Creamy Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder
A comforting and flavorful chowder made in a slow cooker with fresh corn, smoky chipotle, lime, and creamy broth, perfect for cozy gatherings or busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups frozen or fresh corn kernels
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Juice and zest of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional garnishes: extra cotija cheese, chopped green onions or scallions, dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh jalapeño slices
Instructions
- Dice the onion, mince garlic, peel and cube the potato, and chop cilantro. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob.
- Add corn kernels, diced potato, onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, chili powder, smoked paprika, and broth into the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in cream cheese and heavy cream. Whisk or spoon to blend smoothly. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender partially or fully.
- Add lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and let sit on warm for 10 minutes.
- Ladle chowder into bowls and garnish with extra cotija cheese, green onions, sour cream, and jalapeño slices if desired.
Notes
Soften cream cheese before adding to avoid lumps. Do not lift slow cooker lid frequently to maintain cooking temperature. Adjust salt at the end due to salty ingredients like cotija and chipotle. For smoother chowder, blend partially with immersion blender. If chowder is too thick, add broth or milk to loosen. For vegan version, use vegetable broth, vegan cream cheese, and coconut milk; omit cheese or use vegan cheese. For low-carb, substitute potato with cauliflower florets.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 34
- Protein: 810
Keywords: slow cooker, chowder, Mexican street corn, creamy soup, chipotle, comfort food, easy recipe