There is not much better on a cold fall or winter day than a bowl of hot gluten-free soup. One of my family’s favorite soups is this gluten-free ham chowder that combines chunks of ham, potatoes, corn and lots of cheese to make a creamy, hearty soup.
This ham and potato chowder is always a hit everywhere we bring it. It makes a huge batch with plenty to share!
This ham and potato chowder recipe was passed on to me years ago by a friend, who got it from a friend, so who knows where it originated from! I’m so thankful for it though! We’ve always called it Ham Cheddar Chowder.
I’ve altered it over the years to suit our taste preferences and, of course, to make it gluten-free. Now it is one of the most requested soups at our house!
My kids will sit up and eat multiple bowls of this cheesy ham and potato soup for several nights in a row, which I call success!
For the ham, make sure you double-check that the ham is gluten-free. I usually cook up a spiral sliced Kirkland ham from Costco (which is clearly labeled gluten-free), then I cube and freeze the leftovers to use in recipes like this soup.
There are many other brands that clearly label their ham as gluten-free, so just make sure you are checking. While I doubt many companies inject their ham with gluten, there can be gluten in the seasoning packets that come with them.
If I don’t have leftover ham, I will often pick up the Hormel ham steaks that Costco sells in a 3-pack, and I’ll cube one of those up for this ham and cheese soup.
Notes on ingredients for this Ham Chowder Recipe:
- Ham: As noted above, many store-bought hams are clearly labeled gluten-free – look for those!
- Potatoes: My favorite potatoes to use in this are Butter Gold potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes. Regular baking potatoes are fine in this too, but have a little drier texture. I like the creamier, buttery texture of the gold potatoes much better.
- Corn: I use organic frozen corn that I buy in a big bag from Costco. No need to thaw!
- Carrots: You can peel regular, whole carrots, then chop up. But my time-saving tip is to buy shredded carrots, then just give them a few chops and you’re done! No peeling!
Oh, I have to tell you – if you don’t have a good potato peeler, I just found a great peeler that I love! I didn’t realize how terrible my old metal potato peeler was until I got this new one! You can buy it here on Amazon–> Oxo Good Grips Peeler.
What else can you serve with this ham and corn chowder recipe?
Whether you’re bringing this to a potluck or feeding to your family, you might consider making a batch of gluten-free cornbread to go with it. A great side dish would be my apple grape salad. If you want to serve a green veggie beside this soup, try this lemon asparagus recipe.
I recommend setting out salt, pepper, chopped green onions and parsley so people can add any of those they would like.
I hope you’ll put this cheesy ham and potato soup on your menu plan to enjoy on one of these cold days!
If you make this soup and enjoy it, please come back and give this recipe a 5 star rating in the recipe card! Feel free to comment with tips or to share any successful substitutions you made.
Ham and Potato Chowder Recipe:
This ham chowder will be a hit with anyone that likes ham and cheese. It's a hearty gluten-free soup! This cheesy ham and potato soup freezes well and reheats well on the stove. I like to make a double batch and freeze half for another night a few weeks later. You may prefer adding additional milk when reheating the leftovers to thin the soup out a bit. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Ham Chowder {Gluten-free}
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
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Old photos of this gluten-free ham cheddar chowder from 2013:
I hope you and your family enjoy this ham potato soup as much as my family does!
Stephanie Walsh
Tuesday 27th of December 2022
Would it be okay to use half and half cream instead of milk? Or would milk be better, and what % milk is the best?
30 Leftover Christmas Ham Recipes | Simplify Create Inspire
Thursday 11th of August 2022
[…] Ham and Potato Chowder […]
Lisa
Thursday 11th of November 2021
Made this soup today 11/11/2021. It is delicious. ❤️
Lisa A Reid
Saturday 4th of September 2021
Delicious I used gluten-free Jennie-O turkey ham, totally works. Thanks for the recipe.
Rose
Saturday 17th of July 2021
I loved the easy to follow directions. I had leftover ham and corn so this recipe was perfect to use up my leftovers. Made this for my husband, he really enjoyed it! Thanks so much!