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