Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder: Easy Soup and Stew Recipe

Chicken turkey bacon chowder has earned a permanent spot in our weeknight rotation, and people ask about it before they even sit down. This is the kind of cooking we believe in, nothing fussy, just a plate worth sitting down for.

This hearty chicken and turkey bacon chowder is perfect for a cozy meal. Packed with tender chicken, flavorful vegetables, and creamy cheese, it is sure to warm you up on a chilly day. This chicken turkey bacon chowder comes together in about 55 minutes from start to finish, which is exactly why it keeps showing up on our table. Below you will find the full ingredient list, the exact method we use, and the small details that make this chicken turkey bacon chowder work every single time.

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Chicken and Turkey Bacon Chowder, freshly made and ready to serve

Why You Will Love Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

There are plenty of weeknight dinners out there. Here is why this chicken turkey bacon chowder keeps winning in our kitchen.

• It just works. Rich in protein from the chicken and cheese.
• It actually fills you up. Creamy texture makes it comforting and satisfying.
• Dinner in about 55 minutes. Start to plate, including the prep.
• About 34 g of protein per serving. Enough to hold you until morning, not just until nine.

Ingredients You Will Need for Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

Everything here is an everyday ingredient. This is the exact list we use for this chicken turkey bacon chowder, measured the way we actually cook it.

Protein

• 6 strips thick cut turkey bacon
• 2 tbsp turkey bacon drippings
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
• 2 tbsp butter, not needed if turkey bacon drippings are used
• 5 cups chicken broth

Base

• 1/4 cup flour

Dairy

• 1 cup half and half
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Produce

• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3/4 cup carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Green onions, to garnish
• 1 tsp dried parsley

Seasoning

• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp each dried rosemary, oregano, mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Pantry

• 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 lb Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes, peeled and cubed

A quick word on the parts that matter most in this chicken turkey bacon chowder:

• Thick cut turkey bacon. It is an everyday ingredient doing quiet, useful work here.
• Turkey bacon drippings. It is an everyday ingredient doing quiet, useful work here.
• Boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs. Cook it just to done and no further, and it stays tender all the way through.

Prefer metric? The recipe card below switches every amount over for you.

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Chicken and Turkey Bacon Chowder, freshly made and ready to serve

How to Make Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

Here is exactly how we make this chicken turkey bacon chowder: about 15 minutes of prep and roughly 40 minutes of cooking.

What you need: Large Pot, Mixing Bowl.

1. Cook the turkey bacon in a 4.5-quart soup pot slowly over low heat and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate once cooked.
2. Chop the cooked turkey bacon and reserve 2 tablespoons of turkey bacon drippings.
3. Wipe any dark spots from the pot but leave as much turkey bacon remnant as you can.
4. Season each side of the chicken with salt and pepper, then sear in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden, about 3 minutes per side.
5. Set the chicken aside to rest for 10 minutes, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
6. Add the turkey bacon drippings to the pot over medium heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery, tossing to coat for 5 minutes.
7. Add garlic, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices, stirring to combine.
8. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes.
9. Add chicken broth and half and half in small splashes, stirring continuously.
10. Peel and cube the potatoes and add them to the pot.
11. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer, adding the chicken back in until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
12. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheese if using.
13. Stir in half of the turkey bacon and save the rest for garnishing bowls before serving with green onions.

That is the whole method. Nothing here needs special technique, just a little attention at the right moments.

Tips for the Best Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

None of this is complicated, but these are the small habits that separate a good plate of this recipe from a great one.

• Taste and adjust the salt at the end. Simmering concentrates everything, so season last.
• Simmer gently instead of boiling hard. A rolling boil can toughen the meat and cloud the broth.
• If it thickens too much as it sits, loosen it with a splash of broth when you reheat. If it thickens too much as it sits, loosen it with a splash of broth when you reheat.
• Read the steps once before you start. Knowing what is coming makes the whole thing calmer.
• Have everything measured and within reach before the heat goes on. Have everything measured and within reach before the heat goes on.

Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning at the end rather than the beginning. This dish rewards a little attention right at the finish.

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Chicken and Turkey Bacon Chowder, freshly made and ready to serve

Variations and Add Ins

Chicken turkey bacon chowder takes changes well, so treat the recipe above as a starting point rather than a set of rules. These are the swaps we come back to most often.

• Swap the cut. Boneless thighs stay juicier than breasts and work here with no other changes.
• Make it spicier. A pinch of red pepper flakes or a spoonful of your favorite hot sauce lifts the whole dish.
• Add vegetables. Spinach, peppers or mushrooms stir in easily and stretch it further.
• Change the cheese. Anything that melts well will work, so use what is already in the refrigerator.
• Change the herbs. Fresh parsley, basil or dill at the end each send it somewhere slightly different for no extra effort.
• Make it a bigger meal. Serve it over rice or with warm bread and it stretches to feed another person or two.

Change one thing at a time rather than three. That way you find out what you actually like in the recipe instead of guessing at the end.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat gently in a skillet or in the microwave at half power, adding a splash of broth so the chicken stays tender rather than drying out.

If you are cooking ahead on purpose, prep the components and keep them separate until you are ready. It takes a few minutes off a busy evening and this one holds its texture far better that way.

What to Serve With Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder

It carries a plate on its own, but a few simple things turn it into a proper dinner.

• Rice or buttered noodles. Simple, and it soaks up everything on the plate.
• A simple green salad. A little contrast keeps the whole plate from feeling heavy.
• Roasted vegetables. Easy to put together while the main event finishes.
• Warm bread for the sauce. The kind of small addition that makes dinner feel finished.

Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder FAQ

Can I make Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder ahead of time?

Yes. You can prep the components a day ahead and keep them covered in the refrigerator, then finish the dish when you are ready to eat. It saves real time on a busy evening.

Can I use something other than thick cut turkey bacon?

You can. Use what you have and keep the quantity about the same. The cooking time may shift slightly, so go by how this recipe looks rather than the clock.

How long does Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder take?

About 55 minutes from start to finish, including roughly 15 minutes of hands on prep. The first time through may run a little longer.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes. Doubling works well here. Use a larger pan so nothing crowds, and expect this dish to need a little more time in the heat.

How do I store leftovers?

Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can I freeze Chicken Turkey Bacon Chowder?

It is better fresh. Freezing changes the texture more than it is worth here, so plan to eat it within a couple of days.

A Dinner Worth Repeating

If you make chicken turkey bacon chowder, we hope it turns into one of those recipes you stop measuring after a while, the one you can put together on a Tuesday without thinking too hard about it. That is the best thing a recipe can become, not a special occasion dish but a reliable one.

If something worked especially well for you, or you found a swap worth passing on, we would genuinely like to hear about it. Most of the small improvements in our recipes started as somebody else’s idea.

Simple ingredients, an honest method, and a plate worth sitting down for. That is all we are ever after.