Shrimp chowder with dill

4
Points®
Total Time
5 hr 7 min
Prep
7 min
Cook
5 hr
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
Warm, satisfying and full of vegetables, this slow cooker chowder is simple to start and virtually cooks itself. After you quickly saute the onion, you sprinkle them with flour. This spreads the flour in a thin layer allowing it to be easily incorporated into the dish without clumping. That flour with slowly thicken the chowder while it cooks. The reserved bag of shrimp shells add more delicious shrimp flavor to the dish and the cheesecloth bag help you remove them fully and quickly. If you like, add 3 cups frozen corn kernels to the soup when you add the chicken broth. This chowder is a great weekday dinner if you set it up to cook in the morning.

Ingredients

Uncooked shrimp

1 pound(s), peeled and deveined, shells reserved

Canola oil

2 tsp

Onion

1 large, chopped

All-purpose flour

1 Tbsp

Canned diced tomatoes

14½ oz, fire-roasted variety

Uncooked potato

4 small, Yukon Golds, peeled and diced

Celery

2 rib(s), medium, with leaves, chopped

Black pepper

¼ tsp

Reduced sodium chicken broth

8 cup(s)

Fat free half and half creamer

½ cup(s)

Cooked turkey bacon

3 slice(s), crumbled

Dill

2 Tbsp, fresh, chopped

Instructions

  1. Put the shrimp shells on a square of cheesecloth. Gather the ends of the cloth and tie them together with a length of kitchen twine. Refrigerate the shrimp and set the shells aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onion and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes longer.
  3. Transfer the onion to a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Add the package of shrimp shells, the tomatoes, potatoes, celery, pepper, and broth. Cover and cook until the vegetables are fork-tender, 4 – 5 hours on high or 8 – 10 hours on low.
  4. About 20 minutes before the cooking time is up, remove and discard the shrimp shell package and stir in the shrimp. Cover and cook on high until the shrimp are just opaque in the center, about 15 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half and cook 5 minutes longer.
  5. Ladle the chowder evenly into 6 bowls and sprinkle evenly with the turkey bacon and dill. Yields about 2 cups per serving.