This is an old time favorite recipe of mine. It comes out every summer when the corn is fresh and the seafood is abundant. It really is a summer classic and one I look forward to all year long. When I first found this recipe, it called for Live Lobsters. I’ve since made many revisions to get it to where it is today: an easy shellfish soup to make and a family favorite. My shrimp & lobster corn chowder should be in your rotation. You won’t be sorry you tried this one. And if shrimp and lobster are your “thing”, be sure to try my Spring Peas, Shrimp and Lobster Soup recipe too. Another winner!
INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS FOR THIS SHRIMP & LOBSTER CORN CHOWDER
HALF AND HALF:
This recipe originally called for just heavy cream. Depending on my mood (and how tight the jeans are), I might use the half and half as I’ve noted here. BUT I’ve also made this soup with whole milk, fat-free half and half, 2% milk and skim milk too. Although the soup came out thinner, there are so many veggies and tons of seafood that I didn’t mind that that the broth was thinner. The flavor is still there, so if you are watching calories and fat, switch it up.
CORN:
Fresh corn is best and the amount of “corn juice or milk” that you get from fresh corn cobs just translates into a delicious stock. If you must (or it is winter and you just can’t wait…lol), use whole frozen ears of corn so you still have the cobs for your stock. In a pinch, omit the cobs and use just plain frozen corn.
SHELLFISH:
Since fresh lobster can be hard to find at times, and because it can be a lot of work to cook and clean them (and let’s face it, some people are squeamish when it comes to killing them), I switched to lobster tails. There is no loss of flavor here. I also substituted shrimp for ½ the lobster meat because it was more economical. Again, there is no loss in flavor. You can use any combination of lobster, shrimp or crab that you like. The key to making this great shrimp & lobster corn chowder is the stock. And the flavor of that stock comes from the shells and corncobs so do buy your shellfish with the shells on.
PRO TIPS on removing shells from shellfish
When it comes to lobster, I buy frozen lobster tails, let them thaw then remove the meat from the shells. The easiest way to do that is to use a sharp pair of kitchen schears and cut right across the length of the outer shell, then flip the tail over and cut right through the thinner bottom of the lobster tail. Pull the two halves apart and pull out the meat. You will use the shells to make the stock. Take the meat and cut into spoon size chunks and put to the side.
For the shrimp, remove the shells and tails (you’ll use those for the stock). Devein the shrimp and discard that black or orange tract. I usually cut the shrimp in half so that you have spoon size pieces.
PRO TIP on using seafood shells for stock:
Whenever I make shrimp, (Which is quite often since it is one of my favorite shellfish) I save the shells and put them in a baggie and keep them in the freezer. Then, I can just pull them out and make this stock anytime. I do the same with lobster shells. The more shells the better, so load up that pot and make the most wonderful stock using any additional shells you might have in the freezer.
WHITE WINE:
This adds a nice acidity to the soup BUT if you don’t have any or don’t want alcohol in your recipe, just use more stock or water.
POTATOES:
Yukon gold potatoes are great in this soup since they have a thin skin and the color blends right into the soup. You could substitute baby red potatoes or regular Idaho potatoes. If using the Idaho potatoes, be sure to peel them first. In all cases, cut the potato up small. Remember, this is for soup.
BACON:
Bacon is a must in a corn chowder (at least for me) and if you are a fan, use a thick cut and add more if you like! If you don’t eat pork or don’t like it, just omit it but note that you are omitting a piece chunk of flavor. You could substitute chopped Canadian ham or Pancetta for the bacon.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: For the one person who doesn’t like bacon (you know who you are), just use one tablespoon of olive oil instead of the bacon drippings to sauté your veggies. It works just fine. You are missing out on that great bacon flavor, but that is your choice.
MAKING THE SHELLFISH CHOWDER AHEAD
This is a great dish to entertain with. People go nuts for it and it is easy to see why. This is classic chowder that everyone will love.
I love it the next day too. For a make a head tip, make your stock, add all the veggies and cook your potatoes in the soup. Do everything right up to step #4 in the recipe. Add salt and pepper and taste. Let the soup cool and then refrigerate until you are ready to finish the soup. Up to three days.
Then, reheat the soup and once it is simmering, add the shellfish and chives and finish the recipe. That’s how I handle this if I’m serving it for the holidays or planning it as a first course with a big meal.
HOW TO MAKE SHRIMP AND LOBSTER CORN CHOWDER
To get started on the recipe, add a tablespoon of olive oil to a large stock pot. Add in your shrimp and lobster shells and let cook until the shells are bright pink and start to brown in spots. About 5 -8 minutes. Add in the 5 cups of stock, 1/2 cup of wine and your corn cobs. (you’ll add the corn kernels later). Bring to a boil and then reduce heat a bit and let simmer for about 25-30 minutes until the liquid is reduced to about 2 1/2 cups. Strain the stock through a colander into a large bowl and discard the corn cobs and shells.
Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, add the chopped bacon and let them chopped bacon crisp up and render all it’s fat. That can take 5-10 minutes. Once the bacon is crispy, add your chopped carrots, celery, pepper and corn kernels. Saute for about five minutes stirring everything to combine.
NOTE: I usually use hatch chilis because they are mild but I’ve also used jalapeno for just a touch more heat. Adjust the amount you use based on your fondness for heat in your chowder. I think a little in the background is great in this soup. I don’t like it to be overwhelming but a little kick is great.
Add the stock and half and half (or milk of your choice) to the veggies. Add the thyme and stir everything together. Bring to a simmer. Add in the chopped potatoes and let them cook for about 15 – 20 minutes until tender. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper to taste. Start slow and adjust seasoning as needed.
Add in the shrimp and lobster and stir to combine. Add the chives. Cook until the shellfish are just cooked through – about 5-8 minutes. Taste again and adjust seasoning if needed.
Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with some chives and serve with oyster crackers, saltines or your favorite bread. This is so delicious…enjoy!
If you liked the recipe, please leave a rating and a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
If you like this recipe and would like other soup recipes, check out some of my favorites:
Creamy Corn, Asparagus and Shrimp Soup
Cannellini Bean and Sausage Soup
Beef, Vegetable and Barley Soup
Shrimp & Lobster Corn Chowder
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 5 Oz. Lobster tails, meat separated from the shell and cut into small chunks (save shells)
- 1 Lb. Medium Shrimp, shelled and deveined, cut into small pieces (save shells)
- 5 Cups Chicken Stock
- ½ Cup White wine
- 4 Fresh Ears of Corn, kernels removed and placed in a bowl (save cobs)
- 6 Pieces of bacon, chopped into small pieces
- 1 Yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 Carrots, chopped
- 3 Celery stalks, chopped
- ½ – 1 Hatch chili pepper OR Jalapeno, seeded and chopped
- 2 Cups Half and half
- 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped into small pieces
- 1 Tbsp. Olive oil
- 1 Tsp. Dried Thyme
- 2 Tsp. Fresh chives, chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large pot. Add all the shrimp and lobster shells and stir until toasted and lightly browned. This takes about 5-8 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock, wine and four reserved corncobs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the stock is reduced to about 2 ½ cups (about 25-30 minutes). In a separate large pot or Dutch oven, add the bacon and cook over medium high heat until the bacon is crispy. About 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, celery, pepper and corn kernels and cook until the vegetables are starting to get soft. About 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, strain the seafood and corn stock into the pot with the vegetables. Discard the shells and corn cobs – their job is done. Stir. Add the half and half and dried thyme and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the potatoes and get the mixture heated back up to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the potatoes are tender. About 15 -19 minutes.
- Stir in the shrimp and lobster, chives and a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Add the fresh chives and stir. Cook until the seafood is cooked (about 5-8 minutes). Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve in individual soup crocks with saltine crackers and more cut chives on top. FYI: I LOVE my soup crocks with the handles. I originally bought them to serve my French Onion Soup in but now use them for all my soups, stews and chilis. I love that I can grab the handle and serve. So much more convenient than trying to lift a bowl of hot soup; plus, they look great. Enjoy.
