Creamy Corn, Shrimp &Amp; Potato Chowder with Cotija and Pepitas

This creamy chowder takes inspiration from Mexican street corn, combining sweet corn, tender shrimp and hearty potatoes in a rich, smoky broth. The ancho chili powder and garlic powder add depth, while cotija cheese, cilantro and pepitas provide a fresh, crunchy finish. Best of all, it comes together in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.

Serve this loaded chowder with lime wedges for a bright, tangy kick. It’s a warm and comforting bowl that’s sure to become a family favorite.

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Ingredients

2 unit Veggie Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Cotija CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce Cream Sauce BaseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce ShrimpView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Ancho Chili PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon FlourView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 ounce PepitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit CornView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 tablespoon (tbsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Drain corn and pat dry with paper towels. Dice onion into ½-inch pieces. Pick cilantro leaves and mince stems. Quarter the lime. Reserve ¼ teaspoon ancho chili powder (½ teaspoon for 4 servings) in a small bowl for garnish.
2. Place diced potatoes in a medium microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon water (2 tablespoons for 4 servings). Cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave until slightly tender, 5-7 minutes. They will finish cooking in the soup.
3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add corn, onion and cilantro stems. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic powder, remaining ancho chili powder, flour, half the Southwest Spice Blend and ¼ teaspoon sugar (all the Southwest Spice Blend and ½ teaspoon sugar for 4 servings). Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Carefully uncover the bowl of potatoes (steam will release) and add them to the pot along with stock concentrates, 1½ cups water and ½ teaspoon salt (3 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt for 4 servings). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer until soup has thickened, 5-7 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in cream sauce base, half the cotija cheese, 1 tablespoon butter (2 tablespoons for 4 servings) and a squeeze of lime juice.
5. Divide soup between bowls. Top with reserved ancho chili powder, remaining cotija cheese, cilantro leaves, pepitas and an extra squeeze of lime juice. Serve with remaining lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, thaw the shrimp completely and pat dry before adding to the soup. Adjust cooking time as needed.

What can I substitute for cotija cheese?

Feta cheese or grated Parmesan can be used as a substitute for cotija, though the flavor will differ slightly.

How do I make this soup dairy-free?

Use a dairy-free cream sauce base or substitute with full-fat coconut milk and replace butter with olive oil or a vegan butter alternative.