Lazy Man's (or Busy Women's) Spicy Chicken Corn Chowder

Posted by Catnip

Back when dh and I were living in Northern Virginia we would sometimes go to Red Hot and Blue, a bbq restaurant that was just down the street from us. One of the menu items we both loved was their chicken corn chowder, which had just a hint of smoke and heat. Now that we're back in New England I can't get no RH&B, so I had to come up with my own version of the chowder.

Now, mine certainly isn't the same, and it would NEVER be called gourmet, but the flavors are perfect, it's hearty, and it's one of the easiest meals I make. I could boil the potatoes myself and I could bake the chicken myself (and sometimes I do.) I could also milk a cow myself (hee hee), and heck I could grow the corn too (well, probably not) but some nights I just don't have time to do anything but open cans. Do you have those nights too?

The point is, I'm giving you my easiest version of this, and you change it up however you want, k? The only super duper important things here are the roasted corn and the spices.

Lazy Man's (or Busy Women's) Spicy Chicken Corn Chowder

2 cans corn, one drained, one not!
2/3 bag frozen roasted corn (I had a 1 lb bag from Trader Joes)
1 package pre cooked diced chicken, or 1 cup diced baked chicken
1 can diced potatoes drained or 2-3 boiled potatoes diced
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 ½ - 2 cups milk
1 cup light cream (if using skim milk use more cream and less milk)
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne pepper
chili powder
optional:
4-5 scallions or 1-2 small onions chopped fine
2 tbsp butter/margarine

(If using onions or scallions, start by lightly sautéing them in butter.)
Get a big pot and dump in all of your ingredients, all the corn, (including the can with the water), cream of potato soup, cream of chicken soup, potatoes, milk, cream. Slowly heat on Medium to a low boil (not roiling), then turn to low to simmer. If soup is too thick add extra milk or a little water, if too thin add extra cream or more corn. Add cayenne, chili powder, salt and pepper to taste, (remember the canned soup has salt already so go easy.)
Simmer for a few minutes to meld the flavors, and enjoy!

ps. Here's a printable pdf version if you want it! spicy-chicken-corn-chowder