Clam chowder is a luscious seafood soup. It’s made from clams and other ingredients, such as bacon and potatoes. The result is a creamy soup that’s bursting with the flavor of the sea.
This dish is quite simple to make and thanks to its elegant vibe, it’s delicious at dinner parties. However, you may be unsure as to what you should serve with your clam chowder.
The good news is that there are loads of different options out there for you to try. To ensure that you pick a side dish that compliments your beautiful clam chowder, here are 17 side dish suggestions!
1. Crackers
With a crispy texture, crackers are great for dipping into your clam chowder. They have a mild taste that will not distract from the chowder but instead will add to it.
Making homemade crackers is surprisingly easy, as demonstrated by this delicious recipe.
It requires just 5 ingredients, though there are lots of optional toppings that you can try. These toppings are a great way of making these crackers even more flavorsome.
2. Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables are one of the most versatile side dish options. One of the many dishes that they harmonize with is clam chowder. Roasted vegetables are an especially amazing addition to a rich chowder, as they taste quite light.
These roasted vegetables are not only healthy, but they create a vibrant and eye-catching side dish. Seasoned with herbs and lemon juice, these roasted vegetables also have a formidable flavor.
3. Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Thanks to its tangy taste and creamy texture, coleslaw complements an assortment of meals, including clam chowder. We particularly like making red cabbage coleslaw, as it has a super striking aesthetic.
One of the reasons why we love this recipe is that it is incredibly simple. It will take you just 10 minutes to make and can be prepared in one bowl. This cuts down on the amount of washing up that you will have to do, thus saving you time and effort.
4. Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is one of our favorite side dishes, as it’s both healthy and filling. Though pasta and seafood do not always complement one another, this salad is a great way of combining the two.
This recipe is packed with some incredibly popular ingredients, such as salami, olives, red onion, and mozzarella. The result is a salad with a hint of cheesy and spicy flavors. These ingredients combine beautifully thanks to a simple Italian pasta salad dressing.
5. Bread Rolls
When it comes to side dishes for clam chowder, bread rolls are likely the most obvious option. Though this side dish suggestion may seem a little basic, bread rolls work wonderfully with chowder.
You can use them to mop up the creamy chowder. With a fluffy texture, these homemade bread rolls are worth the extra effort.
They have a mild flavor, which allows these rolls to complement a range of different dishes. Thanks to the addition of milk, these rolls are a little more moister than alternative recipes.
6. Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Wrapping bacon around asparagus is an amazing way of elevating this vegetable. Bacon offers this dish a smoky taste and a crispy texture. As a result, it will contrast with the smooth and creamy consistency of the clam chowder.
Needing just 3 essential ingredients, this brilliant bacon-wrapped asparagus is exceedingly easy. So even if you aren’t very good at cooking, it’s difficult to go wrong with this flavorsome side dish!
7. Roasted Potatoes
Most potato side dishes go nicely with clam chowder. Roasted potatoes complement clam chowder incredibly well. This recipe will help you to cook perfect roast potatoes.
They have a crispy and golden outside while the inside is soft and fluffy, which is exactly what this side dish should be like. Just bear in mind that this side dish will be quite carb-heavy. This is because clam chowder recipes often include potatoes.
8. Green Salad
If you crave a healthy side dish to your clam chowder, you can’t go wrong with a nutritious green salad. Filled with a plethora of different vegetables, this scrumptious salad is not just tasty, but it’s also fun and vibrant.
It also provides a range of different textures, which makes this side dish even more appealing. Another advantage of this recipe is that minimal preparation is required, meaning that this dish should be finished in just 10 minutes.
9. Southern Biscuits
Southern biscuits are well-known for their fluffy texture, which is great for dipping into clam chowder. The biscuits will soak up the creamy chowder, making this an outstanding option.
With the help of this amazing recipe, you can make authentic Southern-style biscuits. Packed with buttermilk, they’re soft and buttery. Lightly seasoned with salt, the flavor of these biscuits is mild but nonetheless delicious.
10. Corn On The Cob
Corn on the cob is always a hit. There’s just something so tantalizing about buttery corn on the cob. So why not serve your clam chowder with mouth-watering corn on the cob?
Coated in garlic and herb butter, it’s hard to resist this sublime corn on the cob. The use of parmesan gives this dish a pleasant cheesy twist that cheese lovers will adore. This cheese also supplies a subtle nutty flavor.
11. Cheese Straws
Cheese straws are a charming side dish that consists of cheesy pastry. We love to dip them into different sauces, including clam chowder.
One of the many reasons why we appreciate this recipe so much is because it’s packed with different types of cheese. You can use mozzarella and whatever Italian cheese you fancy. As a result, these pastry straws are perfect for cheese lovers.
12. Potato Cakes
Another great way of serving potatoes is in the form of potato cakes. With a crispy texture, they are a charming accompaniment to your clam chowder.
We love the idea of adding green onions to these potato cakes as they give the side dish a sharp taste. Ready in 20 minutes, you can easily make the mashed potato cakes ahead of time.
13. Garlic Bread
Who doesn’t love garlic bread? Packed with garlic butter, this bread is universally loved. It’s an amazing accompaniment to clam chowder if you fancy something substantial, as this carb-heavy combination is guaranteed to fill you up.
Ideally for dipping, this homemade garlic bread is brimming with flavors. This is partly due to the addition of Italian seasoning and parsley, which complement the garlic beautifully. The addition of parmesan cheese is ingenious!
14. Bacon Avocado Salad
Bacon is regularly added to clam chowder to make it an even more magnificent meal. So if you want to try this combination but fancy something a little more substantial than merely adding bacon, you can make this brilliant bacon salad.
This bacon avocado salad has a complex range of flavors and textures, which makes it contrast with the smooth chowder. It’s loaded with fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, romaine lettuce, avocado, and red onions.
15. Mussels
One way of adding to your clam chowder is to serve them with another form of seafood. Mussels have a luxurious vibe to them, but the truth is that this side dish is quite simple to prepare.
This will transform the chowder into a seafood feast. Cooked in a white wine broth, these mussels are hard to resist.
16. Prawn Cocktail
If you adore seafood, you can pair your clam chowder with another seafood option, a namely prawn cocktail. This side dish was particularly popular in the 1980s, but it’s still a delicious option today.
Easy to make, this prawn cocktail is smooth and creamy. We particularly love how flavorsome the sauce is, given that it’s made with paprika, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. This creates a sharp and tangy flavor.
17. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Lastly, grilled cheese sandwiches are always a great side dish for soups and chowders. This is because you can dip these warm and cheesy sandwiches into the chowder, thus absorbing all of its delicious juices.
If you crave the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich, we recommend using this delectable recipe. This recipe is super simple, requiring only 4 ingredients to make.
Yet, these grilled sandwiches have a crispy texture and are packed with melted cheese. What’s not to love?!
Final Thoughts
Clam chowder is an irresistible dish, particularly if you adore seafood. With any luck, this guide will have inspired you to cook one of these sensational side dishes.
So why not try these recipes? They will elevate your meal and add to the deliciously creamy flavors of your clam chowder!
Frequently Asked Questions
Though clam chowder tastes delicious, it can seem a little dull. If this is the case, you may want to elevate your chowder. The most obvious method of enhancing this dish is to add extra ingredients.
Onions, bacon, and celery all work wonderfully in a clam chowder. You may also want to use seasonings, such as garlic powder, to add to the flavor. Another great way of elevating a clam chowder is to select a complimentary side dish.
This side dish should add to the taste of this dish instead of detracting from it. So if you want to boost your chowder, consider making one of the aforementioned recipes.
Clam chowder is renowned for its creamy texture. If your chowder has a thin consistency, this is usually a bad sign. Luckily, it’s quite simple to rectify this issue.
The best way of rescuing this is to add a little cornstarch. Mix this into the chowder. If it remains thin, continue to gradually add cornstarch. An alternative method is to add more fat to the chowder to thicken it.
What Should You Serve With Clam Chowder? 17 Serving Suggestions
Do you love seafood? If so, clam chowder is an amazing dish to prepare. But what should you serve with it? Here are 17 sensational side dishes!
Ingredients
Directions
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- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
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Recipe Video
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