Soup · Main Course · Dinner · Irish ·

Hearty Irish Seafood Chowder with Leeks and Bacon

Name: Hearty Irish Seafood Chowder with Leeks and Bacon
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, sliced thinly; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 onion, diced; 4 stalks celery, diced; 4 cups fish or vegetable stock; 1 cup heavy cream; 3 large potatoes, peeled and diced; 1 lb mixed seafood, shrimp, clams, and cod, cut into bite-sized pieces; 200 g bacon, diced; 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen; 1 teaspoon thyme; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1 bay leaf; Fresh parsley, chopped; Crusty bread; Lemon wedges

Dive into the flavors of the sea with this comforting chowder featuring leeks and crispy bacon for a hearty meal.

4.6(90 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 24, 2025

Hearty Irish Seafood Chowder with Leeks and Bacon — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Chowder Base

For the Chowder Filling

Seasonings

Garnishes & Accompaniments

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 627 kcal
Protein: 27.17 g
Carbs: 37.33 g
Fat: 41.67 g
Fiber: 3.67 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3762 kcal
Protein: 163 g
Carbs: 224 g
Fat: 250 g
Fiber: 22 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 tablespoons butter	204	0	0	23	0
2 tablespoons olive oil	239	0	0	27	0
1 large leek white and light green parts only, sliced thinly	54	1	13	0	2
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0	2	0	0
1 onion diced	44	1	10	0	2
4 stalks celery diced	40	2	9	0	4
4 cups fish or vegetable stock	40	4	8	1	0
1 cup heavy cream	821	5	7	88	0
3 large potatoes peeled and diced	492	12	112	0	8
1 lb mixed seafood shrimp, clams, and cod, cut into bite-sized pieces	454	92	0	10	0
200 g bacon diced	1072	37	1	98	0
1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen	132	4	31	2	3
1 teaspoon thyme	3	0	1	0	1
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 bay leaf	0	0	0	0	0
Fresh parsley chopped	4	0	1	0	0
Crusty bread	150	5	30	1	2
Lemon wedges	2	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Seafood

1
Thaw if needed
If frozen, thaw the seafood.
2
Cut into pieces
Cut seafood into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
3
Dry and season
Pat dry and season lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Preparing the Vegetables

1
Heat fats
Heat butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large pot.
2
Sauté aromatics
Add the leeks, garlic, onion, and celery. Sauté until translucent.
Tip: Do not allow the garlic to brown, as it might turn bitter.
3
Add potatoes
Add the potatoes and stir for 2-3 minutes.

How to Make Hearty Irish Seafood Chowder with Leeks and Bacon

Total time: 2 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Building the Base
Pour in the stock, add thyme, bay leaf, and bring to a simmer.
2
Combining Ingredients
Add potatoes, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove bay leaf.
3
Finishing Touches
Stir in cream, corn, and add seafood and bacon until seafood is cooked through (3-4 minutes).