Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder
Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder balances tender bay scallops with smoky bacon, soft Yukon Gold potatoes, and a gentle Fresno chile warmth, all tied together in a rich, velvety broth. Bright lemon zest and fresh tarragon lift the flavors, making it a comforting bowl for cool evenings or casual dinner gatherings.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 1 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 19
- Heart Health
- 75
- Metabolic
- 30
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until the fat renders and the bacon is slightly browned.
- 2
Add the onion to the bacon; cook and stir until soft and translucent.
- 3
Stir the celery and garlic into the onion mixture and cook until fragrant.
- 4
Pour the clam juice, chicken broth, potato, cayenne pepper, and black pepper into the bacon mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the potatoes are almost tender.
- 5
Stir the cream and chile pepper into the potato mixture; bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are completely tender and the chowder flavors come together.
- 6
Season with lemon zest and salt.
- 7
Stir the scallops into the chowder and cook over medium heat until the scallops are tender and white.
- 8
Remove from the heat; stir in the tarragon.
- Calories 333.74 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 27.84 g Good Source 56%
- Carbohydrate 21.02 g 8%
- Total Fat 16.19 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 7.07 g High 35%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 79.2 mg High 26%
- Sodium 947.03 mg High 41%
- Dietary Fiber 3.94 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 3.84 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 167.47 mg Moderate 13%
- Iron 2.14 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 656.52 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin A 80.6 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 18.63 mg Good Source 21%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Milk 🥛
- Celery
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder is an American dinner recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 45 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bacon, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Celery. Each serving provides about 333.74 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder?
- It is an American chowder recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Chicken Broth. The full list of 16 is above.
- What goes well with Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder?
- Explore these American side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder?
- About 45 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 333.74 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder healthy?
- Chef John’s Creamy Bay Scallop Chowder has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 333.74 calories and 27.84 g of protein, or 56% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 947.03 mg (41% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.07 g (35% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish, Milk, Celery, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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