Creamy Christmas Chowder | One Pot One Portion
This might be controversial but I think bread sauce might be the best part of christmas dinner! The amount I consume of christmas may be slightly indecent, and while I’m not opposed to eating a whole bowl myself, I created this recipe for christmas chowder to bring the flavour of bread sauce to a slightly more balanced bowl. The foundations of a good bread sauce are usually a clove studded onion gently simmered in milk, or cream, with bay leaves and bread until thick and creamy and luscious! This soup takes those flavours and with a few extra festive ingredients makes a christmas chowder that is simultaneously light and luxurious, fresh and comforting.
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Creamy Christmas chowder is a single-serve, one-pot soup inspired by the classic flavours of bread sauce. Cooked gently on the hob, this small-batch chowder combines pancetta, potato, sprouts, warm spices, herbs, and a touch of cream for a festive yet balanced bowl. It’s designed as a one-portion recipe, perfect for cooking for one during the Christmas season. The flavour is savoury, lightly spiced, and comforting without being heavy. Practical, cosy, and deeply seasonal, it’s an ideal solo dinner when you want something special without excess.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Recipe
Perfectly Portioned for One
This chowder is intentionally scaled for a single serving, meaning no leftovers and no half-used ingredients lingering in the fridge. It’s festive cooking made manageable.
Quick & Easy
With minimal prep and around 20 minutes of simmering, this is a low-effort recipe that delivers big flavour. Everything cooks in one pan, making it ideal for relaxed evenings.
One Pot Cooking
The pancetta, vegetables, broth, and cream all come together in the same pan. Less washing up, more time to enjoy your dinner — always a win when cooking for one.
Festive but Balanced
It captures the comforting flavour of bread sauce while staying lighter and fresher, thanks to sprouts, herbs, and a restrained hand with cream.
Eleanor’s Top Tips for the Perfect Creamy Christmas Chowder
- Start the pancetta in a cold pan so the fat renders slowly and crisps evenly.
- Dice the potato into even 1cm cubes so it cooks at the same rate as the sprouts.
- Finely slice the sprouts to keep the chowder light rather than overly dense.
- Use whole cloves sparingly — they add warmth but can overpower if left too long.
- Remove the bay, thyme, and cloves before serving to keep flavours balanced.
- Add the cream off the heat to prevent splitting.
- Adjust the thickness with a splash of extra water if needed — it should be creamy, not stodgy.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Essential Ingredients
- Pancetta (100g): Adds saltiness and depth.
- White onion: Forms the sweet, savoury base.
- Garlic: Brings warmth and aroma.
- Potatoes: Provide body and gentle creaminess.
- Brussels sprouts: Add freshness and a festive edge.
- Water + vegetable stock cube: Creates a light but flavourful broth.
- Bay leaf: Traditional bread sauce flavour.
- Cloves: Warm, aromatic spice.
- Fresh thyme: Earthy, herbal balance.
- Double cream: Adds richness and silkiness.
- Salt & black pepper: For seasoning and balance.
To Serve (Optional)
- Crusty bread or toast
- Extra black pepper
- A drizzle of olive oil
Essential Tools
- Medium saucepan or sauté pan
- Knife and chopping board
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring jug
Dietary Variations
Gluten-Free
This chowder is naturally gluten-free. Just ensure your stock cube is gluten-free.
Dairy-Free
Swap the double cream for a dairy-free cream or a splash of oat cream.
Vegetarian
Omit the pancetta and add an extra drizzle of olive oil or a knob of butter for richness.
Different Vegetables / Flavours
Leeks can replace onion for a softer base, or add finely diced celery for extra depth. A pinch of nutmeg can enhance the bread-sauce-style warmth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I make this chowder ahead when cooking for one?
A: Yes — it can be made earlier in the day and gently reheated, adding a splash of water if needed.
Q: What pan size works best for this one-pot soup?
A: A medium saucepan (around 18–20cm) is ideal to prevent excessive reduction.
Q: Can I leave out the sprouts?
A: Yes, you can substitute with leeks, cabbage, or extra potato if preferred.
Q: How thick should Christmas chowder be?
A: It should be lightly creamy and spoonable, not thick like a stew.
Q: Is this suitable as a light Christmas dinner for one?
A: Absolutely — it’s comforting, festive, and filling without being heavy.
Cosy, festive, and quietly luxurious, this creamy Christmas chowder proves that cooking for one at Christmas can still feel thoughtful, comforting, and deeply joyful.
Ingredients
- 100g Pancetta
- 1/2 white onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic, finely sliced
- 150g potato, cut into 1cm cubes
- 75g sprouts, finely sliced
- 300ml water + 1/2 vegetable stock cube
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 1 sprig of fresh thyme
- 2-3 tbsp double (heavy) cream
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Add the pancetta to a cold pan and place on a medium heat. Cook until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crispy.
- Add a little more oil if needed, then add the onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes before adding the potato, sprouts, water, stock, bay leaf, cloves and thyme.
- Bring to a boil then simmer on a medium-low heat for around 15 minutes until the potatoes are soft (you may need to add more water so keep an eye on it).
- Remove the bay, thyme and cloves (if you can find them!) then add the cream and stir.
- Season well with salt and black pepper then serve and enjoy.
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?