Imagine a bowl of pure comfort that comes together in just 30 minutes - this Instant Pot Corn Chowder with Bacon is about to become your new weeknight dinner hero! Packed with crispy bacon, sweet corn, and a luxuriously creamy base, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish that will have your family begging for seconds. Whether you're a busy home cook or a culinary novice, this foolproof recipe promises maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups corn (fresh or frozen)
- 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chives (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by chopping bacon, dicing onion, peeling and cubing potatoes, and measuring out corn and chicken broth.
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Cook chopped bacon until crisp and fat has rendered, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving bacon drippings in the pot.
- In the same pot with bacon drippings, sauté diced onions until translucent and soft, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add diced potatoes, corn, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir to combine and ensure ingredients are well-distributed.
- Close Instant Pot lid, set valve to sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Once cooking cycle completes, perform a quick pressure release to prevent overcooking vegetables.
- Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Use a potato masher to slightly crush some potatoes for thickening the chowder.
- Garnish with reserved crispy bacon bits and chopped chives before serving hot.
Tips
- For the best flavor, use fresh corn when in season, but high-quality frozen corn works perfectly too.
- Don't skip rendering the bacon - those drippings add incredible depth to the chowder's base.
- Be careful not to overcook the potatoes; the quick release helps prevent mushy texture.
- For a thicker chowder, mash more potatoes; for a thinner consistency, mash less.
- Garnish with extra crispy bacon and fresh chives just before serving for a restaurant-style presentation.
- If you prefer a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheat beautifully.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 191kcal
Carbohydrates: 14g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 43mg