Vegan Corn Chowder is the ultimate healthy comfort food! This easy recipe is loaded with veggies in a rich dairy-free broth for a simple dinner that’s enormously satisfying.

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Thick and creamy, uber comforting corn chowder, is the perfect soup in any season! Use fresh corn in the summer when it’s in season, frozen corn any other time of year, for a warm, nurturing, hearty meal.

I absolutely love the flavor and texture of this sweet corn chowder. It’s perfect for a light meal that’s also nourishing and satisfying. Plus, everyone will love it.

Corn Chowder Ingredients and Substitutions

• FROZEN CORN: When fresh corn is in season, I like to cut it off the cob and use that….I throw the cobs in too, for added flavor. Otherwise, frozen organic corn is the way to go….see below for some fun facts about corn! Corn is the centerpiece of this recipe, so if you don’t eat corn, this isn’t the recipe for you. Try this Chickpea Soup Recipe instead.
• POTATOES: I used a combo of red creamer and yukon gold potatoes in these photos. You could also use sweet potatoes….but be prepared for a super sweet chowder. I’ve used russet and idaho potatoes with good results too. There’s no need to peel the potatoes…the most nutrient dense part of the potatoes is the skin.
• VEGGIE BROTH: It’s easy to make homemade veggie stock. If you buy already made stock, check the label carefully to be sure what’s in it. Look for a brand that doesn’t add unnecessary ingredients. Also, most brands will be loaded with sodium, so skip the salt in the recipe….you can always add a bit to taste at the end.
• CARROTS: Diced Carrots are good for color, crunch and nutrition. A good substitute would be diced bell peppers, of any color. Add them in with the corn.
• CELERY: Love the depth of flavor as celery cooks with the onions. Leeks or fennel would be good subs if you don’t have celery.
• ONIONS: Not only good for flavor, onions add some flavor and also some antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties to this chowder. Good subs are leeks, scallions, shallots or fennel.
• MINCED GARLIC: Another flavor boost comes from garlic. If you don’t have fresh, use 1 teaspoon garlic powder. You could also use garlic infused olive oil when sauteeing the veggies to impart the garlic flavor. Garlic releases its nutritional benefits starting at 10 minutes after it’s been chopped…another reason to prep all your ingredients in advance.
• SPICES: Thyme, cumin, S+P are all added for flavor. The turmeric serves two purposes. One is for color, the brighter yellow color of this chowder is from the turmeric…and we eat with our eyes first, so I think it’s important to have vibrant chowder. The second is that turmeric provides some powerful antioxidants and works as an anti-inflammatory….so why not? I add turmeric to many things when I’m cooking for the health benefits. A few grinds of black pepper makes the active ingredient curcumin, found in turmeric, more available to us.
• ALMOND MILK: Use my easy almond milk recipe to make your own…or look for a brand with no additives. The ingredient list should list almonds and water. You can substitute with oat milk, or soy milk or another nut milk too.
• TOPPINGS: If you’ve been hanging around here awhile, then you already know the toppings are my favorite part! Take advantage of the garnish opportunity to add color, texture, taste and nutrition. Thinly sliced jalapenos will add a great little spicy zing, thinly sliced mini peppers are great for color and crunch. I like to add chopped fresh herbs for color and nutrition. A little bowl of nutritional yeast will add a cheesy sort of flavor. You do you….and pass along your favorites for everyone to sprinkle in their own.

CORN 101: Organic & GMO

What’s the difference between Organic and GMO? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms….generally speaking, it’s a crop that has been re-engineered to make it genetically “superior” (ie: better yield, less weeds, resistant against diseases and pests, and more tolerant of adverse weather). It’s great for profits for a farmer, but not necessarily a better choice for humans ingesting GMO crops. GMO has to do with the DNA of a seed and its crops….but doesn’t mean anything about pesticides and whether or not a crop is grown in organic conditions.

For corn to be certified organic, it means it was grown without the use of GMOs or antibiotics, synthetic pesticides, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers or toxic chemicals. No thanks! I’ll definitely take my corn without a side of chemicals.

Bottom line: At least be sure your corn is non GMO. All organic corn is also non-GMO, but not all non-GMO corn is organic. If you’d like to read more about GMO vs. Organic, click here.

Is Fresh, Frozen or Canned Corn Better?

Should I use fresh, frozen or canned corn in this chowder recipe?

• BUDGET: Frozen corn will be the most consistent budget friendly option. That said, when fresh corn is in season, you can often find it on sale and it may be a better deal. Canned corn, may also be cheaper if you can find it on sale.
• TASTE: There’s nothing quite like fresh sweet corn in season….fresh summer corn will definitely win the taste test….though, once in awhile you can get a dud….an entire ear that just doesn’t have much flavor. If you’re going for consistency, frozen’s the way to go. You can find “fire roasted” and “sweet” corn frozen and the taste is terrific and more of a guarantee. Canned corn isn’t desirable in this recipe. It will be watery and mushy.
• CONVENIENCE: Although canned corn can be easy to store and use when needed, the taste isn’t great and therefore not worth the convenience (in my opinion). Frozen corn is super easy to use in this recipe. You can even put it straight from the freezer into the pot.

Bottom line: Frozen, organic corn is the better choice for this recipe. Stock up if you find it on sale. You’ll want to use it for this Mexican Street Corn recipe as well. If you’re a sucker for farm fresh summer corn (that would be me!), definitely buy fresh and enjoy the summer ritual.

How to make this soup:

Vegan Corn Chowder is easy to make. You’ll want to prep all ingredients ahead of time, since this goes really quickly.

Use a bit of the veggie stock to saute the onions. Then add in the carrots, potatoes and celery, and cook stirring for a few minutes. Next you’ll stir in the garlic and spices and cook until fragrant.

Then, add in the corn and the veggie stock and cook for 15 minutes. If you’re using fresh corn, cut it off the cob when prepping the other veggies, and throw the kernels and the cobs in with the veggies stock. Just before pureeing the soup, take out the cobs and throw them into your compost pile.

After stirring in the almond milk, continue to cook until potatoes are tender. If you have an immersion blender, it’s super easy to puree about half the chowder for a thick base, and leave the rest chunky for great texture.

The chowder will be thick and creamy, ready to serve. Sprinkle on some fresh herbs or jalapeno slices.

Why you will love this Corn Chowder Soup

• Quick and easy recipe.
• Tastes like summer….ah, the nostalgia when it’s it’s cold outside!
• Budget friendly. Simple wholesome ingredients generally ARE less expensive than packaged and processed foods.
• It’s warm, nourishing and comforting.
• This chowder is super tasty!
• Use frozen corn…straight from the freezer.
• Everyone loves to “decorate” their bowl with colorful toppings
• Creamy…and still dairy-free.
• Meal prep friendly, will stay good in the fridge all week. Just heat and serve when ready to eat.
• SUPER perfect to drop off to a friend who’s had a baby, has moved, or just needs some TLC.

Debra’s Pro Tips

• Use frozen corn, or fresh, cut from the cob. I do not recommend canned corn.
• No need to peel the potatoes, plus the skins add extra fiber and have the most nutrition.
• Be generous with the garnish.
• This chowder is AMAZING as leftovers, maybe even better than the first go round.
• If chowder has thickened up too much, add a bit more broth, or even water to thin it out.
• If you forgot to add in the black pepper to activate the turmeric, go ahead and add a few grinds when serving.
• Have all ingredients chopped and ready to go before you begin.

Garnishes for Chowder

Garnishes make this soup super fun! You can let everyone choose their own, or sprinkle an assortment onto each bowl as you serve it. Choose veggies that are colorful, add texture, taste or nutrition. I like a bit of heat in my chowder, so I always include thinly sliced jalapenos. For crunch and color, dice up some peppers. Thinly sliced scallions are also tasty and fresh herbs add color, nutrition and taste.

FAQs

More Summer Recipes you will love:

• Peach Cobbler
• Summer Pasta Salad
• Avocado Lime Dressing
• Zucchini Bread
• Fresh Tomato Salsa

Continue to Content

Yield: Serves 6

Vegan Corn Chowder

Print

Creamy, dreamy, dairy-free and delicious. This Vegan Corn Chowder Recipe is satisfying, easy to make and tastes incredible.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sized onion, diced (3/4 cup)
• 3 stalks celery, diced (1 cup)
• 3 carrots, diced (1 1/2  cups)
• 1 1/2 lbs. red creamer or yukon gold potatoes, diced (2 1/2 cups)
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• few grinds black pepper 
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups frozen corn
• 4 cups veggie stock 
• 2 cups almond milk

Garnishes

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup small diced bell peppers

Instructions

1. Prep all veggies and have ready by the stove.
2. Heat a heavy soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. ADd 1-2 Tablespoons veggie broth to pot and saute onion until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir in celery, carrots and potatoes and continue to cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Use another 1-2 Tablespoons broth, as needed, if pot becomes dry.
4. Stir in garlic and spices and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Add in corn and stock, stir and then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
6. Stir in almond milk and continue to simmer until potatoes are tender. About 5 minutes, depending on how large you chopped the potatoes.
7. Use an immersion blender to puree half the soup into a thick and creamy base. Leave some of the veggie chunks to have a varied texture chowder. Taste for seasoning, adding more S+P, as desired.
   
   
   
   

Notes

BLACK PEPPER: just a pinch will help activate the anti-inflammatory properties in the turmeric, but you can add more if you like.

FRESH CORN: If you prefer to use fresh corn, cut the kernels from the cob while you prep the other veggies. ADD the kernels and also the cobs when adding the veggie stock. Before you puree, remove the cobs and add to your compost pile.

IMMERSION BLENDER: Although an immersion blender, makes this soup easy to prepare, you can also use a regular blender or a food processor if you don't have one. Carefully transfer 1/2 the soup and puree, then add it back to the pot.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1 bowl
Amount Per Serving Calories 318Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 1mgSodium 439mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 8gSugar 10gProtein 8g

The nutrition calculations were done using online tools. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you used. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information is accurate, complete and useful.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag me @dkhealthcoach and use #debraklein on Instagram so I can see it!