These Chowder Recipes Will Hug You From The Inside Out (PHOTOS)

They give you a great excuse to eat oyster crackers.

You don't have to live in New England to enjoy chowder. Not even close to it. You don't even have to be a seafood fan -- although that certainly doesn't hurt. It's not just about clam chowder. Chowder recipes come in a wide variety, and can include vegetables, chicken, and of course, seafood.

These creamy stews, thickened by crushed-up crackers or biscuits, make for an ideal hearty winter meal. They're warm, buttery and filling, and are a great excuse to eat the oyster crackers reserved for the occasion. Check out the 20 chowder recipes we've gathered to help you get through this cold weather, and you'll soon see that there's so much more to chowder than the New England or Manhattan recipes.

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1
Fresh New England Clam Chowder With Buttery Croutons
How Sweet It Is
2
Thai Clam Chowder
Tartine and Apron Strings
3
Oyster And Spinach Chowder
James Ransom/Food52
Get the Oyster and Spinach Chowder recipe by inpatskitchen via Food52
4
Smoked Tomato Chowder
Lemon Fire Brigade
5
Manhattan Clam Chowder
Get the Manhattan Clam Chowder recipe by Simply Recipes
6
Cheesy Corn Chowder With Bacon + Gorgonzola
How Sweet It Is
7
Salmon Chowder
Heather Christo Cooks
8
Fish Chowder
Simply Recipes
Get the Fish Chowder recipe by Simply Recipes
9
Lobster Corn Chowder
A Pretty Life
10
Shrimp and Smoked Oyster Chowder
Food&Wine
11
Bay Scallop Chowder
Sarah Shatz/Food52
Get the Bay Scallop Chowder recipe by Amanda Hesser via Food52
12
Corn Chowder
Delightfully Tacky
13
Fresh Corn Chowder With Bacon + Barbecue Shrimp
How Sweet It Is
14
White Fish & Scallop Chowder
We Eat. Happy./Food52
Get the White Fish & Scallop Chowder recipe by We Eat. Happy. via Food52
15
Buffalo Wing Chowder
An Edible Mosaic
16
New England Clam Chowder
Life as a Strawberry
17
Shrimp and Roasted Corn Chowder
Closet Cooking
18
White Bean Chowder
A Communal Table
19
Salsa Chowder
A Communal Table
20
Broccoli Chowder
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