The kind of soup that makes a snowy day feel like a celebration doesn’t need a dozen steps or a culinary degree. We walk you through our easiest-ever New England clam chowder, adapted from a beloved community cookbook and tuned for modern kitchens, weeknight schedules, and hungry holiday crowds. With a chop-and-simmer method, you skip the sauté, keep cleanup minimal, and still pull off a creamy, briny bowl that tastes like it simmered all afternoon.

We start with the classics—clams, clam juice, potatoes, onion, celery, carrots, butter, and flour—then make a few thoughtful tweaks that lift the flavor without weighing it down. Instead of half and half, we balance 2% milk with a splash of chicken broth for a lighter body that stays velvety. For heat, sriracha brings a gentle garlic backbone rather than blunt spice, and we ditch the sugar so the natural sweetness of vegetables and dairy can shine. The result is comfort with character: rich enough to satisfy, bright enough to serve alongside a bigger spread.

Hosting a crowd? Set the pot to low and let everyone help themselves. We share our trick of using a portable induction burner to hold the perfect gentle simmer without running a gas flame all day, whether you’re serving mugs of chowder for lunch or keeping it warm between courses. You’ll hear tips for thick vs. brothy textures, make-ahead options, and easy garnishes—oyster crackers, chopped parsley, a final drizzle of sriracha—that turn a humble pot into a festive centerpiece. Cozy, reliable, and endlessly adaptable, this chowder fits a holiday table just as well as a quiet Tuesday.

Ready to ladle up comfort? Hit play, grab the recipe from our show notes at giasitaliankitchen.biz, and if you enjoy the cook-along style, subscribe, share the episode with a soup-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

https://giasitaliankitchen.biz/recipes-mangia/f/the-best-clam-chowder

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