• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cookin Canuck
  • Recipe Index
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Cooking 101
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Quick&Easy
  • Instant Pot
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Quick&Easy
    • Instant Pot
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Soups

    Light Turkey (or Chicken) Corn Chowder Recipe

    Published: Nov 29, 2013 · Modified: Nov 17, 2019 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 73 Comments

    9051Shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This light turkey or chicken corn chowder recipe is my family's favorite leftovers recipe. It's hearty, satisfying and healthy. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
    This light turkey or chicken corn chowder recipe is my family's favorite leftovers recipe. It's hearty, satisfying and healthy. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #turkey #chowder #weightwatchers

    Whether you have leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving feast or an extra rotisserie chicken lying around, this light corn chowder is a hearty meal without all of the extra calories. It's creamy and thick without adding cream, and the flavors of the turkey and corn shine through, alongside a kick from green chiles and cayenne pepper. If you have leftover chicken, that will work, too.

    When I'm cooking with chicken breasts or thighs during the week, I try to cook extras so that I can have extras to whip up an easy meal like this. It also works well in some of my other meals that star leftovers.

    And what did my family think of this soup? Well, each and every one of them went back for seconds. This is going to be a regular meal in our house!

    Here are some of my favorite leftovers recipes that we'll be making this weekend.

    This light corn chowder recipe uses leftover turkey or chicken. It’s hearty, satisfying and a fraction of the calories of most chowders. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #soup #healthy #Thanksgiving

    Now, let's get to this light corn chowder recipe.

    The turkey (or chicken) corn recipe:

    Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.

    Chopped celery, red bell pepper and celery on a cutting board.

    Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.

    Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.

    Frozen corn in a measuring cup, plus green onions.

    Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.

    Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.

    Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.

    This light corn chowder recipe uses leftover turkey or chicken. It’s hearty, satisfying and a fraction of the calories of most chowders. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP #leftovers #chicken #recipe

    Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.

    Other Thanksgiving leftovers recipes:

    Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Lasagna Rolls with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Spinach (Low Fat) {Cookin' Canuck}
    Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini {Cookin' Canuck}
    Baked Tortellini with Turkey, Butternut Squash & Chard {Cookin' Canuck}

    Light Turkey (or Chicken) & Corn Chowder Recipe

    This light corn chowder recipe uses leftover turkey or chicken. It’s hearty, satisfying and a fraction of the calories of most chowders. 223 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
    4.78 from 31 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soups
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Poultry Recipes
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 223.3kcal
    Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion diced
    • 1 stalk celery diced
    • 1 red bell pepper diced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 4 ounce can diced green chiles
    • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
    • 1 ¼ cups frozen corn kernels
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups skim milk
    • 2 ½ cups shredded cooked turkey or chicken
    • ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • green onion thinly sliced (for garnish)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the green chiles and cook for 1 minute.
    • Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Add the corn and simmer for 3 minutes.
    • Place the flour in a medium bowl and slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.
    • Slowly whisk the milk mixture into the soup, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, whisking frequently, until the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes.
    • Stir in the turkey (or chicken), Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted.
    • Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with green onions and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Weight Watchers Points: 3 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 6 (Points+)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.25Cups | Calories: 223.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.3g | Protein: 15.6g | Fat: 6.6g | Saturated Fat: 2.4g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 843.9mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 8.8g
    Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

    Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Signature

    9051Shares
    « Almond & Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
    Holiday Gift Guide for Food Lovers »

    Want more easy, healthy recipes?

    Subscribe to get the recipes sent straight to your inbox.

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Susie

        January 21, 2017 at 11:17 am

        looks delicious! However, I would rather use heavy cream instead of flour to thicken. Flour turns directly into sugars in the body where as cream has proteins and fats that are healthier for the body and causes fat burning instead of quick insulin release.

        Reply
      2. Mellissa Spencer

        January 07, 2017 at 11:16 am

        5 stars
        Thanks for a great recipe Dara! I used my left over roasted chicken from costco. This recipe was so easy, quick to make, FULL OF FLAVOR and everyone in my family loves it! The absence of cream for this rich chowder is not missed at all. Next going to try the spaghetti squash recipe followed by the cauliflower recipe. My goal, get my growing 11 year old son to eat more veggies. Hawaii loves your recipe, MAHALO!

        Reply
        • Dara

          January 07, 2017 at 3:43 pm

          I'm so glad to hear that, Melissa! I hope you enjoy the spaghetti squash and cauliflower recipes just as much.

          Reply
      3. Annie F

        December 05, 2016 at 2:52 pm

        5 stars
        We had a huge plate of turkey after Thanksgiving and used some of it for this chowder. This was one of the best leftover turkey soups I've ever made! We loved the hint of spice from the green chiles. I will try it with chicken another time.

        Reply
      4. V Plew

        September 07, 2016 at 1:45 am

        Can fresh corn kernels be used?

        Reply
      5. Maureen

        December 01, 2015 at 6:02 pm

        Dara,

        My first review EVER. Outstanding recipe - didn't have skim so used 1% but imagine it would be as delicious with skim.

        Maureen

        Reply
      6. Lisa

        November 26, 2015 at 3:35 pm

        Hi, made this today and wanted to know if we can store leftovers in the fridge & reheat in the microwave (because of the cheese).
        It's delicious but we always save for lunches during the cold days.
        Thanks!!

        Reply
        • Dara

          November 27, 2015 at 11:03 am

          Hi Lisa, this is exactly what we usually do with our leftovers. It's great to have the leftovers on hand for lunches!

          Reply
      7. Anne

        November 21, 2015 at 3:37 pm

        5 stars
        This was SERIOUSLY delicious. Made some homemade turkey stock w/ the leftover carcas and followed recipe as written - except doubled it. So glad I did! Thanks! This one is a keeper.

        Reply
      8. Luminique

        August 19, 2015 at 2:38 am

        Magnificent goods from you, man. I've remember your stuff
        previous too and you are just too wonderful.
        I actually like what you have bougght here, certainly like what you are stating
        and the way in which during which you assert it.

        You're making it entertaining and you continue to
        care for to keep it sensible. I cannt wait to
        read far more from you. That is actually a great web
        site.

        Reply
      9. Lefaircream.Com

        July 07, 2015 at 11:48 pm

        Evety weekend i used to pay a visit this web page, because i want enjoyment, since tis
        thiis web site conations truly pleasant funny data too.

        Reply
      10. Jeffery

        April 06, 2015 at 5:55 pm

        Experience the great taste for yourself order steaks online.
        However, now, being exposed to different types of food and creative methods of
        preparation can infuse your diet with a new twist and give you the delicious tastes you’ve been craving for.

        When you filter using 'the best' you'll see
        Grub - Hub customer ratings as well as Yelp's cumulative ratings.

        Reply
      11. Tomeka

        February 23, 2015 at 5:14 pm

        Y'all this is so Good!! Just made it for my family!! It is surely to warm them up after soccer practice . Thank you for the recipe!!

        Reply
      12. Meg

        January 14, 2015 at 2:54 pm

        I used almond milk in place of the milk and it was so amazing!!! I also substituted the garlic and onion for my Tastefully Simple "Onion Onion" seasoning to eliminate some slicing, dicing, n wiping lol and it was still delish!!! I am about to make this for the second time in the past two weeks for a good friend who just had her baby boy last Thursday along with some corn bread! Nothing like a hassle free meal when you are settling in with a new bundle of joy! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, it is a keeper for sure. =-)

        Reply
      13. Janet

        December 02, 2014 at 4:49 pm

        5 stars
        Delicious recipe. I added chopped carrot and mushrooms because I had them and wanted more vegetables in the soup. I also used chopped jalepeno instead of cayenne. Will make this again.

        Reply
      14. giddy

        December 01, 2014 at 3:52 pm

        5 stars
        Just finished about 4 bowls. Wish I had room for more!

        Reply
        • Dara

          December 01, 2014 at 4:02 pm

          Giddy, I'm so glad you liked it! I had two bowls last night and another one for lunch today. It really is a keeper!

          Reply
      15. Amanda

        November 30, 2014 at 5:25 pm

        It's on the stove right now!! Smells delish, I can tell you that 🙂

        Reply
        • Dara

          December 01, 2014 at 4:03 pm

          I'm so glad! I hope you enjoyed it, Amanda.

          Reply
      16. Ellee

        November 30, 2014 at 5:52 am

        I made this last night with leftover turkey/stock and my whole family went back for seconds (and some for thirds)! I didn't have any bell peppers or chiles but otherwise followed the recipe and it still came out great. Thank you!

        Reply
        • Dara

          December 01, 2014 at 4:05 pm

          That's great to hear! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Ellee!

          Reply
      17. Rick

        August 03, 2014 at 5:17 am

        Will it work in a crock pot?

        Reply
        • Dara

          August 04, 2014 at 7:28 am

          Hi Rick, I've never tried it in a crockpot, so I can't speak from personal experience. However, because of the step of mixing in the flour/milk mixture partway through cooking, I think this soup would work significantly better made in a saucepan. I hope you have the chance to try it!

          Reply
      18. minerva2493

        February 05, 2014 at 11:21 am

        5 stars
        This soup is the bomb!! It was snowing yesterday... and wanted some good comfort type food.. I had everything I needed but the celery. I put this together and my husband LOVED it, and so did I! He left me a note this morning saying how good it was..lol... I am making a half batch this morning because I don't have enough for tonight... This has such a good flavor. I like green chiles so I added a 7 oz. can. Todays batch is going to have some frozen green chiles with a bite to them. Good soup, I made corn bread to go with it.. Try this one! 🙂

        Reply
      19. Vanessa

        January 27, 2014 at 9:53 pm

        Yuuumm~ This looks so hearty and satisfying 🙂

        Reply
      20. Olga

        January 07, 2014 at 2:38 pm

        I just made this today,it was so delicious,simple and easy.I will be sharing this recipe with my family,and making it again soon.

        Reply
      « Older Comments
      Newer Comments »

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      Photo of Dara Michalski.

      Hi there! Welcome to Cookin' Canuck.

      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

      More about me →

      Popular

      • No-Cook Black Bean Wraps
      • Parmesan Crusted Salmon Recipe
      • Strawberry Nice Cream
      • Lemon Orzo Salad
      Photo of Dara Michalski.

      Hi there! Welcome to Cookin' Canuck.

      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

      More about me →

      Popular

      • Sautéed Corn, Zucchini & Blistered Tomatoes Recipe
      • Grilled Halloumi Cheese Recipe
      • Grilled Salmon Burgers with Avocado Sauce
      • Strawberry Arugula Salad Recipe

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Meet Dara
      • Contact
      • Work With Me
      • FAQ
      • Privacy Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Recipes

      • All Recipes
      • Main Dishes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • 30-Minute Meals

      I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

      Copyright © 2022 Cookin' Canuck