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Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder is loaded with tender chicken, sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, a kick of spice seasonings all simmered in a creamy, cheese blend that is so easy to make! It has just enough of a kick to it and the flavor is incredible.

This will be one of the best chowders that you will eat! If you love chowder as much as we do try this Best Ever Creamy Clam Chowder, Delicious Corn Chowder and enjoy Homemade Cornbread on the side.

Mexican chicken corn chowder in a bowl.

Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

I am loving fall and all things cooler temperatures bring on and that is making this Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder.

This chowder is one of favorites because of all the flavors and how easy it is to make.

It is a thick, rich and has a kick of spice chowder that will warm your family up this fall season.

The flavors all blend together so well and is a Mexican favorite in our home.

We love all things chowder, soup and warm once the weather begins to cool down.

This is a MUST make chowder that is quick and easy to make plus loaded with all the Mexican flavors!

What you need to make Mexican chicken corn chowder

One of the best parts about this recipe is that it is incredibly easy to make!

You literally just dump in a few cans and add some cheese and half and half and let it simmer.

I also used rotisserie chicken which made this recipe even easier to make. It came together within 5 minutes.

As soon as I took my first bite I was blown away! It was fantastic!

  • Butter: start by melting the butter to make a roux.
  • Onion: sauté the onion to make tender and add a crunchy texture and sweet flavoring.
  • Jalapeño pepper: a bit of a kick and remember to wear gloves!
  • Garlic cloves: added garlic flavor. If needed you can substitute for garlic powder.
  • Cumin: a nutty flavoring but adds a subtle spicy taste.
  • Chicken broth: adds in more flavoring and soup base.
  • Half and half cream: makes the chowder thick, rich and creamy.
  • Mexican blend cheese: shredded from a bag or thinly shredded.
  • Cream style corn: this makes your chowder extra creamy!
  • Green chilies: has a spicy flavor to them. You can use mild chilies or leaving them out for kids.
  • Tomatoes diced: super simple to drain and dump in the chowder.
  • Chicken: chicken breast works great or even using a rotisserie chicken to save on time.
  • Salt and pepper: to taste!
  • Tabasco sauce: for a little more added heat!

Mexican chicken corn chowder on the stove top.

How to make Mexican chicken corn chowder

This is a simple recipe that won’t take long to make.

Savory and thick, rich chowder is the best of the best!

My family loves this Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder and devours it every time I make it.

We love all the flavors blended together and how filling it is for all of us.

Add some Jalapeño Cornbread  to the side and enjoy the combination together.

This chowder is loaded with flavor and so quick and easy to throw together.

  • Making the roux: In a large pot or dutch oven add the butter and melt over medium high heat. Add onion, jalapeños, and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until tender. Add the cumin. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
  • Add in ingredients: Reduce the heat to low and add in the cream, shredded cheese, cream-style corm, green chilis, diced tomatoes, and chicken. Cook until the cheese has melted and all ingredients are heated through.
  • Serve hot and enjoy: Season with salt, pepper, tabasco sauce, and top with favorite toppings.

Mexican chicken corn chowder in a bowl with toppings on it.

Don’t forget your toppings

My favorite part was being able to top it with my favorite toppings.

You can also crumble some cotija on top and add some cilantro, diced avocado, or whatever your heart desires.

Our entire family loved this soup and I know that you will too.

It is the perfect soup for a chilly day and you will make it again and again!

  • Avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Shredded jalapeño cheese
  • Tortilla strips
  • Chips
  • Squeeze of lime juice
  • Fresh diced tomatoes
  • Green onion
  • Bacon pieces

What type of Corn is best?

Fresh or canned sweet cream corn is best for this recipe.

Frozen will work as well however, it does have a different textures and tends to not set up as well as fresh or canned.

We love the taste of sweet cream corn and all the flavors it has to offer.

It really adds so much to this chowder and wouldn’t be the same without it.

Enjoy this tried and true chowder this fall season!

  • Fresh or homemade: this is usually my first choice but to make it simple canned works just as great.
  • Frozen: usually frozen corn does not hold up that well in the chowder and when reheating it breaks apart and becomes mushy. If you prefer frozen make sure that it is thawed before adding it to the chowder.
  • Canned: make it easy on you and dump a can in the chowder for a quick and easy recipe.

Tips for making Mexican chicken corn chowder

This chowder is so versatile. It makes it easy to add in extra ingredients or substitute when needed.

For less of a spicy chowder you can omit or reduce the amount of spicy flavors.

My girls are younger and they both enjoyed it just fine the way it is but it does have a kick to it.

You can always leave out and add in a bit at a time as you are stirring to see what temperature you want to have it at.

We love making this soup and switching out ingredients depending on what we have in our panty.

Make this your own with these tips!

  • Make sure to wear gloves when cutting your jalapeño up.
  • If you like a little more hearty and thick soup try adding an extra can or fresh cut of regular corn kernels in for more chunkier chowder.
  • Add in more vegetables like bell peppers, carrots or celery to the chowder.
  • To save time, use a rotisserie chicken and shred it for the chicken.
  • Black beans and rice are also a great way to add in a Mexican spin to your chowder.
  • To thicken your chowder add in cream cheese or heavy cream instead of half and half.
  • For thinner soup add in milk or more chicken broth.

Mexican chicken corn chowder in a bowl with toppings on it.

Storing Mexican chicken corn chowder

I have tried saving this chowder each time we make it but it seems that I have an empty pot every time!

That is a great thing but it would always be fun to store it for the next day to warm up for lunch.

My boys are growing and their eating just continues to get bigger and bigger.

This is a family favorite because it is so thick, hearty and filling!

  • Making ahead: this is a great chowder that you can make ahead or even during the day and let it sit warm on the stove top.
  • Refrigerator: after you make it, cool completely and store in an airtight container. It will last for about 5 days in the refrigerator.
  • Frozen: it is not best to freeze corn chowder but it can be done. The texture of the chowder may be mushy or change when frozen. Cook your chowder and let it cool down completely. Store in an airtight ziplock baggie for about 1 month in the freezer. Let thaw in the refrigerator before warming up.
  • Warming up: when ready to warm up place your Mexican chicken corn chowder in a pot over the stove top and warm up slowly, stirring occasionally. For a quicker way of warming up, place a bowl full in a microwavable safe dish and microwave in increments of 1 to 2 minutes stirring in-between until it is hot. Serve and enjoy!

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Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

4.80 from 10 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder is creamy, cheesy and so easy to make! It has just enough of a kick to it and the flavor is incredible. This will be one of the best chowders that you will eat!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cups half and half cream
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese or 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • 1 (14 ounce can) cream-style corn
  • 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 cups chicken chopped and cooked, I used rotisserie
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Tabasco sauce if desired for more of a kick

Instructions 

  • In a large pot or dutch oven add the butter and melt over medium high heat. Add onion, jalapeño, and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until tender. Add the cumin. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low and add in the cream, shredded cheese, cream- style corm, green chilis, diced tomatoes, and chicken. Cook until the cheese has melted and all ingredients are heated through.
  • Season with salt, pepper, tabasco sauce, and top with favorite toppings.

Notes

Updated on October 3, 2019
Original post on October 6, 2016

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 15gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 467mgPotassium: 235mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 640IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 342mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

Mexican chicken corn chowder in a bowl.

 

 

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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31 Comments

  1. I can’t have corn kernels but love the flavor of corn so I blended roasted corn into oblivion and used whole milk since I had no half and half. The corn bisque helped thicken (along with the cheese) the soup, and it was awesome! The whole family ate it, and no one complained at all. That’s serious stuff.

  2. 5 stars
    What a delicious soup!!! Me and my 3 year old daughter devoured this for lunch today. I used diced jarred jalapeno (it’s what I had on hand) and it was still very tasty. We are huge soup fans and this is a new favorite. Thank you!

    1. A roux is where you add flour into your butter (or anyfat) and it becomes a thickener. I don’t see where there is a roux in this recipe?

  3. 5 stars
    This sounds wonderful. It is 100 degrees today in So Cal, so I think I will wait to make it when the weather is cooler. thank you for a great recipe.

  4. This recipe was delicious! However, I used my whole can of green chilies (which was slightly larger than the 4 oz can in the recipe) and it was spicy enough that I didn’t need to extra kick of the tabasco. I also used 2% milk as I didn’t have cream and it was great!

  5. This soup is AMAZING!!!! I followed the recipe – I just added a can of whole kernel corn in addition to the cream corn. I couldn’t stop eating – my husband raved about it as well! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!

  6. This is OUTSTANDING!!! I have made several times…first time followed exactly (delicious) 3rd time, substituted 1lb shrimp with 1lb jalapeño sausage sliced!(instead of chicken) and used fat free half and half (AMAZING) ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS recipe!!!

  7. Being from the very deep south quality veges year round is a must so I keep rolls of creamed corn in the freezer. Creamed corn in yellow and white that tastes field fresh!! If I remember I thaw it over night in the fridge, if not I remove the wrapper and put it in whatever it’s going in. (I monitor it closely to prevent scorching and/orburning).

  8. Sounds amazing!! Stopping at the store tonight to pick up the few things I need to make — It will be our Saturday dinner for sure! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

  9. I made this yesterday to serve today during the Vikings game. It was fabulous!
    The only changes I made were: I added chopped celery and sautéed along with the onion, and also added a can of regular corn (so in other words 1 can of creamed corn and 1 can or regular corn)

  10. My daughter LOVES corn but she is lactose intolerant. What could I use in place of the half and half?

    1. You could add unsweetened coconut milk. Sometimes I’ll purée cooked potatoes or cauliflower and add it to my soups to give a creamy mouthfeel without the cream.

    2. When I want to turn a broth soup into a hearty creamy soup I’ve always put some of the liquid with a can of rinsed white beans into a blender and add to my soup. My sister doesn’t like any cream in soup so that’s how I solved that problem. You can blend broth and beans to the consistency you like. Also adding the nutritional value of beans is a win win for me.

  11. You grabbed me with the magic words “Mexican” and “corn.” But there’s no cream-style corn in France! Or fresh. Just plain canned. I will have to improvise. Fresh cream?