Hearty and delicious, this easy Creamy Fish Soup is made in the slow cooker. All you need is a simple side of homemade bread or drop biscuits and you have the best comfort food ever.
This recipe for fish chowder combines potatoes, fish (you can swap in whatever kind you like), corn, and broth, topped with crispy bacon bits. Perfect for warming up on cold winter days.
Creamy fish and potato soup is an easy to make cozy meal. Comfort food in a bowl that is ideal for busy weeknights.
I happen to think the slow cooker is the best kitchen invention ever. Set it and forget it cooking. While dinner cooks I can do other things. The food always turns out delicious.
Slow-cooker soup is so easy to make. I love to make a huge batch. Great for more meals during the week. It’s perfect for putting in the freezer too.
- Slow Cooker Pho is a great cheat version of the classic Vietnamese dish.
- Spicy Kale Soup is similar to Portuguese Caldo Verde.
Creamy Fish Soup Ingredients
This creamy seafood chowder soup is so thick, you would almost think it is a fish stew. Just like Irish fish chowder and soda bread.
- potatoes
- frozen corn
- flour
- seasoning
- chicken broth
- evaporated milk
- crab (or fish of your choice)
- salt and pepper
- bacon bits for garnish (optional)
Best Fish For Making Soup
This is where you can experiment and see what works best for you and your family. You have lots of choices, and each will produce delicious soup. You can use fresh, or frozen fish, and even canned varieties as well.
In this recipe I used pre-cooked imitation crab. Works like a charm and is budget-friendly too. I always have this in the freezer. Perfect for salads, sandwiches, pasta, and roasted tomato crab soup.
Since fish cooks quickly, it is added to the slow cooker near the end of the cooking time. This is basically a creamy potato soup recipe with fish. You could try:
- tuna
- salmon
- haddock
- cod
- shrimp
- whitefish
Make Slow Cooker Chowder Tonight
This thick and creamy seafood chowder is super easy to make. Place the ingredients into the slow cooker, and dinner will be ready in a few hours. If you cook it on HIGH it will be ready sooner. Be sure to read the recipe card for complete instructions.
- Coat the slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Peel and cut potatoes and place in crockpot.
- Add the corn, flour, and seasonings.
- Add the broth.
- Cook (see recipe below) for a few hours.
- Add the milk and fish.
- Cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Dinner is ready. Garnish and enjoy.
Substitutions/Recipe Tips
Fish Soup Seasonings: You can use a variety of seasonings. For this recipe, a Cajun seasoning blend. Smoked paprika and Old Bay Seasoning are great choices too.
Broth Choices: If you are looking for a vegetarian version of this fish soup recipe, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
Frozen Corn: I always have this on hand. You can replace it with canned corn as well.
Cream Substitutes: In most of my recipes, I use evaporated milk. I find it convenient (it doesn’t curdle) and something I always have on hand. Great for both savoury and sweet recipes. You can also use cream, milk, or non-dairy options like coconut milk if you wish.
Can You Freeze Fish Chowder Soup? Yes, you can. It will last 3-4 days in the fridge. To freeze it, place in an airtight container or freezer bag. It will last for several months.
Reheat thick soups containing milk or cream over low heat, stirring frequently.
Is Chowder Soup?
Always a fun topic and debate. Chowder is a thicker kind of soup generally cream-based. Soup is usually thinner and is broth-based. That is not to say soup cannot be thick and contain cream. My mushroom soup is not chowder, but is thick and does contain cream (and cream cheese).
- Basic Chowder usually combines stock, potatoes, fish or shellfish, salt pork and milk.
- New England Chowder containes clams and cream, along with potatoes and bacon.
- Manhattan Chowder is tomoato based instead of cream based, and has a nice red colour.
- Long Island Chowder uses both cream and tomatoes in the base.
Looking for more fish recipes? Give these a try:
- Smoked Salmon and Potato Appetizers are perfect for entertaining.
- Warm Potato Salad with Dill and Smoked Salmon is a great as a main course for dinner.
- You can never go wrong with a Smoked Salmon Bagel for lunch.
- Easy weeknight meals are a must and this Quick Salmon Plate comes together in minutes.
- Looking for a crispy fish recipe? Fish Cakes made in the air fryer are always a hit. Pair them with some Spicy Fries, or Cast Iron Potatoes.
- Egg Tacos are a fun brunch, lunch or dinner option any day of the week.
Slow Cooker Fish Chowder Soup
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- 8 ounces frozen corn
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ pounds crab meat
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 12 ounces evaporated milk (1 can)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Coat slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Wash, peel and dice the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Place in the slow cooker.
- Add the corn and flour to the potatoes toss to coat.
- Add the seasonings and broth, mix, cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours. (Low for 6 hours)
- Turn slow cooker to LOW and add the milk and crab to the pot.
- Cover and cook for an additional 60 minutes.
Jessica
Beings I’m from the Midwest, I’m not very experienced with preparing fish. This soup seems totally doable though. It looks so comforting and delicious. Can’t wait to try!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this slow cooker fish soup a try. It is easy and delicious.
Bernice
You had me at fish chowder! I haven’t had a bowl in ages and I’m about due for a good feed. Thanks for this easy slow cooker version!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. This slow cooker fish chowder is so easy and delicious.
Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
This is absolutely delicious, so cozy and comforting for the winter. We love seafood and can’t wait to make this again!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree this slow cooker fish soup is comforting for sure.
Lucy
This fish soup is such a comforting meal. So delicious and creamy.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
All you need is some bread or biscuits and this is a full meal. ENJOY!
Krissy
Fish chowder is one of my favs and I was so excited to find this easy recipe!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome….enjoy this fish chowder soup.
Alisa Infanti
My husband loves fish chowder. Can’t wait to show him this recipe.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hope he loves this slow cooker fish soup recipe as much as we do.
Claudia Lamascolo
This is my favorite soup it’s delicious and easy to make perfect for our 7 Fishes Christmas Eve celebration here. Merry Christmas!!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY and have a wonderful holiday. Seems like your Christmas Eve dinner is very similar to how we celebrate Ukrainian Christmas Eve….12 meatless dishes are served.
Jess
I love that this is made in the slow cooker! Perfect to come home to after a long cold day.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Yes this slow cooker fish soup recipe is a winner for sure.
laura
This slow cooker soup is really nice to come home to!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I totally agree, and we often do. ENJOY!
Stuart Pike
Hi I am going to try and make this soon I have a question could I put the potatoes corn and flour in a zip lock bag to coat everything and then dump it in the crockpot.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I do not see why that would not work. I would give it a try for sure. ENJOY!
Tracy
I agree- the slow cooker IS the best kitchen invention! I love that this soup is so customizable, too. We made it with Frozen crab and it was sooo good. We planned to freeze some, but we are too much of it!!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed the recipe. It is so hearty and delicious.
Donna
I had the best fish soup of my life while travelling in Norway years ago, and have been trying to re-create it ever since. Definitely a big bowl of comfort, and something my kids are always super excited to eat. Love that this one is made in the slow cooker and the tips for preventing curdling after thawing, perfect!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Trish Bozeman
YUM! Like a super flavorful chowder. Love the cajun seasoning with the crab. Such a great recipe, Gloria!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. It is a favourtie around here.
Lisa Lotts
Your recipe reminds me of my grandmother’s chowder recipe, but yours looks even thicker than hers. Such a classic, hearty soup — and absolutely ideal for this time of year. Do you think clam broth would work instead of chicken broth? I happen to have some in the pantry, but I’m out of chicken stock. LOL!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I think it would work just fine. Enjoy and let me know how it turned out.
Veena Azmanov
Delicious, creamy and flavorful. Love the sea food option.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I hope you give this recipe a try…it is a winner in our house.