This Vegan Sweet Potato Corn Chowder is thick and chunky, slightly sweet and slightly spicy with hints of turmeric. It's free of fat, dairy, meat, and gluten, and it's incredibly delicious! Creamy, without any cream!
Can I interest you in a warm bowl of vegan Sweet Potato Corn Chowder?
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❤️ Why this recipe works
- This wholesome vegetarian chowder has a natural sweetness from corn kernels and just enough spice to keep it interesting.
- It's velvety smooth with chunks of sweet red pepper, onions, celery, corn kernels, and sweet potatoes, of course. Guaranteed to warm your tummy on a chilly day!
- Not only that, but this vegan corn chowder recipe is an easy one. It's cooked in one pot on the stovetop with ingredients you probably have on hand. Ready to eat in about half an hour, it's perfect for those on special diets. It has no meat, no dairy, no gluten, or oil!
- It's a bowl full of nutritious yum.
- I don't eat corn very often. Corn is often genetically modified and in Canada, food is not required to be labelled GMO. Bags of frozen organic corn are easy to find in supermarkets, however, so that's what I used in this corn chowder recipe.
Earlier this week, I was out for lunch with friends. I spotted Sweet Potato Corn Chowder on the menu and decided to give it a try. Three of the four of us ordered it and it was a hit. While we were chatting, I was secretly analyzing the ingredients, knowing that I was going to head home and try my best to reproduce it!
Here's what I came up with.
🛒 Ingredients
- onion: white or yellow
- celery: 4 big stalks (also called ribs)
- garlic: fresh
- sweet potato: 3 cups chopped, which is about one large sweet potato
- red pepper: one large
- frozen corn: or use fresh in the summer months
- vegetable broth: homemade or store-bought
- seasonings: chili powder, paprika, turmeric, dried red pepper flakes
Let's get started! You'll need a big pot.
🔪Instructions
- Begin by adding onion, celery and garlic to the pot. You don't need oil. Simply add about ⅓ cup of vegetable stock to the pot and cook until the onions and celery are softening.
- Next, add the sweet potatoes, vegetable stock and seasonings. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add the red bell pepper and corn and continue to cook until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Transfer two thirds of the chowder to a blender and process until smooth. Pour it back into the pot. Taste to check the seasoning and correct to your liking. It's ready to serve!
1. Add onion, celery and garlic to the pot. 
2. Add sweet potatoes, stock and seasonings. 
3. Add red pepper and corn. 
4. Blend, season and serve.
🔁 Possible variations
Make this chowder your own!
I kept the spice level to a minimum to let the natural flavours of the sweet potatoes and corn shine. You might like it spicier, so you could increase the amount of chili powder.
If you'd like a smoky flavour, try ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika instead of the regular paprika. Remember, you can always add more seasoning, but it's difficult to tone down something that has been over-seasoned.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
This easy vegan corn chowder recipe makes a great lunch. It would also be good as a starter for a casual meal or a barbecue. It's satisfying and filling enough for a soup and salad dinner, especially when served with fresh-from-the-oven gluten-free baking powder biscuits!
🥶 Storage and freezing tips
Have it for dinner, then save some for tomorrow's lunch! Refrigerate leftovers in a tightly sealed container for up to 4-5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
FAQ
Even though they are often referred to as yams in North American supermarkets, those sweet orange-coloured root vegetables are actually sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colours, even purple. Depending on which name you're most familiar with, this recipe could also be called Yam Corn Chowder!
True yams are quite different. We almost made the mistake of buying yams when we were in the Caribbean, where they are readily available. Markets there carry true yams which are a very starchy, rough-looking root vegetable. They are not rich in beta-carotene like our sweet potatoes.
🗒 More hearty soup and chowder recipes
Try these ones, too.
📖 Recipe Card
Hearty Vegan Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced onion
- 4 stalks (ribs) diced celery
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups peeled and diced sweet potato
- 1 cup seeded and diced red bell pepper
- 4 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, celery and garlic with ⅓ cup vegetable stock and cook until onions and celery begin to soften, about 4 - 5 minutes.
- Add sweet potato and vegetable broth, stir, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 8 - 10 minutes.
- Add red pepper, corn kernels and all seasonings. Simmer until sweet potato is fork-tender.
- Transfer ⅔ of the chowder to a blender. Blend until smooth, then return to the pot. Taste to check the seasoning. Serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers in a tightly sealed container for up to 4-5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Lori
I will definitely be making this recipe again! Everyone loved it. Thanks. Super easy. I made your gf baking powder biscuits to go with it (which of course got devoured!)
Elaine
Happy to hear that! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Kristen
Love the use of sweet potato, no need for cream. It looks absolutely warming and delicious.
Terri
I have never made corn chowder and have always wanted to - would love to try this! It sounds and looks so delicious!
Yvonne Langen
So great to find a vegan alternative to corn chowder that still delivers that creamy texture, without the cream. The combination of flavours here is completely timeless and endlessly satisfying.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much, Yvonne!
marilyn @family food around the clock
we are so into hearty soup! this one will be perfect for the week. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I cannot wait to try this soup recipe, Elaine (and you are correct - I have all of these ingredients on hand). I must admit that I also do the same secret analyzing thing at restaurants when intrigued by a menu item. We loved your slow cooker Vegan Black Bean Soup so much. I know that your Hearty Vegan Sweet Potato Corn Chowder will be another winner in this household. Thanks so much for the inspiration! 😊
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much Denise! Hope you love this one, too!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I enjoy hearty vegetarian soups, and it's a bonus that this one is vegan too! Looks warm and chunky. Perfect for the cold weather we've been having on the east coast!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Leanne, While I don't follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, we always enjoy a hearty meatless meal! Stay warm 🙂
Marissa
Loving the flavors and textures of this soup! Looks so hearty and delicious!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much Marissa!
Colleen
Yum, I love the sweet potato, corn combo. It sounds like it belongs together! Delicious, and I think the hint of spice from the red pepper flakes is perfect.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Colleen! This recipe is easy to adapt to make it spicier if you like.
Wanda
Nothing beats a good hearty bowl of comforting soup. I really enjoy the vegetable variations too!
Flavour & Savour
You're so right, Wanda. Cold days call for warm creamy soup!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yes, you could certainly interest me in a bowl of this vegan sweet potato corn chowder! Sounds absolutely delicious, looks creamy dreamy, warming and just what this cold day needs! Love those cups too 🙂 Pinned!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Dawn!It's creamy without the cream!