5 from 18 votes
Summer Corn Chowder Recipe (Copycat Panera Bread)
Summer Corn Chowder is a creamy soup featuring sweet corn, red bell and poblano peppers, onions, potatoes, and a blend of spices including smoked paprika and turmeric. Simmered with cream and vegetable stock, this chowder balances sweetness, mild heat, and earthiness with freshness from lime juice, tomatoes, and cilantro added before serving. It replicates Panera Bread’s popular version.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
6
-8 servings
Calories:
418 kcal
Course:
Soup
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter or swap with oil
- 1 medium onion grated
- 1 medium poblano pepper diced (or replace with Anaheim pepper)
- 1 large red bell pepper diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 4 small potato grated or diced, red
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream half and half, or coconut milk may be subbed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 4 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
- 4 cups sweet corn fresh*, or frozen, kernels
- 1 medium lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 Roma tomato diced
- 3 tablespoons cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Add grated onions and red peppers, saute 3-5 minutes, then add garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric, and smoked paprika, and add vegetable stock, corn kernels, grated potatoes, and cream. Bring to a simmer, over medium heat, and reduce to a simmer stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
- Before serving, stir in lime juice, vinegar, tomatoes, and cilantro, reserving some for serving.
- Taste, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper if need be.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Cool the soup before refrigerating in an airtight container; keep refrigerated up to five days.
- Freeze cooled chowder in freezer-safe containers for up to three months; add stock or cream when reheating for best texture.
- For a bacon version, add cooked bacon pieces for added flavor.
- Roasted corn can replace fresh or frozen corn for a different flavor.
- Grate potatoes and onions for thicker chowder or dice for chunkier texture.
- Add chili or chipotle powder for additional heat and black beans for protein and texture.
- Substitute cream with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
418kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
35g
(12%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
31g
(48%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
0.3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
88mg
(29%)
Sodium
1334mg
(56%)
Potassium
596mg
(13%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
10425IU
(209%)
Vitamin C
69mg
(77%)
Calcium
79mg
(8%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 -8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 418
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 418kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 35g | 12% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 88mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 1334mg | 56% |
| Potassium | 596mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 10425IU | 209% |
| Vitamin C | 69mg | 77% |
| Calcium | 79mg | 8% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.