This southwest creamy corn soup recipe combines plenty of fresh corn, sweet potato, bell pepper and smoked paprika all in a rich, satisfying broth. Garnish with crispy bacon, jalapeno and cilantro for one belly satisfying meal you’re gonna love!
Got corn? This creamy corn soup recipe is a fabulous transition recipe from summer to fall.
It’s more of a soup than a chowder because of a looser consistency. However, it does channel corn chowder vibes because of the addition of cream. Kinda like a corn soup chowder recipe, maybe? Best of both worlds, if you ask me!
Ingredients for Creamy Corn Soup
- Plenty of fresh, sweet corn
- Chicken broth
- Whipping cream
- Sweet potato
- Bell pepper
- Aromatics, like garlic and onion
- Jalapeno
- Bacon
- Olive oil
- Seasoning, like salt, pepper and smoked paprika
How To Make Corn Soup
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Remove kernels from ears of corn.
- Combine broth and whipping cream in a pot and place the corn ears in there. Bring to a low simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Discard the corn ears. They’ve done their job!
- In a pot, crisp up some bacon and drain fat (reserve a little crispy bacon, if you like, for garnish).
- Cook onion in some olive oil, then cook garlic.
- Add remaining ingredients, like bell peppers, jalapeno, sweet potato and seasoning, stirring to combine.
- Add milk/cream mixture to veggies. Bring to a simmer and cook for a little until potatoes are tender.
- Remove about a cup of the corn soup and blend with an immersion blender.
- Pour blended soup back into the pot and stir in. Then it’s just a matter of portioning, garnishing (if you like) and digging in!
Can I Use Frozen Corn?
You sure can! If you really want this corn soup but only have frozen, use that.
However, you won’t be able to infuse the soup base with the corn ears. Skip that part and just add the corn when you add the rest of the veggies.
Can I Make Make This a Corn Chowder Instead of a Corn Soup?
If you want more of a corn chowder recipe, simply use less broth, about 3 to 3.5 cups of broth, instead of 5.
To further thicken, you can add a flour roux or cornstarch slurry during the last couple of minutes of cook time.
How to make a flour roux
A flour roux is simply equal parts flour and fat. To make a flour roux, melt unsalted butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add all-purpose flour, stirring to form a paste. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then stir into the corn chowder. Start with about 2 tablespoons of each. Remember, you can always add more, if you want things super thick.
How to make a cornstarch slurry
To make a cornstarch slurry, mix about 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water in a cup, stirring to combine (cornstarch is more potent than flour so that’s why you need less). Add to the pot of soup, stirring in, during the last couple of minutes of cook time to thicken.
Tips and Variations
- Smoked paprika was used here, but you can substitute with chipotle powder.
- Don’t have sweet potato? You can totally use regular potato instead.
- Want to bulk things up even further? Add some black beans!
- Want to lighten things up? Considering using an alternative dairy (like half-and-half) instead of whipping cream.
More Easy Soup Recipes
- Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Leek Soup With Cheddar
- Easy Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup With Spinach
If you make this homemade corn soup recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Southwest Creamy Corn Soup
Ingredients
Southwest Creamy Corn Soup
- 4 ears corn, kernels removed from cob
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ¾ to 1 cup whipping cream (35% milk fat), depending on how creamy you want the soup to be
- ⅓ pound bacon, cut into lardons (about 4 to 5 slices)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bell peppers, small dice
- 1 jalapeno, minced (remove seeds and ribs if you want)
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into about 1-inch cubes (about 2.5 cups)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnish Ideas (optional)
- Crispy bacon, chopped
- Green onion, sliced
- Sour cream
- Jalapeno pepper, sliced
- Cilantro, chopped
- Tomato, diced
Instructions
- Remove kernels from ears of corn and set aside.
- In a large pot, combine ears of corn (not the kernels), chicken broth and whipping cream. Bring to a simmer (you want a gentle simmer, not vigorous) and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove ears of corn and discard those.Note: Use ¾ cup of whipping cream or up to 1 cup (for a richer consistency).
- Meanwhile, in another large pot over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring often, until crisp (about 10 to 12 minutes). Reserve some for garnish (if you like). Otherwise, leave all bacon in the pot. Remove bacon grease.
- Heat olive oil in the pot (the same pot you cooked the bacon in). Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in reserved corn kernels, bell peppers, jalapeno pepper, sweet potato, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper.
- Pour in broth/cream mixture, stirring to combine.
- Bring to a simmer (don't boil) and cook, uncovered, for 10 to 12 minutes or until sweet potato is tender.
- Optional: Remove about 1 cup of the soup and place in a heatproof container and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Pour back into soup, stirring to combine.
- To serve, divide the soup into bowls and garnish, if desired, with any of the garnish ideas. Enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
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Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Matt - Total Feasts says
This is my kind of soup, warm, spicy, smokey, and BACON!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Lol, right? Thanks Matt!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Such a pretty presentation of a delicious sounding soup.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Karen 🙂