessary. Serve topped with reserved bacon pieces.

Instant Pot directions

  • Press the sauté button on an electric pressure cooker. Add the bacon and sauté until cooked and crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
  • In the pressure cooker (still on sauté), add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onions, add turmeric, thyme, salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.
  • Add the broth, potatoes and cauliflower and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot (this releases the caramelized bits on the bottom).
  • Seal and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Quick release, then open when the pressure subsides.
  • Meanwhile, heat the corn with 2 tablespoons of water in microwave safe-dish until just heated through, about 3 minutes.
  • Transfer the cauliflower, 1 cup of the soup and 2/3 cup warmed corn to a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer puree back to the pot and stir well.
  • Add the remainder of corn, milk and cheese. Mix then cover for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and soup is heated through. Taste and adjust salt, if necessary. Serve topped with reserved bacon pieces.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 2/3 cup, Calories: 309 kcal, Carbohydrates: 42 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 5.5 g, Cholesterol: 27 mg, Sodium: 638 mg, Fiber: 5.5 g, Sugar: 10 g

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329 comments on “Cheddar Corn Chowder with Bacon”

  1. Avatar photo
    Christine Scott

    My family enjoyed this and I will make it again. I did add a bit more seasoning for our taste. I bet this is great with fresh corn!

  2. This recipe is on regular rotation at my house in the colder months. Tastes so decedent! I don’t even like cauliflower but you’d never know it’s in there. Amazing recipe!!

  3. I’ve made this recipe twice now and it’s always good! The first time I did it as written and the second time I used beef broth and added red pepper flakes and it was excellent both times!

  4. I made the soup as written, but used leftover corn cut from the cob instead of frozen corn. I think that added another layer of flavor. Love this recipe as most of the skinny taste recipes I’ve tried.

  5. Avatar photo
    Traci Maselli

    Thick and delicious. I had doubts about this recipe because it’s got a lot of cauliflower and i don’t love it. You can’t taste it at all. I didn’t have whole milk, I used skim and it was fine! Recommended!

  6. Our whole family enjoys this chowder, kids included. The youngest has no idea there is cauliflower in it!

  7. Delicious and simple. I made it exactly as written. So comforting. Both my 9 and 6 year old said it was the best soup I have ever made and my husband said it needs to be added to our rotation for sure. Thank you!

  8. Absolutely delicious! I used homemade chicken broth which added additional flavor. Will definitely make it again!

  9. Amazing soup. Love how the cauliflower adds thickness to the soup. My only changes are that I use bone broth which is thick so there is no need to use the milk, and a bag of frozen sweet corn, and turkey bacon.

  10. Avatar photo
    Lisa Weinberg

    Wow! What a flavorful soup packed with extra veggies. We roasted the cauliflower instead of boiling in the stock for added depth of flavor, but kept the rest of the recipe in tact. Easy to prepare and also quite filling on its own. Another winner. Thank you, Gina!

  11. Wow this was SO tasty! My 13 year old had 3 servings and “hates” cauliflower! (shhh!) I made a couple minor changes based on what I had. I only had frozen riced cauliflower and followed the suggestions in previous comments. I steamed it in the bag separately then added to the blender before adding to the soup. Perfect! I also used 2% milk and added a splash of white wine to deglaze. Finally, I subbed seared, diced ham for bacon. I used what I had, saved a little fat and calories, AND it was amazing. Thank you!

  12. We love this soup on a cold fall/winter night! Its so delicious and I love knowing there is cauliflower in it!

  13. This is so good and rich tasting. My husband who is no found of cauliflower has no idea it is in there. This is a must try for sure. I did add a few sprinkles of cayenne to just give it a little heat and 1/2 a lemon at the very end.

  14. This was superb. There’s a corn hatch chile soup at Whole Foods that I have been wanting to re-create, lighter. I used this recipe as a base, but added hatch chiles from the freezer and some leftover chicken. 1000x better than the (pretty good) store version

  15. Loved this, but did make some minor mods based on what I had on hand. Even with this, the soup was great!

    – I don’t have a food scale, so I used a whole head of cauliflower.
    – I didn’t have low sodium broth, so used regular.
    – I didn’t have whole milk, so used 2%.
    – Used half frozen corn, half fresh as one of my cobs wasn’t looking great.

    Would 100% make again. Delicious, hearty, and probably even better with the original recipe!

  16. Tasted similar to loaded baked potato soup. Too much potato and not enough corn for my liking. Also not as flavorful as I had hoped.  

    1. Feel free to add more corn, of course it’s best with fresh summer corn and since it’s not in season, it may not be as sweet.

  17. Wow. This soup is really good. My husband loves the Chicken Corn Chowder his mother used to make. Of course she used heavy cream and lots of butter. I added some shredded chicken and chopped hard boiled eggs, just like his Mother did. He loved it! So did I. 

  18. Delicious!  I doubled the cheese (do not do this if you want a skinny meal) and used an immersion blender to purée the potatoes, 2/3 c corn, onion and cauliflower in the main pot before adding the rest of the corn, milk and cheese.  Add another punch of salt and yum!

  19. I just made this but put the bacon, onions, garlic, pepper (no salt bc I used regular not low sodium chicken broth, no turmeric or thyme bc hubs doesn’t love those), potato flour for gluten free in at the same time and left the bacon in. I didn’t put cauliflower in with the other stuff. Instead, I cooked TJ’s frozen cauliflower rice in the microwave for 3 mins, then added the corn. Instead of adding 1 cup of soup, I pureed the cauliflower and corn with the 1 cup of milk. I didn’t add cheese because it taste rich without it.

  20. Just made this today, first time I every tasted Corn Chowder, but loved it, it seems so sinful to be eating a cup and 1/2 of corn, but it tasted so rich and good. I will make again. I used my home frozen corn from last summer, and next time will use the 12 oz of frozen cauliflower to make the pureeing easier. I pureed mine in a food processor since I don;t have a blender. Thanks for a great receipe may try to add some smoked paprika or a little hot sauce to it.

  21. I absolutely love this recipe. I’ll admit, I add extra potatoes and go to town on it with my immersion blender to make it smoother. I’m not a fan of soup, but this is the one I’ll happily make and eat time and time again. Normally I’ll use fresh off the cob corn and the flavor can’t be beat, but frozen corn is great, too. It’s great with roasted garlic cheddar.

  22. I hate to leave a bad review especially when everyone gave such great reviews, so it must be something I did wrong!  I used canned corn instead of frozen corn since that is what I had on hand.

    1. Don’t leave a bad review when you didn’t follow Gina’s directions. Canned corn is GROSS. This recipe is delicious when you actually follow the directions.

  23. Delicious !  I’m having to stop myself from eating more lol.  The loaded baked potato soup is amazing too. 

  24. Looks delicious I am making this for tonight and can’t wait to try it.
    Just a question though, what is the added value of mixing the cauliflower with soup on the side, adding it back in with the milk and cheese? Why not mix everything at the end? Just a lazy question I guess… 😉

  25. Wanting to get into the spirit of fall, I made this today! Too bad it ended up being 80 degrees! But wow!! It’s amazing!! Another Skinnytaste WINNER! 5 minute prep time though?? Shew it took me 5 minutes just to get all my ingredients out, and another 30+ minutes to cut, chop, mince and measure everything! ! All in all, took me about  an hour and fifteen minutesI don’t know why?! Maybe I’m just slow! 

    1. I agree Kristi. LOVED the soup and will definitely make it again but the prep time is long. A lot of chopping and I like to get my dry ingredients measured out so I can just add them when it’s time. I went ahead and used 4 cups of broth since I had one of those big boxes so adjusted S&P accordingly. My husband had no idea I didn’t use cream. He loved it. A definitely do again recipe.

  26. This soup is AMAZING, DELICIOUS, FILLING, and such s HUGE SERVING (I’m all about that! 😉). My husband and I loved it! Skinnytaste never disappoints!! Thanks for another great recipe! I make Skinnytaste recipes every single week! 

  27. This soup is out of this world. I made it exactly as the recipe is written. Can’t wait for leftovers throughout the week.

    1. The cauliflower gets blended partway through the recipe. It would be difficult to pick out all the rice bits to blend, vs just a couple of chunks of cauliflower.

    2. You can easily used riced cauliflower – there’s no need to go to the extra effort of cooking a head of fresh cauliflower, taking it out, blending it, and putting it back in. I just follow the recipe as written but microwave the cauliflower separately. Then when it comes time to purée, I put the steamed cauliflower in with everything else. So much easier. It also works with frozen cauliflower florets, especially since they’re already sold in 12 oz bags. 

  28. I’ve made this recipes a few times now over the years and it is SO good, every time. I prefer it to restaurant corn chowder. It’s lighter, but in the best way possible – you do not miss any of the traditional butter or cream. It’s so flavorful and easy. My husband loves anything with corn and also loves chowder… and he loves this just as much as I do. 

  29. Loved another Gina recipe! Gina, you are amazing at what you do and create! For other cooks, I used 2% percent milk and it was just as excellent. Excellent soup!

  30. Wonderful soup! I have made (mostly it as directed) and we love it ( didn’t cook the bacon first–used low fat bacon cooked in microwave added at the end or veggie bacon) , but I also experimented as I am apt to do and liked this as well. I saw some people asking for alternative milks and also instead of a potato– I used unsweetened almond milk and thought it fine-but I am used to using it also. I skipped the flour as the puree made it thick enough for me, and skipped the cheese as I tasted it and it was so flavorful without it. I pureed a bit more of the corn then in the recipe–used another cup more and pureed with the almond milk before adding to the soup and I think it contributed to some more smoothness. Another addition if some are wondering, instead of potato I used a pound of yellow squash cut up and added to the soup to cook along with the cauliflower. It adds its own sweetness and some substance too. I steamed my own corn on the cob and cut it off for the recipe as corn is so good right now. Soup was wonderful, and adaptable to some variation.

  31. I just tried this recipe and it was delicious! Half of my family is vegetarian so I cooked the onions & garlic in olive oil and prepared the rest of the recipe as written. I added crumbled vegetarian bacon on the top. I’m sure we missed out on the additional smoky bacon deliciousness (I’m not vegetarian & love real bacon) but very tasty & I’ll make it again!

  32. I subbed half the potatoes for parsnips and added in a can of white beans with the corn (used canned corn). Delicious!! 

  33. Wow! So good. I did make some changes, but they were relatively minor. Instead of onions, I used leeks. Instead of whole milk, unsweetened almond milk was used (this was the biggest change and a huge calorie saver). I didn’t cook with the bacon fat but instead used cooking spray to save calories. Also, I added extra broth. Despite these changes, this chowder was thick and flavorful and very filling. I will definitely be making this again!

    1. I am glad to see some of your changes before I make this as what you did is what I typically do and nice to know it turns out fine. Have some fresh corn thought I would give it a try.

  34. Delicious soup! Wonderful and creamy. I did add several dashes of cayenne at the end, but otherwise followed the recipe as written. It’s going to be one of our regulars now.

  35. This was one of the best soup recipes I’ve ever made. I mixed regular shredded cheddar with low fat shredded cheddar and added a couple extra ounces of corn and it came out great. Would definitely recommend!

  36. Great recipe! I’ve used a different corn chowder recipe for years, but this will be my new go-to. I was a little skeptical about being able to taste the cauliflower, but it doesn’t come through at all!  It is the perfect thickener. I added about a teaspoon of lemon juice and a dash of cayenne to cut the sweetness of the corn (a trick I carried over from the previous corn chowder recipe I used). 

  37. This soup was one of the best I’ve ever had! Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly. Affordable and delicious! 

  38. This is one of those recipes I can’t stop telling people about… except for my husband… he REFUSES to eat veggies… like… WILL NOT. Even if he says he likes something if he finds out there’s veg in it all of a sudden he doesn’t like it. So… this recipe stays hidden… far far away… any of our friends that I share the recipe with get the caveat… I will ONLY share this recipe with you if you DO NOT tell my husband what is in it.

    I’m happy to say it’s one of his favorite soups (his one complaint was that it didn’t have enough meat so I do actually add some chicken to his) but I think it’s absolutely perfect. I LOVE this stuff… super warm and comforting and doesn’t have any of the sulfurous smell that often accompanies cauliflower. It’s sweet, thick, creamy. Often I end up using the whole head of cauliflower because it’s extra nutrition for hardly any calories and it just ends up making it thicker and creamier.

  39. This soup was delish!!!
    I will add diced celery along with the onions and garlic next time because I like that flavor in chowders.
    Tip: I dice the raw bacon into small pieces and then fry it instead of cooking the bacon in strips. If you want you can place the raw bacon in the freezer for a few minutes and it can make it easier to dice; but not necessary. I always cook it this way when a recipe calls for crumbled bacon So easy!

  40. This corn chowder was wonderful!!! Only thing I 
    did differently was to add 2oz of low fat neufatel
    cream cheese and I used canned corn. It had great 
    flavor and very rich… WONDERFUL!

    1. This is a wonderful recipe! I used the Instant Pot method and, as other users suggested, added some smoked paprika and cayenne. It looks and tastes divine! Can’t wait to serve it for dinner. It’s a bitter cold night.

  41. Avatar photo
    Garden Goddess Victoria

    awesome recipe and full of flavour- used chicken stock with white wine, and 2% milk- thick rich and creamy.

  42. Avatar photo
    Rebecca Huckabay

    Thank you for yet another great Skinnytaste soup! Perfect as is; also good with a little hit of hot sauce.

  43. This was good! Easy to make! It definitely needed more seasoning, so I added some smoked paprika and I added some cayenne for some heat. It also took longer than listed to cook. Definitely going to make again! 

  44. Hello! I’m trying to use up some things at home without going to the grocery story – like many. Any thoughts on how a sweet potato instead of a Yukon would work? And frozen cauliflower … (I’m less concerned about the latter …) Hope everyone is hanging in there!

  45. Has anyone tried this without the potatoes? All cauliflower? I’m not typically a potato person, and I prefer a lower point soup- but wondering if it will affect the flavor?

  46. Delicious. My family loves it. The first time I made it according to the recipe. The second time I made it with unpeeled russet potatoes. I was running low on corn so I added extra potatoes. Still just as yummy! My family never even guessed that it had cauliflower in it. Brilliant! This will become a regular in our winter menus. 

  47. Avatar photo
    Laurie Wisbrun

    TEN STARS. Just finished making this magic. Cannot believe how creamy and delicious this is and over the moon that it will make perfect leftovers. Thanks again Gina!

  48. I made this for the first time last night and it was delicious! Didn’t taste “light” at all. I ended up using 1 c of FF half and half instead whole milk because that’s what I had on hand. I also subbed frozen roasted corn instead of regular frozen corn. So much flavor and I look forward to the leftovers!! My batch yielded 10 cups total, which came out to 4 SPs (on blue) per cup. 

  49. This is one of my favorite skinnytaste recipes. Even my carnivore husband loved it on its own. thanks so much! (It reheats well too)

  50. I know bacon makes everything more awesome but my son is a vegetarian, would you just add more salt or anything you can think of to sub for the bacon? 

      1. I would cook the soup up to the point where you purée part of the soup and add it back in. Then freeze. When you reheat, then add remaining corn, cheese, and milk. Milks and cheeses don’t do very well frozen, they can start to separate and become grainy 

    1. I would cook morning star bacon strips by themselves and add to top the soup. I would use broth to help saute veggies.

  51. Hey, this should be no problem to make ahead and put in the fridge overnight right? Then reheat over the stove next day?

    1. I did this tonight but only prepared it up to the step where I purée part of the soup and add it back in. In the morning, I will reheat the soup, add in milk, cheese, and remaining corn, and then simmer 3 min and I’m done! 

      1. Avatar photo
        Jody Schuermann

        I calculated it using the new Purple Calculations and also got 11 points.
        I think it is because the ingredients list 10 grams of sugar but that is not added sugar, it’s from the sugar in the corn which is still zero points. So i just counted the ingredients that are not zero points and came back to 4 Purple points.

    1. Avatar photo
      Darlene Hagen

      Are you using the calculator or recipe builder?  Recipe builder gives the same accurate points vs the calculator.  👍🏻

  52. I am feeling silly for asking this, but what does Serving: 12/3 cup equate to?  It isn’t 4 cups is it?

  53. Wow! This soup is so decadent. I calculated it twice myself because I just couldn’t believe the calorie count–I used 1% milk and light cheese, and so each serving was under 300 calories. Amazing.

  54. As a Mainer, corn chowder is a staple meal in our house and we are chowder snobs. When I read this recipe, I thought to myself, “No butter?! No cream?! No way this is going to be as creamy and good!” But, I have tried so many recipes on this site that I have lost count, and I can only think of a few that I wasn’t a fan of. So, I gave it a try. 
    First, I did make a few alterations. It bothered me that the corn was added after cooking; Mainers use whole cobs of corn in a cooking chowder to get the most corn flavor. Or, we make a corn stock with corn cobs as the base. I put 2 whole cobs of corn in the stock mixture of my instantpot. When it was finished cooking, I cut the corn off the cobs and that is the corn I puréed with the cauliflower. I used smoked whole corn kernels I had made and stored in my freezer this summer as the whole corn. I also added more fresh thyme when I added the milk and cheddar. 
    This chowder was surprisingly hearty, creamy, and flavorful. (If you thought bacon makes this dish, try adding smoked corn!) If you didn’t know beforehand that there was cauliflower in this, you would never guess. My 13 year old daughter HATES cauliflower, she knew I used it in this chowder, but she couldn’t taste it! 
    I’m going to have to smoke a whole lot more corn before all the fresh Maine corn is gone this year because I will definitely be making this again and again! 

    1. Hi Kelly ! I’m so interested in how you smoked your corn …
      On the cob or cut off ? par cooked or Raw ?
      And you gave ma another idea…I make all kinds of stocks, chicken, beef, mushroom and onion stock from onion scraps and skins. When I can my corn, I will boil the cobs and make corn stock and pressure can it ! Thanks for the suggestions but Please do let me know how you smoked your corn…Pretty Please !!! :} I will probably dehydrate the corn when finished smoking !

  55. This was absolutely delicious!!!!!! Using the 1 2/3 cup for a single serving, I only got about 4.5 servings out of it. Anyone else? 

  56. Made this for dinner last night and it was a hit with everyone…and that’s not an easy task when trying to please 5 kids! We were scraping the bottom of the pot and agreeing that next time I need to double the recipe. One minor change I made was pureeing all the broth and cauliflower together before adding the remaining corn and milk. I mostly did this to avoid an ‘Eww, is this an onion!?” moment from the kids.

  57. This was amazing! We used rotisserie chicken instead of bacon, just because we aren’t the biggest fans of bacon in soup. Also, just in case your husband can’t read directions and puts the milk and all the corn in the blender, it turns out fine. Super creamy. My daughter (who hates cauliflower) was shocked to know that this broth was a base made with cauliflower. It didn’t taste like cauliflower at all.

  58. So delicious! Love the addition of bacon!! I used bacon bits instead of cooking it fresh. Also it’s so creamy! I would never have thought to use cauliflower for that. Such a great recipe!!

  59. This is by far the best corn chowder I’ve ever had! Didn’t have any cauliflower so after I blended it with an immersion blender I put a tiny (hahaha yeah right) dollop of sour cream and it was delicious. Even my resident food critic loved it!

  60. Made this last night. Following the recipe exactly and it was terrible! Absolutely no taste! Disappointed ☹

      1. My family enjoyed this recipe! Even my picky 3 year old loved it!

        But when I enter in the nutrition values you provided into the WW app, it says it is worth 11 freestyle points, not 7 like you had stated. Am I missing something?

        Thanks!

  61. This was amazing! It was very filling, and I still can’t believe it’s not bad for me. It was THAT good. It reheated well all week for lunch. I added hot sauce and cayenne pepper because I like the spice.

  62. So yummy! I love sneakily adding in veggies to innocent looking dishes haha. Perfect way to get my husband to eat more! Bacon is the perfect topping for this soup.

      1. Avatar photo
        Sharon Lowell

        This soup was absolutely delicious. I was wondering about almond milk, but was afraid to use it. Next time I will!!! Thank you, Gina!!!

  63. Avatar photo
    Deborah Sowers

    THANK YOU, GINA!! This is the kind of soup I have avoided for a long time! I love creamy soups, but they are usually not the healthiest option, so I’ve trained myself to always pick the broth-based soups, both for recipes and also when I order out. It was wonderful to not feel guilty about eating this very creamy soup. This recipe is definitely a keeper!!

      1. I made this tonight, using my instant pot for the first time. I was very impressed with the flavor. I am not a big cauliflower fan and was surprised I could not taste it at all.! This is definitely on my list!

  64. This was so good! I used to be in the “cauliflower isn’t blah blah lab camp” but this is the second traditionally potato based soup I have made with cauliflower and it is delicious! I will definitely make this one again… but with more bacon! 

    I love your recipes Gina! They help me stay on track to eat healthy and my family is always more likely to eat it without complaining about it being healthy! 

  65. I made this tonight and it was delicious. Only thing I changed was using 2% milk because that is what I had on hand. Perfect for a cold night. It will great for the coming snow tomorrow too! It is very filling. My friend, who is rather picky, even commented, twice, how good it was. I may try adding extra potatoes next time.

  66. It is amazing, I did add extra corn and a can of cream corn the second time I made it, and we liked it’s creamy flavor alittle more.

      1. This was perfection! Tweens, teens and adults alike all loved this! I buy as much fresh corn at the end of the season to roast and then freeze to have fresh corn taste in the middle of winter. So I used fresh instead of frozen. I also had an extra head of brocolli so I chopped that up and threw it in. One of my teens doesn’t like melted cheese so didn’t incorporate into soup just as a side option. And tasted just as delicious with or without the cheese. I loved the tumeric in it. Frankly I love everything about this. This is definitely in regular rotation this fall and winter! Thank you. Thank you. thank you!

      2. Wow! Thank you for another amazing recipe! My husband and I both loved this soup. So flavorful! We used 1% milk since we had it on hand, and both agreed that it was still plenty creamy and rich!

    1. For a cheesy flavor you could probably add nutritional yeast when blending the cauliflower and corn

  67. Made this tonight and am a newbie to WW. If we use turkey bacon, fat free milk and 2% cheese im assuming the points will decrease. Any idea what the new value or what the servings per recipe are so I can calculate on my own? 

      1. We love this recipe but I put it into my ww calculator and it says 10pts. Is this recipe correct at 7pts? Thanks so much for any info! I love all your recipes!

    1. I made it with grilled cheese sandwiches. I personally only had the soup. It is good on its own and the 1 2/3 cups serving is more than enough.

  68. Another hit. So delicious and hearty. I made this on the stove, but after I realized that there were directions for making in the IP. Oh, well next time. I cannot believe it’s made with cauliflower. Yum! Thanks for all the fantastic, healthy, tasty and most of all easy recipes.

  69. This is a really great soup. Most creamy soups don’t taste good in the lighter, healthy version, but this one is hearty and delicious. I like a little heat in mine so I added hot sauce and red pepper flakes. YUM!

    1. Veg-friendly bacon by Morningstar tastes very good. You might need to sub in some oil or butter for sauteing.

  70. Can you leave the bacon out of it? I have everything to make it but the bacon. And I want to make it now! Also, what about 1 % milk?

  71. My husband (hates cauliflower) loved it! You can’t detect the cauliflower at all and it’s super creamy. Thank you!

  72. I’ve made this twice already and both time my family has loved it! Delicious and the perfect amount of everything. Love the bacon bits on top- so yummy.

  73. This. Was. SO. GOOD!!! I am a teacher and my daughter and I had the day off  due to a snow day. This hit the spot! It was hearty, creamy, rich, delicious, and SO cozy on this snowy day. Yet another hit! Thank you and keep them coming! 

  74. Made this tonight and my husband said “this is the best soup I’ve has since I became allergic to shellfish!” Love having an option for a creamy chowder without the shellfish and guilt!

    Thanks for another great recipe!! ❤️

  75. This was excellent and will make this often.  My college aged son did not even detect cauliflower !

  76. Hi Gina, this sounds so delish! I was wondering about the points value though. I tried it with the ww recipe builder and with the nutritional values you listed in the recipe and I get 9 points each time. Wondering if I’m missing something? Thanks for all the yummy recipes!

  77. Definitely a keeper!!!! I think I may add some broccoli next time to give it a little more substance. Flavor was great!

  78. We are not big fans of Thyme in our house. Any suggestions on what can be subbed in its place? Thanks!

  79. Perfect for a an unusually cold and rainy night in Florida! I used a 50% less fat cheddar block cheese that I shredded since I need to lower my cholesterol level.. Thank You so much for another wonderful recipe 😉 

  80. This was so incredibly good, hearty and easy to make. I used a bag of frozen cauliflower – steamed it in the microwave and added some corn and a cup of the soup to it for the purée. Otherwise I followed the directions. We’ll be having this again for sure. 

  81. I have been making many of your recipes and giving your website to everone…I made this tonight and it’s amazing! Not sure why I’m so surprised other than I thought this is going to taste like a healthy version of Corn Chowder…well, I was wrong, this is the best I have ever had! My usabnad agrees!
    Thank you for all of your amazing, easy recipes that taste soooo good!

  82. Just wondering – I want to make this in the instant pot AND add chicken to it. Do I increase the amount of liquid I put in it? AND do I need to change the amount of cooking time. Thanks!

  83. This looks delish! I’m going to make it this week for work lunches, and perhaps even toss in some roasted shrimp!

  84. I made this on Monday and have had leftovers for lunch EVERY single day this week! The soup just tastes better and better every day! I’m actually tempted to make it again next week and bring it to work for lunch all week yet again, it’s that good!

    The only thing I might do differently next time is to add either some cayenne as Carl suggested above or some red pepper flakes, just because I like a little heat in my soups. Otherwise it was perfect!

  85. Tried this out for the first time this week, the hubby and I loved it! Easily a new fav, and perfect for our cold Northern Ontario winter!

  86. Avatar photo
    Carol Santaloci

    I made this and it was good but can I freeze leftovers not sure as it has milk in it also I loved the chicken avocado soup my husband went crazy for it definitely a keeper

  87. Hello! I made this soup the other night and liked it except I wanted to know why there’s turmeric in it? I have never added that to a soup and it threw me off actually. Other than that, the soup was good! I used the real bacon bits as a healthier option so maybe since I didn’t fry up the bacon in that pot, the flavor wasn’t what it should have been. I love all of your recipes and keep making new ones! Keep up the great blog! 🙂

  88. This was delicious, tasted like something I’ve had in a restaurant. The bacon took it to another level, but it was great before that was even added, if that helps the vegetarians. I did use a bag of cauliflower florets because my grocery store didn’t have cauliflower heads for some reason. I started off just using my immersion blender but felt like I couldn’t get it fully smooth and was concerned about ending up with a baby food puree-type texture. So I caved and put it in my blender in batches and OMG! the texture was amazing afterward.

  89. I made this last week and it was a hit with the whole family. I think I’ll add kielbasa to it next time instead of the bacon. Thank you for a healthy delicious recipe! My kids ate more veggies than they even suspected ????

  90. I made this soup today. I really liked the recipe although I needed to add a lot more seasoning to it. The bacon makes the soup. It also makes a pretty large batch so there is a lot left for lunches. Thanks for sharing. 

  91. Yummmmy! Cheddar Corn Chowder was perfect for a cold winter dinner! Never a bad recipe from Skinnytaste.com!

  92. Love this! You feel like you’re being decadent but you’re not, and it’s easy! I used my immulsion blender and it was a snap.  Love the Skinnytaste recipes. 

  93. This was so good. My husband loves corn chowder and we’re trying to lighten things up a little. I’m actually not a huge corn chowder fan and I loved this. If you’re going to use a blender as directed, I would definitely chop the cauliflower down more. I used an immersion blender and was able to break down the cauliflower more this way. I didn’t miss the extra potatoes or cream at all! 

  94. I fixed this for dinner tonight. It was delicious! It is definitely a recipe that I will use many times.

  95. This was absolutely delicious and my fam LOVED it. We have an thumbs-up/thumbs-down policy at home. If you like it, thumbs-up. Thumbs-down means I quickly discard the recipe. This was a 4 out 4 thumbs up! They were shocked that the cauliflower was the thickener. I love reading the review as it gives me great ways to tweak it moving forward. We LOVE your recipes and they fit in great with our healthy approach to eating. I’m sure you have a blast doing what you do, but this fan THANKS you!

  96. Another amazing recipe! Made in my instant pot. Didn’t have fresh thyme so just used a 1/4 tsp of ground. Also only had 1% milk, but you’d never know. Was really delicious. Perfect for the cold weather. 

  97. I don’t know if I am doing this wrong but when I enter the nutritional information you list into the WW site for the SmartsPoints Value I am getting 11 instead of 7??

    1. Hi Jennifer! Are you using the recipe builder? The only accurate way to determine any recipe’s SmartPoints® value is to plug the ingredients into the recipe builder on the Weight Watchers website (Click on “My Foods,” select “Recipe,” and click “Create a recipe.”) which does not count fruits and vegetables in recipes in the calculations as they are now 0 points.

      The SmartPoints® calculator isn’t meant for recipes and will often give you the wrong points (usually higher) because it’s counting the fruits and vegetables. So if you see a recipe with a SmartPoints® value that’s different from what the calculator tells you, now you know why.

  98. Amazing!!! Yes didn’t feel like buying fresh thyme for this recipe so st the end when I mixed it all together I added some lawrys garlic salt with parsley to taste. Delish! 

  99. I do want to say there must be a mistake on the instapot directions. It says 2/3 of corn and puree but doesn’t say anything about what to do with the rest of the Corn! Just thought you might wanna fix it ???????? it took this blond a minute to figure it out ????

  100. Just made this soup today. I did not add flour or milk and the thickness was perfect for my liking. I did add an extra potato and puréed some potato with the cauliflower and corn to help thicken since I can’t have flour. You couldn’t even taste the cauliflower!  This was a very nice change of pace than our typical meat and potato dinners. Will definitely make this again. 

  101. Absolutely love the skinny taste recipes they are always delicious! I will say I found this soup to be pretty bland tasting and sadly not one I’d make again

  102. Amazing soup. Left out the Thyme, (not a fan of it) kbut the Tumeric made a difference in the taste of this dish.  

  103. This was my first Skinny Taste recipe (I know, late to the party!) and it was awesome. Turned out delicious. I can’t even tell I’m eating puréed cauliflower!! I also forgot to add the milk lol but it still tastes fantastic. Thanks Gina! Looking forward to trying many more of your recipes.

  104. I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a recipe but this was so amazing I am! It was absolutely delicious!!!! 5 stars!

  105. I didn’t think I could love a soup as much as Turkey cheeseburger soup. Now I am torn. This was amazing. That cauliflower trick is unreal. My husband said he could eat four bowls of this. Thanks for another great one!!!!

  106. Phew that was a lot of work! t’s not bad, but it’s not really like corn chowder to me. I could taste the cauliflower, which I love – but again not corn chowder style. The turmeric is a pretty strong flavor too. I definitely preferred the leftovers to the first day.

  107. Delicious!  Made exactly as described and was perfect for us.  We loved it.  Served with a small salad on the side and rolls (for the husband).  Thank you for the great recipe!

  108. Sitting here HAPPILY eating my left overs. This is an awesome recipe. I used my immersion blender right in the pot! Topped w a little extra cheese bacon &  some croutons delishhh 

  109. Avatar photo
    Carmel Cericola

    I made this soup today and it is one the best from your website. I usually make one or two of your meals every week. Keep up the great work.

  110. Left out the cauliflower. Made the bacon part of the soup. Didn’t purée the corn. It was delicious. Next time will cut back on salt and thyme. 

  111. Lightened up Corn chowder! Creamy and delicious. A little labor intensive but worth it. Made for lunches all week! My toddler asked for a bite and wanted more – winner!

  112. Would you please include the amount of potatoes in oz form? “Two small” gives a lot of room for error when counting calories! Love your recipes!

  113. I made this for dinner last night and my husband absolutely LOVED it! He usually hates cauliflower, but when blended up he could hardly tell. Thank you Gina for a wonderful recipe that will definitely be on repeat this winter!

  114. This recipe is amazing! Thank you so much!

    The stove top recipe does feel like there’s a lot of parts to get it all done but honestly it’s so worth it. Looking forward to my leftovers tomorrow! 

  115. I made this last night and it was a game changer! I left out the milk & cheese, and only used 4 pieces of bacon. Still wonderfull! I put the cheese on the side so each person could decide how much they wanted, and also put in a tsp of sour cream, so I had a nice punch to it too. Thanks!

  116. Gina, 
    Whole foods sells these little lobster tails all the time any suggestions for steaming them in the instant pot with some type of vegetables? I’m looking for a quick weeknight meal.

  117. Sorry for not giving it 5 stars as other reviewers did, My husband and I found the soup to be quite bland.. He actually added about 3 tablespoons of hot sauce to his bowl! I followed the recipe exactly and did add a bit more cauliflower as I had way more than 12 ounces! I could not taste the turmeric at all… it definitely needs more spices to boost the flavor! It was not a quick meal to make and rather time-consuming because of all the steps. . On a positive note, we did get a good serving of veggies!

  118. OMG,thank you????it came out perfect,,,I used skim milk and low-fat cheddar cheese mixed with regular cheddar cheese…. Awesome!!!!

  119. Made this today exactly as written and it is TERRIFIC!! Thanks Heather and Gina for another keeper

  120. Make this yesterday and it was unbelievably good. I used skim milk and I don’t believe it made any difference. It couldn’t possibly be any better using regular milk. Not sure how it affects the points but this is truly the best yet. This website is just a lifesaver. I haven’t made anything in the last 4 yrs that wasn’t good. Thank you so much Gina!

  121. Avatar photo
    Julia Hampton

    I made this last night. Absolutely delicious! When I plug it into the WW app using the nutrition numbers, I get 11 Freestyle points. Am I missing something?

    1. Hi Julia! Are you using the recipe builder? The only accurate way to determine any recipe’s SmartPoints® value is to plug the ingredients into the recipe builder on the Weight Watchers website (Click on “My Foods,” select “Recipe,” and click “Create a recipe.”) which does not count fruits and vegetables in recipes in the calculations as they are now 0 points.

      The SmartPoints® calculator isn’t meant for recipes and will often give you the wrong points (usually higher) because it’s counting the fruits and vegetables. So if you see a recipe with a SmartPoints® value that’s different from what the calculator tells you, now you know why.

  122. this was really good
    super easy for a weeknight meal
    I used frozen cauliflower and just pureed it with the frozen corn and some of the broth
    I wish I had Trader Joe’s roasted corn on hand, that would really amp the corn flavor

  123. I’m eating a bowl of this as I’m typing. It’s flipping FANTASTIC!! Warm, cheesey, and slightly sweet. Thank you for such awesome recipes! 

  124. My husband doesn’t like “wet” food so making this was a bit of a risk. But he loved it! So did I! I added 1/2 TSP chili powder to give it some heat, and it was superb. Next day I added some cauliflower rice and pieces of pork chops to what was left over and it made another lovely meal. Thanks Gina! Love nearly all your recipes!

  125. Who doesn’t love corn chowder!? This recipe was easy, filling, and so so delicious. Definitely on the favorites list.

  126. This soup is AMAZING. I made it in the Instant Pot and my kids – who hate cauliflower – never even knew they were eating it. Definitely one to make again!

  127. Avatar photo
    Deborah Woodbury

    What do you mean about a wedge of cauliflower? Is it a head with it broken up into florets?

    Thanks! I love your recipes! The minestrone is the best I’ve had.

  128. Avatar photo
    Amy Halley Hill

    This is delicious! I’m enjoying a bowl right now for lunch while my husband and son plow the driveway! ????

  129. Avatar photo
    Betsey Perkins

    Wow! I made this in my IP and the cauliflower was so tender I didn’t even need to purée it it.  I did sub a can of white beans for the potatoes to up the fiber and protein.  Lunch is going to be great this week! 

  130. I had some family over tonight and I made this for them….. They loved it and so did I ! I subbed out the bacon for shredded chicken thighs and used cornstarch instead of flour to keep it gluten free. Otherwise made exactly as written. It’s a keeper! Thanks ladies. 

  131. Once again a great, gluten free option my whole family can enjoy. Made it in the instant pot and it was delicious…my daughter said it was a perfect day for soup so she checked your website and quickly found this recipe and asked me to make it.  She didn’t realize I already “saved” it on Instagram and had  put it on the menu for the weekend!! thanks Gina!

  132. I made this tonight. I have never had luck with any of the “newfangled” cauliflower ideas to have healthier versions of traditionally starchy/fattening foods. To me, the texture and the taste are always still terrible! I was cynically hopeful about this recipe. I love a thick chowder, but they are typically a no-no l when trying to lose weight. I have to say, I was tempted to not even measure the serving because the spoon of it that I tasted before eating soooooo good. I went ahead and measured anyway and it was incredibly filling! (I was already mentally prepared for another bowl thinking it wouldn’t fill me up, but I was full before I finished). I near about licked the bowl, too!!! I do wonder, though, since the directions never said to drain the bacon fat out of the pot, that I assumed it was to stay in so as to cook the onions? And is it possible that with the fat from the bacon, it’s still just 309 calorie?? Seems too good to be true! 

    1. Avatar photo
      Heatehr K. Jones

      Sure, you can try it and see how it tastes. The cauliflower puree really thickens the soup nicely,

  133. Thanks for posting! I loved this recipe. I used 2% milk, omitted turmeric as I didn’t have any on hand, and used an immersion blender to bring the whole pot to a creamy texture. 

    Still delicious with these modifications!

  134. Delicious! Instead of taking everything out to purée, I left everything in the pot and used an immersion blender to purée. Then I added the rest of the corn, etc. This works well for those of you asking about using bagged cauliflower. I also added in garlic and onion salt. 

    1. This is what I did today to. We prefer chunky soups, so I just used the immersion blender long enough that my kids could no longer figure out there was cauliflower in it. Worked like a charm!

  135. We loved it! I am glad you can freeze the leftovers, since there are only 2 of us. I made the base in the morning. Then reheated and added the milk and cheese before serving. 

  136. Every time I make corn chowder it turns a dark color. Why is that? It looks like something is caramelizing in it.

    1. I cooked my bacon in a different pot as opposed to her directions and mine was nice and yellow (and so forking good!)

  137. Silly question, but is a wedge of cauliflower the entire head? I’m not able to measure it in ounces.

    1. I used about a 1/2 head of cauliflower, from a reasonably medium head. I measured 12 oz. I broke it up into big florets to be able to get it out of the pot easily to puree.

  138. This sounds yummy!  Can I use my immersion blender right in the soup pot instead of using my regular blender?

  139. Since I always have almond milk on hand, do you think I could replace the whole milk with the almond milk?  I have done so successfully in baking but never in something that is boiled.
    Sue

  140. Would you just substitute vegetable broth for the chicken if you’re vegetarian? And obviously take out the bacon or substitute it.

  141. Avatar photo
    Annette Hallaux

    This soup is absolutely delicious.  My husband had 2 helpings and then had to force himself to stop.  He said that he looks forward to tomorrow night’s dinner.  We added pickled jalapeños for more spice. I bought riced cauliflower and pureed 2 cups of the soup with the 4 ounces of corn.  We liked the texture even though it strayed from the original instructions.  I served the soup with cranberry orange mini corn muffins and a fruit salad.  This menu is definitely on our list of meals to be repeated.

  142. For the instapot instructions when you say cover for 3 mins after you out the cheese, are you doing pressure cook for Three minutes or just covering the pot and have it on “keep warm”?

    1. Avatar photo
      Jonell Pearson

      I didn’t feel like the soup was warm enough after the 3 minutes on “keep warm” . Or 5 minutes . . .
      Plus on the Instant Pot directions, it does not say to add the rest of the 16 oz bag of frozen corn like it does on stove top directions. I did add but not sure everyone would. Maybe that should be corrected. Very tasty though! I will make it again! 

  143. Kind of new to the instant pot so this is probably a dumb question but – when you say “high pressure for 10 minutes”, after adding the potato and cauliflower, is that on manual, or is that the soup button? So behind the curve! I just got an IP for Christmas.

    1. I did it on manual. Worked ???????? Just remember it has to pressurize first, which takes a little bit, and then the timer will start for 10 minutes.

  144. Hi Gina, Thanks for all your great recipes! Is the 31-day free challenge also open to men? My brother is looking to lose weight and it sounds like a great supportive program.

    1. Avatar photo
      Heatehr K. Jones

      The purpose of the large piece of cauliflower is so it’s easier to puree it after, rather than pureeing the whole soup… but you could try frozen instead and see how it works.

  145. I need to make this ahead of time. Can it sit on the stove for a couple of hours till we’re ready to eat it? Maybe just keep it on low?

    1. Sure but it’s harder to take it to puree if its in small pieces. The cauliflower is giving it the creaminess.

  146. You’re the best, Gina! Thanks for all the hard work you put in to make these recipes available to everyone. This one looks delicious. Can’t wait to try!

  147. Hi! Love all of Gina’s recipes but I loathe cauliflower. No matter what I do to it I can still taste it and I can’t stand how it tastes. I was thinking of subbing in broccoli but do you think it would add the same thickness as the cauliflower?

    1. I can’t eat cauliflower so I used rutabaga in the cheeseburger soup. Going to use that here. You could also try turnip.

  148. This looks amazing! Do you think this would freeze well so you could save some for later?

    Also, do you think you could use the steam-in-bag cauliflower for this recipe?

    1. the purpose of the large piece is so it’s easier to puree it after, rather than pureeing the whole soup.

      1. Interesting. I’ll give it a try and report back! Any thoughts on the freezer-friendliness of this soup?

    2. For the cheeseburger soup, I cooked the 12oz bag of cauliflower in the microwave and blended it with the other soup ingredients per the recipe. It worked like a charm! It’s cheaper and easier IMO. I plan to do the same for this recipe!

      1. Thank you! This is perfect, I have a bag of frozen cauliflower already in the freezer ready to go. I’ll be trying this next week! 🙂

  149. This looks delicious! I’m a vegetarian, so I always skip bacon that so frequently tops soups. But I wonder if there is something you’d recommend substituting with? (For me, I also avoid fake meat since I don’t like that it looks/is supposed to taste like meat–although it’s great that it is available for folks who want it!) Just curious if you (or any readers!) have a great vegetarian soup topper they like to use instead of bacon. Thanks for your thoughts!

    1. Check out ROSTED lentils: https://smile.amazon.com/Simple-Supple-Foods-Roasted-Standard/dp/B06XHDB133/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1546536102&sr=8-3&keywords=roasted+lentils+snack

      I put those on salads in place of bacon bits and my family loved it!

    2. i really like subbing caramelized onions or sautéed shiitake mushrooms for a savory alternative to bacon when cooking for my vegan family members! Seems to go over well

    3. Maybe some fried leeks for the crunch factor? I would probably also add some smoked paprika to the soup to mimic the smoky flavor of the bacon.

      1. Gosh, y’all have given me so many great suggestions!!!!! Thanks so much! And I love the smoked paprika idea, too, Angie. Thanks, all!

      1. Ooh, I love the roasted chickpea suggestions, too! And appreciate all of the many suggestions folks have offered. I’m hoping to make this soup tomorrow!

    4. I use Crispy Balsamic Beets by “Fresh Gourmet” as a salad topper – they have a nice crunch and tang to them. I find them at a Kroger store in the produce section.

    5. I would top with crunchy jalapeno pieces. I top my salad sometimes with these as well. I purchase them from my grocery store in the produce section. They are small pieces of breaded jalapeno.

    6. I am just reading all these comments now as I plan to make this soup, lots of vegetarian love in our family–so all the suggestions are just wonderful ideas!

    1. I did this because I don’t have a blender – I think it worked great and allowed for the cauliflower to really break down.