Red Lobster Clam Chowder

November 7, 2023 by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated September 21, 2024 82 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Make Red Lobster Clam Chowder at home with this easy recipe. It tastes so close to the Red Lobster’s version. You can make our copycat recipe to enjoy whenever you have a craving.

Two bowls of homemade Red Lobster clam chowder, two spoons, and a basket of bread slices

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Make Red Lobster Clam Chowder at Home

Enjoying a bowl of clam chowder is an ideal way to warm both your body and soul after a hard, cold day outdoors. This recipe for New England clam chowder is as good as any chowder stand and far surpasses the premade soup available at your local supermarket.

This straightforward recipe is easy to make and you can get it on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Why Red Lobster Clam Chowder Is So Good

This chowder has just the right amount of incredible flavors. Between the delicious clams, the creamy potatoes, and the bright parsley and green onions, you’ll enjoy every single bite.

The soup is just the right consistency – not too runny or thick, but everything you imagine when you think of Red Lobster chowder.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Making Red Lobster Clam Chowder is much simpler than you might assume. Imagine the looks on your family members’ faces when they dig into a hearty, creamy chowder that tastes reminiscent of the famous restaurant soup.

With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow cooking methods, you can recreate this masterpiece successfully!

Ingredients

Here is what you need to make this Red Lobster clam chowder recipe:

Russet potatoes
Butter
Flour
Green onion
Canned minced clams
Salt
Half and half
Whole milk
Clam juice
Parsley for garnish

Don’t Be Afraid of Using Canned Clams

This recipe calls for canned clams, but don’t let that scare you off. While fresh clams are best for many clam dishes, canned clams are an excellent option for chowder.

Canned clams are packed at the height of freshness, and are available all year. Unless you live in the Northeast, you will be hard-pressed to find high-quality fresh clams locally without spending a fortune!

There is a wide variety of canned clams available at the store, but not all of them are the same. For the best tasting New England clam chowder, purchase pre-minced clams in juice from a quality brand such as Doxsee.

Avoid buying whole clams because they won’t have as much flavor or baby clams since they tend to be overly gritty. Remember to save the juice from the clams to add back into the chowder.

Potatoes Make the Chowder

Besides decent clams, a good chowder needs great potatoes. The variety of potatoes you use for your chowder makes a considerable difference in its taste and consistency.

The clam chowder recipe below calls for Russet potatoes. There are several types of Russet potatoes, so feel free to use any kind of Russet potato you can find in the store.

There are good reasons why you should opt for Russet potatoes. Russets are hardy enough to hold their shape in a chowder without becoming gummy. This can be a problem when using red potatoes, yellow potatoes, or other waxy potatoes.

In addition to their sturdiness, Russets also have a large amount of potato starch for additional thickening power. If you can’t find potatoes labeled as Russet in your local grocery store, look for Burbank or Norkotah, two of the more popular potato cultivars of the Russet variety.

How to Make Red Lobster Clam Chowder

Peel and cut potatoes into bite-sized cubes.
Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside.

Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan or soup pot over medium heat.
Add diced green onions and saute over medium-low heat until onions a slightly clear.
Add flour and stir briskly. The mixture will start to thicken.
Add half and half slowly while stirring briskly.
Add all remaining ingredients except parsley and stir to combine.

Bring mixture to a slow boil. Allow chowder to simmer for 15 minutes.
Serve garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

two bowls of clam chowder and two spoons

Additional Cooking Tips for New England Clam Chowder

Avoid lumps by vigorously whisking and sprinkling the flour slowly into the pot by hand. Make sure the heat is set to low and cook gently while continuously stirring until you start to notice the odor of cooked flour.
Don’t over-reduce your clam chowder. Remember that as it cools to serving temperature, the chowder will thicken noticeably. You are looking for a consistency that will just evenly coat the back of a spoon.
To make it extra creamy, use heavy cream instead of half and half.

What Can You Serve The Clam Chowder With?

If you want to stick to the Red Lobster theme when you cook this chowder up, consider making Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go with it! Other excellent pairings are a salad, oyster crackers, French bread slices, or garlic bread. You can even put this soup in a bread bowl to make it extra hearty!

More Red Lobster Copycat Recipes

Best Seafood Soup Recipes

Be sure to take a look at my restaurant seafood dishes and famous restaurant soup recipes.