Gluten Free Corn Chowder with Green Chiles

Name: Gluten Free Corn Chowder with Green Chiles
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cans Del Monte Fresh Cut Golden Sweet Corn Cream Style; 2 tablespoons green chiles; 16 ounces chicken broth; 1/3 cup Queso Fresco cheese (or any flavorful cheese like cheddar); 2 tablespoons cilantro; 1 clove garlic; 1 1/4 cups leeks; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; Garnish Options: Sour Cream & Bacon

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The flavors of gluten free corn chowder, with a hint of spice from roasted green chiles, combine to make a deliciously easy creamy soup. This Canned Corn Chowder recipe is ready in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for any time!

This soup has a dairy-free version too! If you are looking for a new favorite soup recipe, you will want to check out all of my Gluten Free Soup Recipes!

a bowl of gluten free corn chowder on a wooden serving platter.

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Why This Chowder Is Great:
Ingredient Notes:
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Garnish ideas:
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
More Soup Recipes To Try:
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(This post has been sponsored by Del Monte Foods, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

I am so excited about this delicious gluten free corn chowder recipe. It has a creamy texture and is full of sweet corn flavor! It is a special recipe that you can enjoy all year long. You can make it with simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.

This old-fashioned recipe is based on my grandmother's secret Corn Chowder with Creamed Corn recipe. In the old days, she made her corn chowder from canned cream of corn. I love taking my Grandma's old recipes and creating gluten free versions. Her version of corn chowder is quick and easy! Make it in about 20 minutes!!

I made this last November and followed the recipe to a T, had a perfect Creamy Corn Chowder that night for dinner. My husband requested it the other day and I had to hunt the recipe down again. This time I saved it.
Heidi M., Blog reader

Why This Chowder Is Great:

This recipe is quick and easy to make.
If you are on a budget, you will love this recipe. It is inexpensive to make, and it can feed a crowd!
Make it more hearty by adding sausage.
This recipe uses all easy-to-find pantry ingredients. It has the perfect thick consistency that chowders are known for.
This creamy chowder can be made ahead.

Del Monte grows with family farms; many of these farms have grown for Del Monte for generations, and they preserve the wholesome goodness you’d expect from your own backyard garden. The summer corn is picked at the peak of freshness, and you can taste that in every bite of this soup!

bowl of corn chowder next to a can of creamed corn

Ingredient Notes:

Canned Cream of Corn - Cream corn is what makes this recipe so good. Del Monte brand is gluten free. Most canned corn is made with yellow corn but if you find white you can use that as well.
Green Chiles - You can use green chiles of any level of heat. Canned green chiles come in mild, medium, and hot heat levels.
Chicken Broth - I recommend using low-sodium chicken stock or broth.
Cheese - I love using Queso Fresco because it melts in beautifully. Cheddar is also delicious. If you are dairy-free, I recommend VioLife brand Cheddar.
Cilantro - Fresh is best!
Leeks - You can also use onions if you prefer.
Garlic - Use fresh or jarred minced garlic. You can use garlic powder, but fresh garlic is better.
Oil - Use any variety, I prefer olive oil.
Salt - Use sea salt or kosher salt
Black Pepper - Use to taste.
Red Pepper Flakes - If you need more spice, crushed red pepper flakes are a good way to add more.

Recipe Step By Step Directions:

cooking leeks in a pan with oil and garlic

Step 1: Wash your leeks (or onion) and slice them thinly on a cutting board. I prefer to make this soup stovetop, but it can also be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Step 2: Add the oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the leeks (or diced onion) and garlic. Sauté the leeks and minced garlic in the cooking oil over medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the leeks are softened.

Step 3: Add the canned cream corn and the rest chowder ingredients into a medium-sized soup pot. (Note, do not drain the canned cream of corn!) Stir in the leeks and garlic.

Step 4: Stir it with a wooden spoon to mix all of the soup ingredients together. Bring the chowder to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the soup is boiling, turn the heat down to low and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add the cheese, and simmer for 3 more minutes until the cheese melts in. Serve hot with sour cream, green onions, and crumbled crispy bacon garnish.

If you love this easy soup recipe, you will also love this creamy Roasted Acorn Squash Soup recipe!

Garnish ideas:

Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream, crumbled bacon, and fresh chopped cilantro. You can also garnish with:

Jalapeños
Cheddar Cheese
Tomatoes
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you make this corn chowder dairy-free?

You can definitely make this corn chowder dairy-free. You can use dairy-free cheese, or omit the cheese altogether.

Can you make this recipe with fresh corn?

I haven't tested the recipe with fresh corn, but it should be fine to use fresh corn. You will need an immersion blender to partially chop the corn kernels into the soup. You will need to add a little heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk to the soup to boost the creaminess.

Can you make this recipe vegan?

You can make this a vegan corn chowder by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken stock. Use vegan cheese.

Can you omit the green chiles?

If you don't like spice, you can easily reduce the number of green chiles, or omit them altogether.

How do you store corn chowder?

Store the leftover corn chowder in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze corn chowder?

You can easily freeze corn chowder. I like to freeze soup in Souper Cubes, which freeze the soup in single serving blocks. These can be stored in a freezer bag for up to 4 months.

If you love chowder, this simple Oyster Chowder is another recipe to try soon.