Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder

Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder

Sweet potatoes are the star of this simple dish, and the crab adds a rich, delicious flavor. 
It hits the spot and warms you up on a cold day. Plus, it's budget friendly!
I love a big bowl of hot soup this time of year. Nothing warms me up on a cold day quite like it. Living in Michigan, we have a few cold days during the winter (HA!), so I make soups, stews and chilies quite often. Sometimes I use the slow cooker, other times I just make it on the stove. One thing is for sure though, these meals are typically easy to make, they feed a crowd, and they can be budget friendly!

This Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder is ready in less than 30 minutes, cost around $10 to make, and feeds a family of four! How awesome is that?! It can easily be made on a weeknight when you get home from work, and it's perfect to serve on a cold night. Add some rolls or biscuits to go alongside the chowder and voila! Dinner is served.

I'm sure you're wondering how in the world I made this chowder for so cheap! Sweet potatoes are inexpensive, clocking in at $.74 each at my local grocer. I only needed one large potato for this chowder. Now, I'll let you in on my biggest secret....I used imitation crab meat. I know, I know, that's crazy, right? I've used it in other dishes for quite some time, and thought I'd give it a try in this chowder. An 8 ounce package is only $2.49, it's fat free, has a good amount of protein, and is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. 

I typically have all of the other ingredients for this dish in my pantry and frig. I use heavy cream in my coffee and in other dishes, and I love keeping herbs such as rosemary in my frig. You only need a small portion of both of these items for the chowder, and the rest can be saved and used in other dishes. 

I'm always looking for ways to save money at the store and still keep nutritious meals on the table for my family. Did you know that dairy is an accessible and affordable source of nutrition?  At $0.25 per 8 ounce serving, milk is a nutritional bargain, providing 8 grams of high-quality protein. Yogurt and cottage cheese also tend to be cost-effective choices, with many varieties typically costing less than $1 per serving. We eat A LOT of yogurt in our house!

Do you have a favorite budget friendly meal? Share with me in the comments below!

Now, let's make some chowder!

Sweet Potato & Crab Chowder
Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door
Serves 4
Print this recipe

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 garlic clove, finely diced
2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
1 Tablespoon flour
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary
1/4 cup heavy cream
8 ounces imitation crab meat, cut into bite sized pieces

In a Dutch oven or large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and stir until it's completely absorbed. Add the broth and rosemary and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer , cover the pot, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. 

Stir in the cream and crab meat and allow the chowder to heat up again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bon Appétit!
UDIM, branded as Milk Means More, is the umbrella organization for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of Michigan. Their goal is to promote Michigan’s locally produced dairy products and reconnect consumers with the people behind their food. I'm proud to be a Milk Means More Ambassador and I thank them for sponsoring this post! I was compensated for developing a Budget Friendly Meal.

For more great dairy recipes, follow Milk Means More, on Pinterest. To learn more about nutrition, animal care/well-being and on-farm practices related to dairy products and the dairy industry, you may want to follow Milk Means More on Facebook. You can also follow them on InstagramTwitter and YouTube!

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