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Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder

4.8 stars, average of 266 ratings
By Lauren Lester, updated October 9 202331
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This Instant Pot Keto Clam Chowder is just like your favorite complete with a stellar potato substitute - turnips!

Turnips are low-carb but still provide the starchy flavor that potatoes usually add to clam chowder. The broth is rich, creamy, and boasts that briny flavor we all love so much.

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Hands-on Overall

Serving size 1 1/4 cup/ 300 ml

Allergy information for Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder

✔  Gluten free
✔  Egg free
✔  Nut free
✔  Nightshade free
✔  Pork free
✔  Avocado free
✔  Coconut free
✔  Fish free
✔  Beef free
Pescatarian

Nutritional values (per serving, 1 1/4 cup/ 300 ml)

Net carbs8 grams
Protein15 grams
Fat36.1 grams
Calories429 kcal
Calories from carbs 8%, protein 14%, fat 78%
Total carbs9.8 gramsFiber1.8 gramsSugars4.9 gramsSaturated fat21.1 gramsSodium1,233 mg(54% RDA)Magnesium28 mg(7% RDA)Potassium310 mg(15% EMR)

Ingredients (makes 6 servings)

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped (120 g/ 4.2 oz)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter (57 g/ 2 oz)
  • 1 white onion, diced (100 g/ 3.5 oz)
  • 2 stalks celery, diced (114 g/ 4 oz)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups diced turnips (375 g/ 13 oz)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • few sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 (10 oz) cans boiled baby clams, juice reserved (566 g)
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (360 ml/ 12 fl oz)

Note: Every 10 oz (283 g) can of clams contains 5 oz (142 g) clams and clam juice.

Instructions

  1. Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot and sauté the bacon for 4-5 minutes until almost crisp. Stir in the butter. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder
  2. Add onion, celery, garlic, and spices. Sauté another 3 minutes until soft and fragrant. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder
  3. Add in the turnips and clam juice (all of the reserved clam juice + water to equal 2 cups). Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the knob is in the sealing position. Press Cancel, then Manual and set to high pressure for 6 minutes. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder
  4. Once the Instant Pot has ran out of time, manual release the steam and stir in the clams and cream. Press Cancel then Sauté. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder
  5. Using a potato masher mash about half of the turnips to create a thicker soup. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder
  6. Garnish with thyme and serve. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder To store, let it cool down and refrigerate leftovers in a covered glass container or jar for up to 3 days. Low-Carb Instant Pot Clam Chowder

Ingredient nutritional breakdown (per serving, 1 1/4 cup/ 300 ml)

Net carbsProteinFatCalories
Bacon, streaky (high fat content), organic
0 g2.7 g5 g56 kcal
Butter, unsalted, grass-fed
0 g0.1 g7.7 g68 kcal
Onion, white, fresh
1.3 g0.2 g0 g7 kcal
Celery stalk, fresh
0.3 g0.1 g0 g3 kcal
Garlic, fresh
0.3 g0.1 g0 g1 kcal
Turnip, raw
2.9 g0.6 g0.1 g18 kcal
Salt, sea salt
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Thyme, fresh
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Pepper, black, spices
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Mussels (mollusks, clams)
1.7 g6.9 g0.5 g41 kcal
Clam juice
0 g3.2 g0 g16 kcal
Cream, heavy whipping, pouring, full-fat (30-40% fat)
1.6 g1.1 g22.8 g220 kcal
Total per serving, 1 1/4 cup/ 300 ml
8 g15 g36.1 g429 kcal

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Lauren Lester
Creator of Healthful Creative

Lauren Lester

Lauren is a food photographer, recipe developer, and author.

She is the founder of the creative content agency, Healthful Creative. HC specializes in helping food centered brands share their story through recipe development + food photography.

More posts by Lauren Lester

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Comments (31)

Can I ask for the nutritional information link you use?
You are always saying it is very accurate.
I follow another blogger whose nutritional information does not include a serving size and I'd like to be able to give her a more accurate one to use...
Thank you for all of your GREAT recipes that have allowed me to finally be able to eat things I never thought I would be able to again.

Hi Carol, I'm sorry I missed this comment! I use our app which uses these databases (mostly the USDA): Barcode Scanning and Food Database in the KetoDiet App

You can also use radishes for a low carb option for potatoes. They actually taste quite a bit like potatoes. Not exact obviously, but close.

Or kohlrabi, I love using those instead of potatoes!

Omigosh this is SO good! I won’t use potatoes again! I added extra cream and more veggies but otherwise stuck to the recipe! Will make again for sure! I won’t boil the clams next time though.

Thank you Keri, I'm glad you enjoyed!

I can’t thank you enough for this recipe!  I’ve been craving clam chowder for a while and restaurant versions just don’t have enough clams. I added a few more vegetables to it and some Serrano peppers for extra kick. This was probably the best I’ve ever eaten anywhere!  Didn’t even notice the turnip taste at all.

Thank you so much Carmen, that's so kind of you to say!

If I want to add some frozen fish filets, at what point would I add those in? Also, would this recipe still be good if I didn't use the heavy cream?
Thank you!!!

Hi Megan, if you use fillets that are frozen and cut in pieces, I'd add it at the same point that you would clams but just cook it for a few more minutes. Fish cooks fast but if it's frozen it will depend on the thickness of the pieces. I would personally use defrosted fish which will only take 2-3 minutes to cook. If you skip the cream it will be more watery - you could use coconut cream or even use some cream cheese instead.

My husband loves clam chowder and has been missing it since we went keto.  I made this today and he was surprised how well the turnips tasted as a substitute for his beloved potatoes.  We will be making this again and again.  Thank you.

Thank you Elizabeth, glad you enjoyed!

OMG, game changer! My hubs wanted to go out to a place that makes great clam chowder, and I said no, they were made with ingredients I can't have, but I said I could make him some. So I followed this recipe to a T and he said it was easily as good, if not better, than the local restaurant. He had no idea it had turnip in it. I blasted it with my immersion blender right before I added the clams and I detected no turnip flavor. Neither did he! Thanks for a winning recipe!

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! ❤

This looks great but I don't eat bacon. Should I try substituting smoked salmon? Or maybe liquid smoke?

You could skip the bacon or use some prawns instead. Smoked salmon sounds great too. Either way, I'd add it together with the clams.

Lauren, you could always use turkey 'bacon'. I, myself, LOVE bacon, but have been struggling with eating it...

This recipe was so flavorful and delicious! Thank you so much! Even my  picky son liked it. I bought two cans of Bubble Bee whole baby clams and I had a lot of juice but to make up the difference I added chicken broth instead of water. Besides that, I followed the recipe just as it was and we all really liked it. Thanks again!

Christina, thank you for the lovely feedback!

I read through the recipe twice and don’t see instructions on when you’re supposed to add the clams. I know they can get rubbery if you cook them too long, so I don’t want to make any assumptions.

Hi Tanya, they are added after the pressure cooking (see step 4). I hope this helps!

This looks great! But is the nutritional information really only for a 1/4 cup?  

Hi Susi, it is per 1 1/4 cup. I hope this helps! 😊

This clam chowder is awesome! Delicious! Amazing! Five stars for you!!

Thank you Ingrid!

Omg this is delicious!! Added a few pieces of frozen haddock fillets too. My non Keto family loved it. I am not a fan of turnips but I found you couldn't taste them. Will definitely make this again.

Thank you Theressa! If you need to substitute, try rutabaga or cauliflower 😊

Made it on the stove top. Loved it! So delicious!  Added a little arrowroot powder to thicken. Next time will also buy a bottle of clam juice so i can use less water.

Thank you Jeanne!

How can you make this without an instant pot?

You can make it on the stove. It's the same steps as for the Sauté program, and then instead of pressure cooking, you'll need to cook it covered for a little longer (until the vegetables are tender).