8 Southern chowders that will have your guest begging for more

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Chowders are soups or stews made with vegetables and thickened with some kind of starch (think potato or crackers). While Boston and Manhattan have the clam chowder game cornered, those aren't the only chowders of deliciousness that you should try!
Few meals more comforting than a steaming bowl of soup, and Southern cooks are known for their down-home cooking, so why not turn to the South to see how they serve up a bowl of coziness? Southern cuisine features far more than biscuits, butter, and bacon (though there's absolutely nothing wrong with those ingredients!). From corn chowders to gumbo to burgoo, try making one of these chowders for your next cozy night in.
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1. Southern style corn chowder (h/t The Gracious Wife)
Rich with potatoes and bacon, this chowder can be made with can corn for ease and simplicity or with fresh corn in warmer months. No matter what time of year you serve it up, it's a filling meal that can stand on its own.
2. Simply delicious chicken and dumplings (h/t Foodtastic Mom)
Chicken and dumplings (or "dumplins" as they're known in the South) are a staple of any Southern cook's repertoire. If you like chicken noodle soup, you'll love chicken and dumplins! Best of all, this tastes like you've worked over the stove all day but takes less than half an hour to make from start to finish.
3. Southern bayou crab chowder
If you've never had a bayou crab chowder before, you're in for a real treat. Think about the best clam chowder you've ever had in your life, and then imagine it being even better. Yes, it's possible. Get the full recipe here.
4. New Orleans gumbo (h/t Little Spice Jar)
This gumbo recipe is the real deal. It comes together in steps (not a fix-and-forgetter), and is the kind of dish that's even better the next day. Make a big batch and enjoy leftovers!
5. Brunswick stew
Ever been so hungry you could eat a horse? What about a squirrel or even a possum? Well, if you have, you’re in luck, because this traditional Southern stew has all the heartiness required by the mavericks who used to stew any small game unlucky enough to wander across their path -- but it retains none of the gaminess. Get the full recipe here.
6. Jambalaya (h/t Gimme Some Oven)
An easy-to-make, honest-to-goodness, Cajun recipe? Sign us up! Don't let the long list of ingredients scare you away--you have 99% of them on hand.
7. Cajun sweet potato seafood chowder (h/t Closet Cooking)
Ever try putting blackened shrimp or scallops into a chowder? Here's your chance! This is the kind of dish you can serve at a dinner party or just for a treat yo'self kind of seafood dinner.
8. Kentucky burgoo (h/t Garden and Gun)
The roots of burgoo involves some gamey meats, but don't worry if that's not your style--any combination of three meats will suffice. This recipe uses chicken, chuck roast, and pork shoulder, but you can sub in whatever you have in your freezer or what's on sale at the store.
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