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    Home » Homemade Recipes

    Creamy Smoked Salmon Chowder

    Published: Apr 21, 2022 · Modified: Nov 3, 2022 by Kristin @ Dirt & Dough · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Sourdough bread being dipped into a smoked salmon chowder.
    Homemade smoked salmon chowder with fresh sourdough and oyster crackers.

    Creamy smoked salmon chowder is pure comfort food. This pacific northwest dish is made with potatoes, veggies, cream cheese, and of course all the flavors of smoked salmon.

    *Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.

    Two bowls with smoked salmon dip, topped with more smoked salmon and a side of sourdough bread.
    Smoked Salmon Chowder with Sourdough

    One of the reasons I love being in the pacific northwest is access to all the fresh seafood! Clams, crabs, and all kinds of fish just to name a few.

    One thing I look forward to each summer is all the fresh wild-caught salmon which we always have to turn into homemade smoked salmon.

    Smoked salmon has so many different uses other than being a great snack. We make dips and this smoked salmon chowder. It's a great way to take a summer staple and turn it into pure winter comfort food.

    Make a loaf of fresh homemade sourdough bread and the two are the perfect pairing.

    Love chowder? Check out my Pacific Razor Clam Chowder recipe as well.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    The star of this soup is a hot smoked salmon. The term hot refers to the way the salmon is smoked not the level of spiciness. A cold smoked salmon is cooked under 90 degrees Fahrenheit whereas a hot smoked salmon is cooked at 120 degrees or higher.

    This particular soup is made with hot smoked salmon. This will give the soup that classic smokey flavor. Hot smoked salmon is also better for warmer dishes because it has a lot more flavor and just holds up better.

    Cold smoked is better eaten right out of the package with things like crackers or bagels and a cream spread.

    Hot smoked salmon will be darker in color and often bigger chunks of fish that can be broken into little flakes. Cold smoked salmon will be much lighter and sliced thinly.

    Ingredients needed to make this smoked salmon chowder:

    • Olive Oil
    • Yellow Onion
    • Celery
    • Yukon Gold Potatoes
    • Butter
    • Flour
    • Half and Half
    • Vegetable Broth
    • Crushed Tomatoes
    • Dried Basil, Parsley, and Dill
    • Smoked Paprika
    • Salt
    • Cream Cheese
    • Hot Smoked Salmon (See notes above)

    See the recipe card for exact measurements.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Break up the smoked salmon into bite-size pieces, and set them aside. The salmon is already cooked so it will not be added until the final step.

    A bowl with broken up pieces of smoked salmon
    pieces of smoked salmon

    Step 2: Warm up a large dutch oven or other soup pot over medium heat. A 7.5 quart is a great size, giving plenty of room.

    Step 3: Add olive oil. Allow to warm up.

    Step 4: Add diced onions and start to sautee until soft and translucent. About 5 minutes.

    Step 5: Add celery and continue to cook until soft. About another 5 minutes.

    Step 6: Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

    Step 7: Add diced potatoes and stir to coat.

    Dutch oven with celery, onions and potatoes sautéing.
    Sauté Veggies

    Step 8: Add butter. Once melted stir to coat all the veggies and potatoes.

    Step 9: Add flour and stir well. It will start to get really thick. Cook for 2 minutes or until all the flour is cooked through. We do not want raw chunks of flour.

    Step 10: Slowly pour in the vegetable stock and half and half, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon until fully incorporated.

    Dutch oven with potatoes and veggies with vegetable stock being poured in.
    Pouring in Vegetable Stock.

    Step 11: Add crushed tomatoes and all the spices.

    Spices being added to a smoked salmon chowder.
    Add Spices

    Step 12: Bring to a gentle boil and reduce to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are nice and soft. Stir frequently.

    Step 13: Break up the cream cheese into chunks and add to the soup. Continue to cook and stir until it is fully melted and incorporated. The soup should really start to thicken up.

    Cream cheese being added into a chowder.
    Cream Cheese

    Step 14: Stir in the pieces of smoked salmon and cook for just a couple more minutes.

    Chunks of smoked salmon being added to a chowder.
    Chunks of Smoked Salmon

    Step 15: Serve and enjoy! Do not forget to add a side of sourdough bread to complete this chowder.

    A piece of sourdough bread being dipped in a bowl of smoked salmon chowder.
    Sourdough Bread and Smoked Salmon Chowder

    Substitutions

    • Potatoes: Red potatoes can be substituted for Yukon gold.
    • Fish Stock: Fish stock can be used in place of vegetable stock. Fish stock isn't always as easy to find so I prefer to just use the vegetable stock.

    Variations

    • Gluten-Free: Use a tried and true gluten-free flour to make the roux. Some gluten-free flours will gum up when added.
    • Vegetarian: This recipe was developed around that smoked salmon but it is hearty enough to stand on its own without it, making a creamy vegetarian soup.

    Equipment

    A large dutch oven, 7.5qt or bigger.

    Wooden Spoon: If cooking in a dutch oven a wood spoon or spatula is best to use. Avoid metal utensils on your dutch oven pot.

    Storage

    This soup will keep well in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. In fact, I highly recommend making it the day before as it gets even better the next day.

    How to reheat smoked salmon chowder? The best way to reheat soup is to warm it slowly in a pot or dutch oven over medium heat stirring often.

    It can also be microwaved. Place soup in a microwave-safe bowl and run for 1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute. Repeat the process until it has reached your desired temperature.

    Does smoked salmon chowder freeze well? Because this soup is cream-based and has cream cheese it will not hold up well to freezing. When dairy freezes it can separate during the thawing process and lose a lot of its consistency.

    Other Seafood Recipes:

    • Easy Smoked Salmon Dip
    • Garlic Herb Butter Salmon
    • Zucchini Tuna Melts
    • How to Smoke Salmon on a Pellet Grill

    Other Soup Recipes:

    • Healthy Mushroom and Veggie Soup without Cream
    • Creamy White Chicken Chili in a Crock Pot
    • Sausage Kale and Potato Soup
    • Creamy Tomato Soup with Chicken and Veggies

    Did you make it? Please let me know in the comments below and leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card. I love hearing from you! Subscribe to join my email list for recipes right to your inbox. We can also connect on social media via Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

    Recipe

    A bowl with homemade salmon chowder with a piece of sourdough bread.

    Smoked Salmon Chowder

    Creamy and comforting smoked salmon chowder. This pacific northwest dish is made with potatoes, veggies, cream cheese, and of course all the flavors of smoked salmon. This is pure comfort in a bowl.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 People

    Equipment

    Large Dutch Oven

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 Medium Yellow Onion diced
    • 4-5 Celery Ribs diced
    • 2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes diced into small ½" cubes
    • 2 tablespoon Butter
    • ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
    • 4 Cup Vegetable or Seafood Stock
    • 1 Cup Half and Half Or heavy cream
    • 1 14.5 oz Canned Crushed Tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Dill
    • ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • 4 oz Cream Cheese Softened
    • *8 oz Hot Smoked Salmon Broken into pieces, see notes below

    Instructions
     

    • Break up the smoked salmon into bite-size pieces, and set them aside.
    • Warm up a large dutch oven or other soup pot over medium heat.
    • Add olive oil. Allow to warm up.
    • Add diced onions and start to sautee until soft and translucent. About 5 minutes.
    • Step 5: Add celery and continue to cook until soft. About another 5 minutes.
    • Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add diced potatoes and stir to coat.
    • Add butter. Once melted stir to coat all the veggies and potatoes.
    • Add flour and stir well. It will start to get really thick. Cook for 2 minutes or until all the flour is cooked through. We do not want raw chunks of flour.
    • Slowly pour in the vegetable stock and half and half, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon until fully incorporated.
    • Add crushed tomatoes and all the spices.
    • Bring to a gentle boil and reduce to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are nice and soft. Stir frequently.
    • Break up the cream cheese into chunks and add to the soup. Continue to cook and stir until it is fully melted and incorporated. The soup should really start to thicken up.
    • Add the pieces of smoked salmon and cook for just a couple more minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    *Hot Smoked Salmon:
    This does not mean the salmon is spicy and refers to how the salmon was prepared. Cold smoked salmon we cooked at 90 degrees Fahrenheit and hot smoked salmon was cooked at 190 and above. It typically will be darker in color, provide more flavor, and will hold up better. It should say on the packaging if it is a cold or hot smoked salmon. 
    Storage
    This soup will keep well in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. In fact, I highly recommend making it the day before as it gets even better the next day.
    How to reheat smoked salmon chowder?
    Stovetop: The best way to reheat soup is to warm it slowly in a pot or dutch oven over medium heat stirring often.
    Microwave:  Place soup in a microwave-safe bowl and run for 1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute. Repeat the process until it has reached your desired temperature.
    Does smoked salmon chowder freeze well?
    Because this soup is cream-based and has cream cheese it will not hold up well to freezing. When dairy freezes it can separate during the thawing process and lose a lot of its consistency. 
    Keyword Chowder, salmon chowder, smoked salmon, Soup
    Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below.
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