Every August my mom would start looking around the kitchen wondering what she was going to do with all the zucchini coming out of the garden. There were only so many loaves of zucchini bread we could eat, so she’d pull out this creamy zucchini corn chowder recipe instead.

Our Summer Zucchini Corn Chowder is loaded with sweet fresh corn, tender zucchini, potatoes, smoky bacon, and herbs, and it’s become one of those end-of-summer dinners I look forward to every year. If you’re swimming in zucchini and fresh corn, this is the recipe you need.

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of the best things about this soup is that it uses so many fresh summer ingredients. Sweet corn, zucchini, yellow squash, fresh herbs, and smoky bacon all come together to create a fresh corn chowder with zucchini that’s hearty enough for dinner but still tastes bright and fresh.

• Bacon: Adds smoky, savory flavor throughout the chowder, plus a crispy topping for serving.
• Yellow Onion: Builds the aromatic base of the chowder as it softens in the bacon grease.
• Celery: Adds a subtle, savory depth and a bit of texture to the base.
• Garlic: Brings warm, aromatic flavor that rounds out the onion and celery.
• Zucchini: The star of the show and the whole reason for this recipe. It softens beautifully into the chowder while adding fresh, garden flavor.
• Yellow Squash: Adds even more of that fresh summer squash flavor and a pop of color alongside the zucchini.
• Smoked Paprika: Reinforces the smoky flavor from the bacon.
• Ground Nutmeg: Just a touch adds warmth and depth to the creamy broth.
• Cayenne Pepper: Adds a subtle background heat that balances the sweetness of the corn.
• Fresh Thyme: Brings an earthy, herby note that pairs perfectly with the vegetables.
• Fresh Parsley: Adds fresh, bright flavor to round everything out.
• Russet Potatoes: Add heartiness and help thicken the chowder as they cook.
• Corn on the Cob: Fresh corn kernels (and the cobs themselves!) bring natural sweetness and the best flavor. Using the c

Skip the canned soup and make your own hearty and delicious homemade cream of chicken soup. With simple ingredients and easy instructions, this condensed soup recipe is perfect for a cozy night in or as a substitute in recipes calling for canned soup.

I’m sorry 1989, I couldn’t support the condensed soup any longer. I don’t judge if you want to keeping buying it, and I can promise you that making it and freezing it or using it right away is so easy there’s no reason to buy the salty, overly processed can anymore.

If you were to eat a bite of cream of chicken soup from the can side by side with this recipe you made from scratch, you wouldn’t believe how much better the flavor is when you make it yourself!

Ingredients for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe

One of the best things about making condensed chicken soup from scratch is that you probably have all the ingredients at home already! Pantry ingredients is all you need. Here is everything you’ll need:

• Chicken Broth
• Milk
• Flour
• Seasoning: I used Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning, but any poultry seasoning would work great!
• Black Pepper

The measurements of each can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Cream of Chicken Soup from Scratch

If I have the time, I like to make my condensed soups at home from scratch. I just love that I know exactly what is going in it. It feels healthier to me! And it’s so easy and really only takes a few extra minutes! Here is how you do it:

1. Boil: Add the chicken stock and 1/3 cup of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring it to a boil.
2. Whisk: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour and seasonings and the rest of the milk. It will be a thick paste-like mixture.
3. Combine: Pour the flour/milk mixture into the boiling broth whisking vigorously and then reduce the heat to low.
4. Simmer: Let the soup simmer continuing to whisk it until it is smooth and thick. It will take about 5-10 minutes to thicken up. It will thicken a little more as it cools. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper to season if needed.

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete recipe.

How to Use Cream of Chicken Soup

You can eat cream of chicken soup just as a comforting bowl of soup, or it can be used in other recipes as a substitute for condensed cream of chicken soup. Here are a few of our recipes that use cream of chicken soup:

• Crockpot Chicken
• Creamy Zucchini Sausage Casserole
• Funeral Potatoes
• Chicken Pillows

Storage Tips

Leftovers should be stored in an air

If you’re looking for a simple, comforting way to use up leftover ham, this ham hock soup is it. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this easy soup simmers low and slow to create a rich, flavorful broth with tender chunks of ham, hearty potatoes, and fresh green beans.

Growing up, anytime we had ham for dinner, my mom would make this ham bone soup for dinner the next night. It was a filling, comforting, and budget-friendly way to feed a large family. I find myself craving it now whenever we have ham. I know exactly where my leftover Easter ham is going this year!

Why You’ll Love This Ham Hock Soup

• Uses a leftover ham bone or ham hock
• Just 4 simple ingredients (plus water)
• Simmers hands-off for rich, flavorful broth
• Cozy, filling, and perfect for cold nights
• Naturally salty and savory without extra seasoning

Ingredients for Ham Hock Soup

You really only need 4 ingredients to make this ham hock soup. That’s the beauty of a ham hock. It adds all the flavor you need to the broth and gives you yummy chunks of ham as well. Here is what you will need:

• Ham Bone: You can use a leftover ham bone from your spiraled ham or you can ask for a ham bone from the butcher. Make sure there is still some meat left on the bone.
  • NOTE: We actually bought a ham hock from our favorite pork farm, Christiansen. You can order online. Seriously the best pork ever.
• Potatoes: Red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes work great.
• Fresh Green Beans: I secretly prefer home canned green beans because I love how soft they get, but if I don’t have home canned, then it’s absolutely fresh green beans.
• Water: Used to boil the ham bone and becomes the base of the soup.
• Pepper: Adds flavor.

You might be surprised to see that there isn’t any salt in this recipe. Ham, and especially a ham hock is a very salty pork so as the ham hock simmers, it flavors the broth with enough salt for my taste. You can of course add salt if you would like.

How to Make Ham Hock Soup

This ham and vegetable soup simmers low and slow, creating a rich broth with tender ham and vegetables. The broth simmers all day and the vegetables get added just before serving. It’s so simple!

1. Simmer: Place the ham hock in a large stock pot and fill it with water until it just covers the bone. Let it come to a soft boil and let it cook all day long or at least 3-4 hours.
2. Shred the Meat: An hour before dinner, pull out the bone, shred the meat, add the meat in and let it simmer.
3. Add the Vegetables: A half hour before dinner, add the green beans and potatoes. Let them simmer for 30 more minutes. Season to taste with pepper.

I know, it’s simple, but trust

This classic Minestrone Soup recipe comes straight from my grandma’s cookbook. It’s made with simple vegetables, hearty beans, and a rich, slow-simmered broth. It’s warm, familiar, and deeply nostalgic.

This is a recipe you’d expect from an Italian Nonna! (even though my grandma isn’t Italian). Perfect for cold nights, Sunday dinners, or anytime you’re craving a truly homemade minestrone that’s timeless.

Once a year we would visit my grandma, who became a widow far too early. It always made me sad to know how much she was alone, but gathering around her table brought so much light and joy into her eyes I knew she would be ok. In the winter, she almost always made a Minestrone Soup with pasta or potatoes. The house felt cozier when it was on the stove, and you were engulfed with the smell it as soon as you walked in.

She served it with garlic knots and salad, and we’d dip the bread straight into the soup, letting it soak up the warm broth before taking a bite. It’s usually hard to get kids excited about a bowl full of vegetables and beans, but this soup is different. We always finished it, and most of the time went back for seconds. Even now, Minestrone reminds me of sitting at her kitchen table.

Ingredients for Minestrone Soup

Grandma’s recipes are ALWAYS better! This Minestrone Soup is no exception. Packed with vegetables, beans, and savory seasonings, these ingredients come together to create this classic flavorful soup!

Soup Base

• Olive Oil: Creates the base for sautéing and helps develop flavor from the very first step.
• Onion: Adds sweetness and depth as the foundation of the soup.
• Carrots: Bring subtle sweetness and color to balance the savory broth.
• Celery: Adds classic aromatic flavor and structure to the soup base.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances and layers flavor throughout the cooking process.
• Zucchini: Adds texture and a light, fresh vegetable note.
• Green Beans: Bring freshness and light crunch.
• Garlic: Builds bold, savory flavor once sautéed with the vegetables.

Broth & Seasonings

• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tomato flavor and deepens the broth.
• Dried Oregano: Adds a traditional Italian herb flavor.
• Poultry Seasoning: Brings warmth and subtle complexity to the soup.
• Black Pepper: Adds gentle heat and balance.
• Chicken Broth: Forms the rich, savory base of the soup (vegetable broth works too).
• Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Add acidity and a slightly smoky tomato flavor.
• Bay Leaves: Infuse the broth with a subtle, aromati