Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 70 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

This light turkey or chicken corn chowder recipe is my family's favorite leftovers recipe. It's hearty, satisfying and healthy. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (1)

Whether you have leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving feast or an extra rotisserie chicken lying around, this light corn chowder is a hearty meal without all of the extra calories. It's creamy and thick without adding cream, and the flavors of the turkey and corn shine through, alongside a kick from green chiles and cayenne pepper. If you have leftover chicken, that will work, too.

When I'm cooking with chicken breasts or thighs during the week, I try to cook extras so that I can have extras to whip up an easy meal like this. It also works well in some of my other meals that star leftovers.

And what did my family think of this soup? Well, each and every one of them went back for seconds. This is going to be a regular meal in our house!

Here are some of my favorite leftovers recipes that we'll be making this weekend.

Now, let's get to this light corn chowder recipe.

The turkey (or chicken) corn recipe:

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.

Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2)

Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.

Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.

Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (3)

Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.

Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.

Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.

Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (4)

Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.

Other Thanksgiving leftovers recipes:

{Cookin' Canuck}
{Cookin' Canuck}
{Cookin' Canuck}

Printable Recipe

Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (5)

Light Turkey (or Chicken) & Corn Chowder Recipe

This light corn chowder recipe uses leftover turkey or chicken. It’s hearty, satisfying and a fraction of the calories of most chowders. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP

4.82 from 50 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soups

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Poultry Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 223.3kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.

  • Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

  • Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.

  • Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.

  • Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.

  • Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.

  • Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.

Video

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 3(Freestyle SmartPoints), 6 (Points+)

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25Cups | Calories: 223.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.3g | Protein: 15.6g | Fat: 6.6g | Saturated Fat: 2.4g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 843.9mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 8.8g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

More Christmas Recipes

  • Caprese Christmas Tree
  • Maple Pear and Goat Cheese Salad
  • Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Stephanie Marsh

    Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (11)
    We LOVE this recipe. It isn’t as thick and creamy as most chowders, which is precisely why we like it so well. I have made the dish as written and I have also added a couple of diced baked potatoes that I had in the fridge, a couple of large handfuls of baby spinach and a couple of dashes of smoked paprika… also quite delicious. Thank you for a recipe that I will use for years.

    Reply

  2. Kay

    Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (12)
    This is a favorite but I was the only one eating the leftovers. I decided to thicken it, add carrots, peas and come bacon. Then made chicken pot pie. It was a hit again!

    Reply

« Older Comments

Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to thicken corn chowder? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

What is corn chowder made of? ›

Corn chowder is a chowder soup prepared using corn as a primary ingredient. Basic corn chowder is commonly made of corn, onion, celery, milk or cream, and butter. Additional ingredients sometimes used include potatoes or squash, salt pork, fish, seafood and chicken.

Does chowder always have corn in it? ›

Other common chowders include seafood chowder, which often consists of fish, clams, and other types of shellfish; lamb or veal chowder made with barley; corn chowder, which uses corn instead of clams; various fish chowders; and potato chowder, which is often made with cheese.

Is it better to thicken chowder with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

Should chowder be thick or thin? ›

While soups can be thin and light, a chowder is characterized by being rich and thick. Like stew, it contains large chunks of meat or seafood and vegetables, notably potatoes.

What two ingredients must be present for the soup to be called a chowder? ›

In simple terms, chowder soup is a rich and creamy dish, often made with clams, seafood, and potatoes. In its very basic format chowder is a soup made with a base of broth and thickened cream.

What is usually a main thickening agent of chowder? ›

A roux is the most common thickener for sauces and soups and comes in three colors and strengths: white, blond, and brown.

What are the three types of chowder? ›

Chowder has evolved constantly over the years, with its roots dating back to the 1700s in the Northeast. Today, the 3 most popular variations are Rhode Island or “clear” chowder, Manhattan or “red” chowder, and New England or “white” chowder.

Why does my corn chowder taste bland? ›

Corn has the potential to be bland so the key to using it in chowder is to maximize its flavor, since it's the main ingredient. It goes without saying that it's best to use the freshest corn you can get, so this soup is ideal during peak corn season.

Why did Panera get rid of corn chowder? ›

Panera at Home Southwest Corn Chowder due to an undeclared wheat allergen. The recall is limited to 1 SKU of 16 oz.

What's the difference between chowder and bisque? ›

Although a bisque and a chowder are both cream-based soups and most often feature seafood, it is their consistency that defines them and makes them quite different from each other. Whereas a bisque is smooth, a chowder is chunky, chock full of hearty pieces of ingredients such as potato and clams or corn.

How do you thicken watery chowder? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How do you thicken cream of corn soup? ›

The answer to thick and smooth creamed corn

If you're short on time, add a tablespoon of rice flour straight into the runny mix and stir to combine. If rice flour isn't available, cornstarch, potato starch, or flour are also great thickeners.

What is chowder soup typically thickened with? ›

"Authentic New England chowders are never thick, however, with most relying on the starch from the potatoes to slightly thicken the broth and milk or cream," explains Charlie Burke, at the online magazine The Heart of New England.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 5700

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.