Clam and Herb Chowder with Smoked Paprika

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-11 · Updated 2026-04-11

A rich, briny chowder featuring steamed clams and smoked paprika, simmered to perfection in their own juices. This New England-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs butter, carrot, celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 medium, diced carrot
• 1 stalk, diced celery
• 1/2 cup, diced onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 cups (reserved from steaming clams) clam juice
• 2 cups, diced potatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 12, scrubbed and checked for broken shells littleneck clams
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh chives

The stock pot we’d simmer this in → Best Stock Pots for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large pot over medium heat, then add 1 diced medium carrot, 1 diced celery stalk, and 1/2 cup diced onion, cooking for 8 minutes until vegetables are tender.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then pour in 2 cups reserved clam juice and 2 cups diced potatoes.
3. Step 3: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
4. Step 4: Steam 12 scrubbed littleneck clams in a covered pot with 1/4 cup water for 5-7 minutes until they open; discard unopened clams and add their juices to the pot.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/4 tsp dried thyme, then simmer for 5 minutes until heated through.
6. Step 6: Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, and serve immediately.