Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

By MiMaRee

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup finely chopped carrots (2 medium)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery (1 stalk)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion (1 small)
• 3 cups peeled and cubed russet potatoes (about 1 pound)
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika
• 4 cups frozen whole kernel corn
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme
• 4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled
• Cracked black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

In a medium saucepan heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook about 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer mixture to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in potatoes, broth, bay leaf, salt, dried thyme, and paprika.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting about 3 hours or on high-heat setting about 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes are tender. Stir in corn and milk. Cover and cook about 1 hour or until heated through.

In a small bowl stir together cornstarch and wine; stir into mixture in cooker. Cover and cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in fresh thyme.

Using a potato masher, gently mash potatoes until soup is slightly thickened. Sprinkle each serving with crumbled bacon and cracked pepper.

Nutrition Facts (Slow Cooker Corn Chowder) Per serving: 290 kcal cal., 7 g fat (2 g sat. fat, 2 g polyunsaturated fat, 2 g monounsatured fat), 12 mg chol., 724 mg sodium, 46 g carb., 3 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 11 g pro.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet