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    Home » Main course dishes

    Published: Mar 2, 2023 by Katie Beck · 14 Comments

    Irish seafood chowder

    Two things you can never have too much of in March, Irish recipes for St. Patrick's Day and soup for the chilled to the bone weather. Irish seafood chowder fills both of those needs and could not be simpler to make. Easily adaptable using your favorite, fresh fish, this creamy soup recipe with added bacon and some vegetables is the perfect comfort food.

    Overhead view of three white bowls with fish chowder, pretzel bread and crackers on a plate.

    A lot of St. Patrick's Day recipes probably aren't really Irish recipes, like Guinness Mac and Cheese or Bailey's chocolate cake, but we all love them nonetheless. But this Irish seafood chowder actually is something you will find all over Ireland, in pubs and restaurants.

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Ingredient swaps and variations
    • How to serve
    • Top tip
    • Other soup recipes
    • Irish seafood chowder
    • Community

    Why this recipe works

    Irish seafood chowder follows the same basic principals as most fish chowder recipes. But here is why this recipe is better:

    • Like other chowders, this one includes some type of fish, potatoes, onions, celery, stock and cream. But most other recipes call for a thickened cream base, usually done with a roux (flour and fat cooked together), and this recipe doesn't. This one has a creamy broth base, making it lighter and a bit healthier.
    • This recipe has bacon. Slightly different than the traditional salt pork used in New England chowder.
    • This recipe is extremely adaptable with the kind of fish you can use. I use different fish every time I make it. A mix is best, and preferably a little smoked fish included is traditional. But always use what you like and use what you can. Sometimes I throw salmon in here, most times I use halibut and cod and smoked haddock.
    Closeup of irish seafood chowder in a bowl.

    Ingredients

    Fish and a basic ingredients are all you need for this simple recipe.

    • Bacon. I mean honestly, this pretty much makes everything better.
    • FIsh. Endless possibilities here.
    • Potatoes. I use yellow potatoes.
    • Onion, garlic, thyme.
    • Celery
    • Old bay seasoning.
    • Salt and cracked black pepper. I like a lot of pepper in soups, use as much as you like.
    • Green onion. Or you could use chives if you have them
    • Seafood or vegetable stock. So I make seafood stock, I use it for all sorts of things, not just this soup. You can totally make your own by cooking fish carcasses and scraps with some fragrant vegetables in water or vegetable stock (I always add a little sherry or vermouth too), whatever you don't use in this soup you can freeze. OR you can purchase fish stock, which I do anytime I don't have any. I get it here, and local (Chicago-based) people, here.
    • Evaporated milk. I use half evaporated milk and half heavy cream in this chowder recipe to cut back a tiny bit on the cream. The soup doesn't have any thickeners and is supposed to be a creamy broth-based soup, not too thick.
    • Heavy cream. Adds richness, creaminess and helps give a thicker broth.

    Instructions

    SInce this seafood chowder does not include a thickening process (ie. a roux), it is fairly simple to make.

    Bacon browning in a soup pot with a wooden spoon sitrring.

    First we brown off some bacon, rendering the fat and remove from the pan.

    Onions and thyme cooking in a large soup pot

    Next we cook the onions, garlic and thyme in the rendered bacon fat and a little bit of butter.

    Potatoes cooking in a soup pot with a wooden spoon stirring.

    The potatoes are then added and browned a bit in the fat. They will cook longer than the fish.

    Stock simmering in a soup pot with thyme, onions, garlic and celery.

    Add the stock and evaporated milk to vegetables. Cook the potatoes in the broth for a bit to soften.

    Fish simmering in a soup pot with stock.

    Then drop in your fish, only the raw fish. If you are also using some smoked fish, this is already cooked and can go in at the end.

    Flaked fish on a wooden spoon over a pot of seafood chowder.

    When the fish has fully cooked it will easily flake apart in the broth, in will go your heavy cream and a ton of black pepper.

    Ingredient swaps and variations

    Most soup recipes are easily adaptable and this Irish seafood chowder is no exception. Here are some ideas:

    • Add shellfish. A lot of fish chowder recipes include shellfish, and shellfish is pretty prevalent in Irish cooking, so if you want add some shrimp, mussels or other shellfish you love.
    • Add extra vegetables. You can totally up your veggie game by adding carrots, corn or peppers.
    • Make it a little spicy. Throw in a jalapeno or serrano pepper for a spicy kick.
    Closeup of a bowl of fish chowder with bacon sprinkled on top

    How to serve

    Garnished with a little green onion, the cooked bacon and crusty bread is really all you need to complete this Irish seafood chowder. But I always add a little hot sauce, because I am addicted to it (Cholula or Louisiana is my go-to for soups).

    Top tip

    Be sure not to over cook the soup. The creamy broth should be at a low simmer when you add the fish, not a rapid boil. Cook gently until just flaky. This will give the chowder good texture. Any smoked fish (which is already cooked) will go in right after the heavy cream at the end.

    Other soup recipes

    Soup is comforting, easy and always a crowd pleaser. Try all of my soup recipes.

    • Squash soup in a white bowl with pumpkins and gourds on the side.
      Panera autumn squash soup (copycat recipe)
    • bowls of homemade tomato soup in white bowls with parmesan toasts
      Best homemade tomato soup recipe
    • Creamy broccoli cheddar cheese soup in bowls topped with a biscuit
      Vegetarian broccoli cheddar soup
    • Creamy wild mushroom soup
    overhead view of a bowl of irish seafodd chowder with a spoon.

    Irish seafood chowder

    Irish seafood chowder, an easily adaptable recipe using your favorite, fresh fish, in a creamy broth is the perfect comfort food.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save to collection
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Katie Beck

    Equipment

    • soup pot or dutch oven

    Ingredients

    • 4 oz bacon cut into chunks
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 onion diced
    • ½ cup green onions separated into two ¼ cups
    • ¾ cup celery diced
    • 2 cloves garlic smashed and chopped
    • 3 yellow potatoes small diced
    • 1 lb fish I use a mix of cod, halibut and smoked haddock, but us any kind of flaky fish fillet you like
    • 3 cups seafood stock or vegetable stock
    • 1 can evaporated milk
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • 2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
    • Fresh thyme use 2 teaspoon of dried thyme is you don’t have fresh

    Instructions

    • In your best soup pot or a dutch oven cook the cut up bacon until crispy and the fat has rendered. Pull the bacon out of the .pot. Pour all but 2 tablespoon of the bacon fat and add the butter to the bacon fat. Sauté the onions and ¼ cup of green onions in the pot for about a minute, until slightly softened and translucent. Add the celery, Old Bay, thyme and garlic and cook another minute. Add the Old Bay seasoning and season with a little salt and pepper.
    • Add the diced potatoes and cook for a few minutes.
    • Pour in the stock and the evaporated milk and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
    • As soon as the soup is simmering turn to low and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. You don’t want the potatoes to be falling apart so don’t overdo it.
    • Add the uncooked fish and continue to simmer about 10 more minutes (this will largely depend on the size and cut of the fish). If you are concerned about cook time, cut the fish into small pieces, this will ensure it cooks quickly. The fish is done when it is easily flaked into the soup. After the fish has cooked and you have flaked it, add the smoked fish (if using) in small pieces.
    • Add the heavy cream and a lot of lack pepper to finish. Serve garnished with the cooked bacon and the remaining ¼ cup of sliced green onions.

    Notes

    You can keep any leftovers in the fridge for 3 days, reheating gently WITHOUT bringing to a boil. It can also be frozen in freezer safe covered containers for up to three months. Thaw before reheating and DO NOT boil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Fat: 16g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Colleen Callum says

      March 03, 2023 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      This looks like the perfect soup for the cold lenten month we are in! Trying next Friday and can't wait.

      Reply
      • Katie Beck says

        March 03, 2023 at 11:45 am

        Yayy! We really love it! Great for Fridays in Lent 🙂

        Reply
    2. Matt Gorski says

      March 06, 2023 at 7:33 am

      5 stars
      Made this over the cold weekend. Great way to use up random frozen fish I had in the freezer. I did cod, salmon and a few shrimp. Broth is good and very flavorful and the whole thing come together very easily. Thanks

      Reply
    3. Lokki says

      May 18, 2023 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      We are just back from a few weeks in Ireland, and were craving some fish chowder..... this was amazing.

      Reply
      • Katie Beck says

        May 19, 2023 at 8:02 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    4. Seth Grubman says

      June 01, 2023 at 2:38 am

      I like your blog

      Reply
    5. Eric Baron says

      November 26, 2023 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      Try as I might cannot find a reference to the amount of Old Bay you add to the chowder. My wife grew up in Maryland and developed a strong dislike for the seasoning. Can it be left out or substituted?

      Reply
      • Katie Beck says

        November 26, 2023 at 4:12 pm

        Hi Eric - totally leave it out. I would recommend using a mix of some thyme, smoked paprika (or regular paprika or aleppo pepper), celery salt, and if you have it...cajun seasoning.

        Reply
        • Eric Baron says

          November 26, 2023 at 5:19 pm

          Just ordered the Aleppo Pepper…will let you know how it all turned out. Thanks for responding to my question.

          Reply
          • Katie Beck says

            November 27, 2023 at 10:31 am

            Great! You will love it, it is a secret ingredient I use in all kinds of things 🙂

            Reply
    6. Jenn says

      January 20, 2024 at 10:53 am

      You answered Eric, but you never answered the question as to how much old bay seasoning… 😫

      Reply
      • Katie Beck says

        January 22, 2024 at 8:27 am

        Jenn sorry! I must've missed both your comment, and that when i wrote out the recipe card I forgot the Old bay! Two teaspoons goes in with the celery and thyme. I have updated the recipe card as well. Thank you!

        Reply
    7. gloria says

      March 16, 2024 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      It's on the stove- Making it for our St. Patrick's party tomorrow- Heavenly Aroma- My husband keeps drifting in and out for a taste and I do as well- We might have to have some for dinner tonight and hope there is enough for company-

      Reply
    8. Tara Amabile says

      May 08, 2025 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely AWESOME! Thanks so much for the great recipe, it is very simple and DELICIOUS! Served it with a simple arugula salad and bread, and finished the meal with Kate's blood orange cookies - so yummy! My mother was born and raised in Ireland - she would have loved this. Have made it several times now, with different fish, and it consistently comes out fantastic. Making it tonight for book club - pairing it with the Irish books we are discussing.

      Reply
    5 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Kate! My mission is to bring life to amazing food and recipes with a few tips and humorous stories (and a few swears) about life with a big, loud and crazy family. My recipes are accessible, adaptable and designed for any home cook to prepare and enjoy.

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