Skip to main content

Ham and Vegetable Chowder

A hearty and comforting soup that is perfect for the cold weather.
Small bowls of potato and ham soup with shredded cheese.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes: 10 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
½ head cabbage, chopped (about 6 cups)
1 large potato, peeled and diced
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) low-sodium chicken broth (see Notes)
2 cans (15 ounces each) cream-style corn
1 cup chopped lean ham (8% fat)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.

  3. Heat oil in a 4-quart (or larger) saucepan. Sauté onion, cabbage and potato over medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir the vegetables often while they cook.
  4. Add chicken broth, corn, ham and pepper.
  5. Cover and simmer until potato is tender, about 10 minutes.
  6. Serve hot, sprinkled with cheese.
  7. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Broth can be homemade, canned or made using bouillon. For each cup of broth use 1 cup very hot water and 1 teaspoon or 1 cube bouillon.
  • Leave skin on potato for added fiber.
  • For a vegetarian soup, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and beans for the ham.

Comments

Loved the flavor! Forgot to add the cheese on top before serving, but it didn't need it. Was great without it. Will definitely make this again. 😋

We have been making this in our family cooking classes and it has been very popular.  I think that compared to other chowders, it has more flavor and texture.

Additional comment:  My adult class prepared this recipe for a potluck involving the class members, and their families.  We used the tasty, "Black Forest Ham" in the recipe (it is encased in a black colored, edible skin).  The little kids between ages 4-7 WOULD NOT eat the ham in the chowder because the skin was black!  There was a little pile of the dark colored ham "skin" on every mom's napkin that night. 

This was really easy to prepare.  For an inexperienced chef, (my 17 year old son) it really did only take about 15 minutes of prep time! It made a lot of soup, so I plan on freezing some for those nights I just don't want to cook. It's quite good, even if you're not a big cabbage fan.

This recipe is really good and actually very quick to make.  I like the cabbage and corn with ham.  But, I would probably make a 1/2 recipe next time.  It's great on a cold rainy day like today!

Very good! It makes a HUUUUUGE vat of it.

We are glad you enjoyed it! If you have too many leftovers, try freezing them in freezer-safe plastic bags or containers.

-Food Hero Team

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Fiesta Barley Salad
Bowl of mandarin orange and barley salad with a wooden serving fork.

Fiesta Barley Salad

A bright and colorful salad with a combination of grains, veggies and fruit.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
7 cups
Hot Apple Orange Cider
Mug of steaming hot cider drink.

Hot Apple Orange Cider

Warm and flavorful drink that is comforting on a cold day and perfect for celebrating the holiday season.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
2 hours
Makes:
12 cups
Rosanna’s Fry Bread
Platter of stacked golden fry bread.

Rosanna’s Fry Bread

Fry bread was a survival food for many Indigenous People. Today it represents resilience and is enjoyed for holidays, pow wows and other gatherings.
Prepare:
1 hour (includes mixing, resting, and dividing)
Cook:
20 minutes per batch
Makes:
8 pieces
Citrus Cucumber Flavored Water
Glasses of water with floating cucumber, lime and lemon slices.

Citrus Cucumber Flavored Water

Staying hydrated and cool is easy with this fun flavored water recipe.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Oven French Toast
Whole grain French toast served with strawberry jam.

Oven French Toast

Perfect for a crowd, this baked French toast recipe is a kid-approved breakfast treat!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
12 slices
Cheesy Beef Pasta
Photo of Cheesy Beef Pasta

Cheesy Beef Pasta

This kid-approved recipe combines tomato sauce, fresh zucchini and Italian herbs for the perfect weeknight meal in under an hour!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 Cups