This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Smithfield^®. The opinions and text are all mine.

I really love meals that I can take a couple minutes to prep and then the appliance does the work for me – slow cooker, Instant Pot, etc. This Ham and Corn Chowder is the perfect meal for busy weeknights or for hosting guests. Serve with crusty bread or a side salad!

I especially love any type of soup/stew/chowder that doesn’t have a ton of steps or prep. This chowder recipe uses some helpful shortcuts like Smithfield^® Anytime Favorites^® Diced Ham and canned corn.

I used to follow every painstaking direction in a recipe for fear it wouldn’t turn out if I didn’t, and honestly because my mom never used any shortcuts. But I just don’t know how she did it all! I am no longer opposed to subbing in a food item that was already prepped for me (like the Smithfield Anytime Favorites). I still get that home cooked meal on the table for my family and have some time for all the other items on my to-do list!

Sometimes the day calls for an easy meal, right? This chowder feels like a warm hug at dinnertime but takes less than 20 minutes to prep. Love that!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE HAM AND CORN CHOWDER:

corn
diced onion
red potatoes
chicken or vegetable stock
cornstarch
Smithfield Anytime Favorites Ham
cheese
half & half

If you are not already an Instant Pot pro, do not fret. They are so easy to use and will really help you out to get elaborate dinners (like a chowder) cooked in no time!

Start by using the sauté setting and cooking up the diced onions, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and other vegetables, like corn and potatoes. Now’s the time to let the Instant Pot do its magic! Set pressure to high for 10 minutes, then quick release the steam.

Next, whisk up the water & cornstarch mixture and stir that in as well. Finish the chowder up by adding the ham, half & half and cheese. Once it is thickened up, it is ready to eat!

What also makes this such a convenient, easy dinner is that you can serve it with some crusty bread and have a complete meal! You can also just take couple minutes to throw together a salad and have a meal worthy of guests.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ham and Corn Chowder

Name: Ham and Corn Chowder
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients: 3 Tbsp, butter; 1/4 cup, diced onions (I use frozen as a shortcut); 2 cans corn, drained; 3 red potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces; 3 cups vegetable or chicken stock; 2 Tbsp cornstarch; 2 Tbsp water; 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese; 3 cups, half and half; 1 package, Smithfield® Anytime Favorites® Diced Ham; For serving: chopped fresh parsley, fresh cracked pepper, crusty baguette

This Instant Pot Ham and Corn Chowder is the perfect meal for busy weeknights or hosting guests. Serve with crusty bread or a side salad!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

3 Tbsp, butter
1/4 cup, diced onions (I use frozen as a shortcut)
2 cans corn, drained
3 red potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces
3 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 cups, half and half
1 package, Smithfield® Anytime Favorites® Diced Ham
For serving: chopped fresh parsley, fresh cracked pepper, crusty baguette

Instructions

1. Put Instant Pot on saute and add butter until melted.

2. Add diced onions and cook until soft.

3. Meanwhile, chop up potatoes.

4. Add vegetable broth, diced potatoes, and corn.

5. Close lid and close steam valve. Set to pressure high for 10 minutes.

6. When done do a quick release, carefully lift lid when steam is gone.

7. Whisk together cornstarch and water.

8. Push saute on pressure cooker to allow mixture to boil. Add cornstarch mixture to pot and stir until combined.

9. Add diced ham.

10. Add half and half and cheese slowly, stir and serve when it has thickened a bit.

11. Top with parsley & cracked pepper, serve with sliced baguette.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 546 Total Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 16g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 92mg Sodium: 867mg Carbohydrates: 53g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 12g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 23g

Smithfield Anytime Favorites really help me out for a lot of different meals. I throw the diced ham in eggs at breakfast, in salads or calzones at lunch and in casseroles for dinner! Smithfield Anytime Favorites are so good in just about anything! It is great when I can save some time on a step or two, so I will take the cheat!

Since Smithfield Anytime Favorites Diced Ham is fully cooked it is also great for many things on the fly. I can toss it in school lunches, or the kids can snack on it for a midday boost. I would much rather they have some protein to snack on than something sugary. This helps us avoid those sugar crashes and really gets us through all the activities of the day. Sometimes I do a bento box with snacks, like the diced ham, some string cheese and cut up fruit/berries or vegetables.

I find my Smithfield Anytime Favorites in the cooler section of Meijer. I like shopping at Meijer for the budget-friendly deals. And I love that they have an app to add additional coupons and money saving opportunities!