Creamy Sweet Potato Chowder Recipe: Cozy Comfort in a Bowl

Creamy sweet potato chowder brings comfort to chilly evenings with its rich, velvety texture and warming spices.

This hearty soup refines humble ingredients into a luxurious culinary experience that delights the senses.

Robust root vegetables mingle with fragrant herbs, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Hearty and satisfying, the chowder offers a perfect balance between rustic charm and elegant sophistication.

Nutritious ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a meal that nourishes both body and soul.

Winter’s chill melts away with each spoonful of this soul-warming dish.

You’ll find yourself craving this comforting recipe that elevates simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary.

Sweet Potato Chowder That’s Creamy, Filling, and Soothing

• Boost Comfort with Hearty Warmth: This sweet potato chowder delivers a cozy, soul-warming experience perfect for chilly evenings, blending rich flavors and creamy textures that hug your taste buds.
• Celebrate Nutritious Indulgence: Packed with sweet potatoes, kale, and carrots, this chowder offers a delightful balance of nutritious vegetables and indulgent cream, making it a guilt-free yet satisfying meal.
• Elevate Simple Cooking: With straightforward techniques like rendering pancetta and simmering vegetables, this recipe transforms basic ingredients into a gourmet-style dish that looks and tastes impressive without complex culinary skills.
• Quick Weeknight Dinner Magic: Ready in under 40 minutes, this one-pot wonder provides a speedy solution for busy home cooks craving a restaurant-quality meal without extensive preparation or multiple kitchen tools.

Ingredients That Bring Sweet Potato Chowder to Life

• Pancetta: Adds rich, salty flavor and crispy texture to the chowder.
• Chicken Stock: Provides deep, savory base for the soup with authentic chicken essence.

• Sweet Potato: Hearty, sweet root vegetable that creates the chowder's main body and creamy texture.
• Onion, Garlic: Classic aromatic base that builds foundational flavor profile.
• Carrots: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant color to the chowder.
• Kale: Nutrient-dense green that provides fresh, slightly bitter contrast to creamy soup.

• Sage: Earthy herb that complements sweet potato's flavor beautifully.
• Nutmeg: Warm spice that adds subtle depth and complexity.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balanced taste.
• Butter: Provides rich, smooth base for sautéing vegetables.
• Cream or Coconut Milk: Creates luxurious, silky texture and adds final richness.
• Roasted Pepitas: Crunchy topping that offers textural contrast and nutty flavor.

How to Make a Smooth and Satisfying Chowder

Step 1: Crisp Up Pancetta

Heat a large pot over medium-low heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat releases and pancetta turns crispy (6-8 minutes). Transfer crispy pancetta to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

• Onion
• Garlic
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Sage
• Nutmeg

Cook while stirring occasionally until onions become soft (about 5 minutes).

Step 3: Build Soup Base

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes

Pour chicken stock and bring mixture to a boil.

Step 4: Simmer and Soften

Reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, then cover and cook an additional 10-15 minutes until sweet potatoes become tender.

Step 5: Enrich and Finish

Stir in cream or coconut milk. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed.

Step 6: Add Greens and Serve

Fold in kale and cook until just wilted (2-3 minutes). Serve hot, garnishing with reserved pancetta and roasted pepitas.

Tips for Creamy Consistency and Comforting Flavor

• Dice Precisely: Cut vegetables into uniform, small cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the chowder.
• Control Liquid Levels: Add chicken stock gradually to manage the soup's thickness, allowing you to adjust consistency as needed during cooking.
• Layer Flavor Slowly: Sauté ingredients like pancetta and onions carefully to develop deep, rich underlying taste before adding other components.
• Choose Fresh Produce: Select firm sweet potatoes and crisp kale for maximum nutritional value and vibrant color in your final dish.
• Balance Seasoning Carefully: Taste and adjust salt and pepper incrementally, remembering that pancetta and stock already contribute significant saltiness to the recipe.

How to Save and Warm Up Sweet Potato Chowder Later

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover chowder to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freeze: Pour cooled chowder into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing kale for best texture.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen chowder in the refrigerator overnight. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken stock or water to restore creamy consistency. Avoid boiling to prevent separation of cream and curdling.

Complementary Bites That Go with Chowder Bowls

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio cuts through the chowder's creamy richness, balancing the sweet potato's earthy flavors with its bright, zesty notes.
• Complement with Rustic Bread: Serve a hearty sourdough or crusty ciabatta alongside the chowder, perfect for soaking up the creamy broth and adding a satisfying textural contrast.
• Match with Fresh Green Salad: A light arugula salad with a tangy vinaigrette provides a refreshing counterpoint to the chowder's hearty, warm profile, cleansing the palate between spoonfuls.
• Enhance with Craft Beer Pairing: A malty amber ale or wheat beer with subtle caramel undertones harmonizes beautifully with the sweet potato's natural sweetness and the pancetta's salty crunch.

Delicious Swaps and Additions to Elevate This Chowder

• Hearty Vegetarian Swap: Replace pancetta with smoked tofu or tempeh for a protein-packed vegetarian version. Swap chicken stock with vegetable broth to maintain rich flavors while keeping the dish completely plant-based.
• Spicy Southwest Style: Add diced green chilies, ground cumin, and a dash of chipotle powder to introduce bold southwestern heat. Top with fresh cilantro and crispy jalapeño slices for extra punch.
• Creamy Coconut Caribbean Edition: Use full-fat coconut milk exclusively and add turmeric, ginger, and a splash of rum. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes and green onions for a tropical profile that transforms the original recipe.
• Rustic Root Vegetable Blend: Mix in parsnips, turnips, and celery root alongside sweet potatoes. Incorporate thyme instead of sage and finish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika for deeper earthy undertones.

Sweet Potato Chowder Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy sweet potato chowder brings hearty comfort from Southern kitchens with a smooth blend of rustic vegetables and rich, warming spices. Nourishing ingredients combine perfectly, offering a deeply satisfying meal you’ll savor from first spoonful to last.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups sweet potato, chopped (about 1 inch in size)
• 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
• 2 cups Tuscan kale, chopped
• 4 ounces (113 grams) pancetta, diced

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup carrots, chopped

Seasonings and Finishing Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground sage
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup cream (half and half, or coconut cream/milk)
• 3 tablespoons roasted salted pepitas, for topping

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Render pancetta in a spacious pot over gentle heat, allowing its rich fat to release and transform into crispy morsels, approximately 6-8 minutes. Transfer the golden pancetta to a paper towel-lined surface, reserving the flavorful drippings.
2. Melt butter in the same pot, introducing diced onions, minced garlic, aromatic sage, warm nutmeg, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sauté until onions become translucent and tender, roughly 5 minutes.
3. Incorporate julienned carrots and cubed sweet potatoes, thoroughly coating them in the fragrant butter mixture. Pour chicken stock into the pot, elevating the heat to trigger a robust boil.
4. Reduce temperature to a gentle simmer, allowing vegetables to become fork-tender. Cover and let the chowder develop its flavors for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Introduce cream or coconut milk, blending thoroughly to create a velvety texture. Taste and recalibrate seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
6. Moments before serving, fold fresh kale into the chowder until it softens but retains a vibrant green hue. Ladle into warm bowls, garnishing with reserved crispy pancetta and crunchy roasted pepitas.

Notes

• Crisp pancetta adds a delightful salty crunch that elevates the chowder’s rich flavor profile.
• Choose fresh, firm sweet potatoes with vibrant orange color for maximum sweetness and creamy texture.
• Coconut milk works wonderfully as a dairy-free alternative, bringing subtle tropical undertones to the soup.
• Roasted pepitas provide a delicious nutty crunch and boost the nutritional value with healthy fats and minerals.
• Sage and nutmeg create a warm, comforting spice blend that perfectly complements the sweet potato’s natural sweetness.
• Cooking the vegetables low and slow helps develop deeper, more complex flavor layers in the chowder.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg