Seafood lovers, prepare to indulge! This Instant Pot Seafood Chowder recipe is a game-changer for your meal rotation. Featuring succulent cod, plump shrimp, and savory smoked oysters (a delightful, bacon-free twist on traditional recipes), this creamy, delectable chowder cooks up swiftly in your electric pressure cooker. Enjoy a hearty, nutritious seafood dinner that’s perfect for a busy weekday meal. Get ready for a quick and satisfying culinary experience!
You’re going to adore this Instant Pot seafood chowder for its simplicity, its use of readily available ingredients, and its incredible flavor. If you’ve been looking to incorporate more fish and shellfish into your diet but feel unsure where to begin, a rich, comforting seafood chowder is an excellent starting point. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a diverse range of ocean-fresh tastes.
Each spoonful delivers tender chunks of seafood and wholesome vegetables, all swimming in a luxuriously thick and creamy broth. While some might consider pureeing it into an Instant Pot seafood bisque, we believe this Instant Pot fish chowder achieves perfection just as it is. Its balance of textures and flavors is truly exceptional. This versatile seafood soup is so satisfying that you could enjoy a variation of it for dinner multiple nights a week without ever growing tired of it.
A classic New England-style seafood chowder transcends seasons. It’s an ideal dish for celebrating summer’s bounty, whether from your own fishing trips or local markets. As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp in autumn and winter, a warm bowl of chowder offers unparalleled comfort, a perfect welcome in from the cold.
⭐ Why Choose Instant Pot Seafood Chowder? Unveiling the Benefits
Curious why making seafood chowder in the Instant Pot is such a smart choice? Here are compelling reasons to embrace this incredibly easy and rewarding recipe:
- Effortlessly Boost Your Seafood Intake: For many, hitting the recommended two servings of seafood per week can be a challenge. This delightful Instant Pot seafood chowder makes it simple and delicious to meet your dietary goals, introducing you to the health benefits of a fish-rich diet.
- Protein Powerhouse: Packed with generous amounts of seafood, this chowder is an excellent source of lean protein. Both shrimp and cod are low in calories and high in essential nutrients, making this a truly satisfying and muscle-supporting meal that keeps you full longer.
- A Unique Bacon-Free Delight: Traditional chowders often rely on bacon for a smoky depth, but this recipe offers a sophisticated alternative: chopped smoked oysters. These little gems provide a complex, umami-rich flavor that perfectly stands in for bacon, adding another layer of taste without the common pork ingredient. Plus, oysters are nutritional powerhouses, delivering more protein, zinc, and iron compared to bacon.
- Enrich Your Diet with Flavor and Nutrients: Venturing into new recipes like this easy Instant Pot seafood chowder is a fantastic way to introduce greater dietary variety. You’ll not only discover exciting new flavor combinations that you’ll love but also significantly increase the nutrient density of your meals, contributing to overall well-being.
- The Ultimate One-Pot Wonder: This hearty chowder comes together incredibly fast, making it ideal for busy weeknights. The best part? Minimal cleanup! Cooking in the Instant Pot means you don’t have to constantly monitor a pot on the stovetop, freeing up your time while dinner practically makes itself. It’s a dream come true for those who enjoy cooking but dread the aftermath of dishwashing.
- Packed with Nourishing Vegetables: Beyond the delicious seafood, this chowder is loaded with an array of vibrant vegetables. The fiber and fluid volume from these veggies not only enhance the chowder’s texture and richness but also contribute to a feeling of satiety, ensuring a truly fulfilling meal. They also add beautiful color and robust flavors, transforming a simple soup into a gourmet experience.
🥘 Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Seafood Chowder
Ready to create this mouth-watering seafood chowder in your Instant Pot? Here’s a comprehensive shopping list to gather everything you’ll need for this delicious culinary adventure:
- Olive oil: Or your preferred cooking oil, to build the flavorful base.
- Chopped onion: The aromatic cornerstone of many great soups.
- Chopped carrot: Adding natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Diced celery: Contributes to the classic mirepoix foundation.
- Chopped Yukon Gold potatoes: Or any other thin-skinned potato variety; their starch is key for thickening.
- Garlic cloves: Freshly minced for a pungent, aromatic kick.
- Spelt flour: A wholesome alternative to all-purpose flour for thickening, or use whole wheat flour.
- Frozen corn: Adds a sweet burst of flavor and texture.
- Fresh cod: Or thawed from frozen; choose boneless, skinless fillets for ease.
- Raw shrimp: Peeled and tail-off for convenience; consider larger sizes for a more substantial bite.
- Canned smoked oysters: Packed in oil and drained, these are the secret ingredient for a unique smoky depth.
- Heavy cream: For an incredibly rich and velvety chowder consistency.
- Clam juice: Enhances the authentic seafood flavor profile.
- Chicken broth: Use homemade bone broth for a lower sodium option, or your favorite store-bought variety.
- Old Bay seasoning: The quintessential spice blend for seafood, adding an authentic East Coast flair.
- Dried thyme: Offers an earthy, aromatic note that complements seafood beautifully.
- Fresh parsley, fresh thyme, and/or black pepper: Perfect for a fresh garnish and a final touch of flavor.
You’ll find precise quantities for all these ingredients in the detailed recipe card at the conclusion of this article.
While cod is our recommendation for this recipe, feel free to experiment with other firm white fish like haddock or pollock. For an extra luxurious touch, you could substitute lobster or scallops for the shrimp if your budget allows. Mussels, squid, clams, octopus, or even a pre-packaged thawed seafood mix would also work wonderfully, offering distinct flavors and textures to your Instant Pot seafood chowder.
The natural starch released from the potatoes plays a crucial role in thickening the chowder, allowing us to use less flour. If you opt to omit the potatoes or replace them with other vegetables, be aware that your chowder might turn out thinner, potentially resembling more of an Instant Pot seafood stew than a classic thick chowder.
We highly recommend using heavy cream over milk in this recipe. Cream not only delivers an incomparably rich and luscious texture but also significantly reduces the risk of curdling during the cooking process. Should you desire a lower-fat chowder, you can incorporate low-fat milk, but ensure you add it at the very end of cooking and heat it very gently to prevent separation.
🍽 Essential Equipment for Your Fish Chowder
Creating this delicious Instant Pot fish chowder requires only a few fundamental kitchen tools, making it a truly accessible recipe:
- Instant Pot: The star of the show, making quick work of this hearty chowder.
- Knife: For precise and efficient ingredient preparation.
- Wooden spoon: Essential for stirring, preventing scratches to your Instant Pot’s non-stick surface.
For recipe development, a Crock-Pot Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker was used, but any electric pressure cooker like a Ninja Foodi or similar will yield excellent results. If you have a smaller Instant Pot model, you might need to prepare the chowder in separate batches to avoid overfilling and ensure proper cooking. Always adhere to your appliance’s maximum fill line.
A friendly reminder: always use a wooden or silicone spoon for stirring inside your Instant Pot to protect its inner pot from scratches. Learn from experience – a metal spoon can damage the coating!
🔪 Mastering the Art of Instant Pot Seafood Chowder: A Step-by-Step Guide
Embark on your culinary journey by meticulously preparing all your ingredients (a practice known as mise en place, which means “everything in its place”). This ensures a smooth and enjoyable cooking process.
- Cut the cod fillets into uniform 1-inch (2.54 cm) pieces.
- Halve the shrimp and the drained smoked oysters to ensure even distribution and bite-sized pieces throughout the chowder.
- Dice the onion and potatoes into neat ½-inch (1.27 cm) cubes. If you’re using thin-skinned potatoes like Yukon Golds, peeling is optional, saving you prep time.
- Dice the carrot into ¼-½ inch (0.6-1.27 cm) pieces.
- Chop the celery into ¼-inch (0.6 cm) pieces.
- Finally, mince your garlic cloves finely to release their full aromatic potential.
Now, let’s begin the cooking process:
- Set your Instant Pot to the “High Sauté” function.
- Once heated, add the olive oil (or your preferred cooking oil) to the pot.
- Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery (the classic mirepoix blend) to the hot oil. Sauté these vegetables for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become tender and slightly softened, but without browning. This step is crucial for building a flavorful base.
- Introduce the diced potatoes, minced garlic, and spelt flour (or whole wheat flour) to the pot. Stir continuously for approximately 30 seconds, allowing the flour to coat the vegetables and toast slightly. This will create a roux-like base that helps thicken the chowder later.
- Pour in the clam juice and chicken broth, then sprinkle in the Old Bay seasoning and dried thyme. Give everything a good stir to combine all the ingredients and ensure no lumps remain from the flour.
- Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the valve is sealed.
️⏲️ Optimal Instant Pot Fish Chowder Cooking Time and Temperature
One of the beauties of the Instant Pot is its efficiency! So, how long do you cook seafood chowder in an Instant Pot?
Pressure cook your seafood chowder for 5 minutes using the “beans/chili” setting under high pressure. After the cooking cycle completes, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. This natural release prevents sudden changes in pressure that can impact texture. Following the natural release, carefully open the vent on the lid to fully release any remaining pressure.
You might notice that we haven’t added the delicate seafood components yet! This is a deliberate step. Seafood, especially cod and shrimp, cooks very quickly and would become overcooked and tough under high pressure. Now is the perfect moment to introduce these star ingredients: add the cod pieces, chopped shrimp, drained chopped oysters, frozen corn, and heavy cream to the pot.
Switch your Instant Pot back to the “High Sauté” function. Gently simmer the chowder for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent any ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Continue cooking until the fish flakes easily and the shrimp turns pink and opaque. For absolute food safety, verify that the fish has reached a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63°C) using a meat thermometer. A few checks on different pieces should suffice.
Remember that canned smoked oysters are already fully cooked, so there’s no need to worry about their internal temperature.
Once your Instant Pot seafood chowder is perfectly cooked and fragrant, all that’s left is the delightful act of serving. Ladle generous portions into warm soup bowls and, if desired, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or thyme, along with a dash of freshly ground black pepper for an extra layer of flavor and visual appeal. Now, sit back, relax, and savor every delicious bite!
🌡️ Storing and Reheating Your Seafood Chowder Leftovers
While this delightful seafood chowder with potatoes is best enjoyed fresh, you might find yourself with delicious leftovers. It’s important to note that due to the potatoes and dairy, this particular chowder does not freeze well, as the texture can become grainy upon thawing. However, you can safely store it in a covered, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it perfect for enjoyable meals later in the week.
To reheat individual servings, simply place the chowder in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover it loosely with a paper towel to prevent splatters and heat on high for 3-5 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can gently reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s warmed through. Avoid boiling, which can compromise the creamy texture.
🥣 Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Seafood Chowder?
A bowl of creamy seafood chowder is often a meal in itself, but a few thoughtfully chosen accompaniments can elevate the dining experience. Traditional choices include oyster crackers or saltine crackers, which add a delightful crunch and soak up the rich broth. Beyond these classics, consider these delicious ideas for what to serve with your Instant Pot seafood chowder:
- Keto Crackers: A great low-carb alternative for those mindful of their carb intake, offering a satisfying crunch.
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread: Crispy, buttery garlic bread is always a crowd-pleaser and perfect for dipping into the flavorful broth.
- Warm, Fluffy Biscuits: The soft, flaky texture of homemade biscuits provides a comforting contrast to the chowder’s richness.
- A Crisp Garden Side Salad: A light, refreshing salad with a vinaigrette dressing can cut through the richness of the chowder, offering balance to your meal.
- Crusty Artisan Bread: A thick slice of fresh, crusty bread is ideal for soaking up every last drop of this delicious chowder.
📋 Nutritional Profile: Calories, Net Carbs, Protein & More
Each generous serving of this incredible seafood chowder Instant Pot recipe boasts an impressive nutritional profile, making it a hearty and healthful choice. One serving contains approximately 655 calories, 30.1 grams of net carbohydrates, and a robust 56.8 grams of protein. Beyond the macronutrients, this chowder is an excellent source of vital micronutrients, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and iron. It truly is a nourishing “superfood” meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Instant Pot Seafood Chowder
How can I make this an Instant Pot Keto Seafood Chowder?
To transform this into a low-carb Instant Pot seafood chowder, you’ll need to make a few key substitutions. Replace the starchy potatoes and corn with non-starchy vegetables such as cauliflower florets, diced radishes (which mimic potatoes well), or green beans. Additionally, swap out the spelt flour for a keto-friendly thickening agent. Xanthan gum is a popular choice for low-carb thickening; you’ll only need a very small amount added at the end of cooking to achieve the desired consistency for the entire pot of chowder.
Is this a Paleo Instant Pot seafood chowder?
Adapting this Instant Pot seafood chowder to be Paleo-compliant would require more substantial changes. You would need to substitute the flour (for a grain-free alternative), the potatoes (for Paleo-friendly vegetables like cauliflower), and the heavy cream (for a dairy-free option like full-fat coconut milk, though this would significantly alter the flavor profile). The corn might also need to be omitted depending on strict Paleo interpretations. Making these extensive modifications would result in a recipe with a very different taste and texture compared to the original.
How to make a low-fat fish chowder?
For a lighter, low-fat seafood chowder recipe, the primary change involves substituting the heavy cream with low-fat milk (such as 1% or skim milk). Be aware that this modification will result in a thinner and less creamy chowder. To help restore some thickness and body without adding fat, consider pureeing a portion of the cooked potatoes from the chowder and stirring them back in. This natural starch will help to thicken the broth gently.
How to make a Gluten-Free Instant Pot Seafood Chowder?
Creating a gluten-free Instant Pot seafood chowder is straightforward. The main adjustment is finding a suitable substitute for the spelt flour. Excellent gluten-free thickening methods include using a cornstarch slurry (a mixture of cornstarch and cold water), potato flakes (stirred directly into the hot chowder), or a small amount of xanthan gum. Each option offers a slightly different texture, so choose the one that best fits your preference.
Can I make this Seafood Chowder in a Slow Cooker?
Absolutely! This delicious seafood chowder can easily be adapted for a slow cooker. Begin by combining the sautéed vegetables (onion, carrot, celery), clam broth, chicken broth, and seasonings in your crock pot. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the seafood (cod, shrimp, oysters, corn) and heavy cream. Continue cooking on high for this final half-hour, allowing the seafood to cook through and the chowder to heat uniformly and thicken slightly. This slow-cooked method allows flavors to meld beautifully.
Can I use frozen seafood for this recipe?
Yes, you can certainly use frozen seafood! For cod, ensure it’s fully thawed before cutting and adding. For shrimp, you can often add them directly from frozen if they are smaller, but larger shrimp are best thawed for even cooking. Just be mindful that frozen seafood might release a bit more water, potentially slightly thinning the chowder, but the overall flavor will still be fantastic.
What if I don’t have clam juice?
Clam juice adds a wonderful depth of oceanic flavor to the chowder, but if you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute it with an equal amount of fish stock or vegetable broth. While the flavor profile will be slightly different, your chowder will still be delicious and rich.
👩🏻🍳 Explore More Instant Pot Recipes
Loved this Instant Pot seafood chowder? The electric pressure cooker is a versatile tool for creating a wide array of comforting and speedy meals. Here are some more fantastic Instant Pot recipes to inspire your next culinary creation:
- Hearty Instant Pot Beef Vegetable Soup
- Flavorful Instant Pot Italian Sausage Soup
- Tender London Broil Instant Pot Recipe
- Quick and Easy Instant Pot Stir Fry
🦐 Discover Other Delicious Seafood Recipes
If you’re as passionate about seafood as we are, you’re in for a treat! Explore these other delightful seafood recipes that celebrate the ocean’s bounty:
- Classic New England Shrimp Chowder
- Gourmet Smoked Oyster and Cod Liver Pate
- Perfect Frozen Jumbo Shrimp in the Air Fryer
Watch How to Make It!
Instant Pot Seafood Chowder Recipe (Fish Chowder)
Summer Yule
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion (7 ounces/198 grams)
- 1 large carrot (2.5 ounces/71 grams)
- 1 stalk celery
- ¼ cup spelt flour
- 2 cups baby gold potatoes (12 ounces/340 grams; use thin-skinned potatoes)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen roasted corn
- 1 lb. cod (454 grams; boneless and skinless)
- 1 lb. large shrimp, raw, peeled, tail-off (454 grams; use 70/90 size shrimp)
- 6 ounces smoked oysters packed in olive oil, drained (170 grams)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup clam juice
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- fresh thyme leaves, parsley, black pepper (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Cut the cod into 1-inch pieces (2.54 cm) and cut the shrimp and oysters in half. Chop the onion and potatoes into ½-inch dice (1.27 cm). Dice the carrot into ¼-½ inch pieces (0.6-1.27 cm) and chop the celery into ¼-inch pieces (0.6 cm). Mince the garlic cloves.
- Set the Instant Pot to high sauté. Heat the oil in the pot and sauté the onion, carrot, and celery for 5-10 minutes. You want the veggies to soften, not brown.
- Add the potatoes, garlic, and flour to the pot. Stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the clam juice and chicken broth, and sprinkle in the Old Bay and dried thyme. Put the lid on the pot and close the valve.
- Pressure cook or 5 minutes using the “beans/chili” setting under high pressure. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before carefully opening the vent on the lid.
- Add the cod, chopped shrimp, drained chopped oysters, corn, and cream to the pot. Simmer the chowder on high sauté for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- The fish should reach a safe internal temp of 145°F (63°C). You can check a few pieces with a meat thermometer if you’d like to be extra cautious.
- Ladle the chowder into soup bowls and garnish (if desired) with fresh herbs and black pepper. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Knife
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Normally I bump recipes with flour up to level 3. This chowder only has 1 tablespoon of flour per serving for thickening. It makes a hearty and satisfying one pot meal under 700 calories, so I’m placing it in level 2 (moderate calorie dinner).
Something to know about this recipe is that the heavy cream adds 200 calories per serving. That’s because cream has 50 calories per tablespoon and you’re getting ¼ cup cream (4 tablespoons) per serving. If you want to know how to make low calorie chowder, I’d cut back on the cream.
There are a number of ways to thicken chowder without cream. Obviously, skim milk, 1% milk, and 2% milk will not make a thick and creamy seafood chowder by themselves.
One very common way to make a thicker chowder is to use a roux of flour and butter. This may contribute fewer calories to your chowder than cream, but it’s not exactly a light option. Using a cornstarch slurry (mixture of cornstarch and water) is a lighter way to thicken chowder.
As mentioned, high starch potatoes do help to make chowder thick. However, I find the chopped potatoes aren’t enough on their own to get the chowder super thick.
If you don’t want to use flour or cornstarch, you could puree some cooked potatoes and add them back to the chowder. You could also experiment with stirring mashed potato flakes into the chowder to thicken it. These additions and substitutions will all alter the nutrition information provided.
Nutrition information is for one serving.
Nutrition Info Disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
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