The first dish I made in my new Ninja® 3-in-1 Cooking System that I blogged about last week was a wonderful ham, potato and corn chowder. I wanted to use the Ninja’s stovetop and slow cooker modes, and since the weather had turned a bit chilly, a chowder seemed to fit the bill. And, as luck would have it, I found ham potatoes and red bell peppers on sale at the grocery store. I love when things come together like that!

This is a hearty soup that will warm your insides. It is so creamy and the ham, potatoes, corn and red pepper taste great together. You will probably come back for seconds!

Ingredients (makes 6 servings)

• 2 cups ham, fat removed and diced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup red bell pepper, diced small
• 1 cup sweet onion, diced small
• ½ pound frozen corn (I used a yellow and white blend)
• 2 cups potatoes, peeled and diced into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups fresh green beans, cut into small pieces
• 2 cans (10.75 oz. each) cream of celery soup (you may substitute cream of mushroom soup if you’d like)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Sea salt to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup 2% milk

Preparation

(Note – if you don’t have the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System, you can do the first two steps in a large skillet over medium heat, and then transfer it to a slow cooker. However, that means you have more dishes to wash!)

Place the ham in the pot and set the Ninja to “Stovetop High.” Cook uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes until the ham starts browning, stirring often.

Add the red pepper and onions and cook for a few minutes, until the onions become translucent.

Add the rest of the ingredients except for the milk, mix well and switch the Ninja setting to “Slow Cook Low” for 4-5 hours. Cover and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Stir in the milk and cook for another 15-30 minutes.

I like to serve this chowder with some nice crusty bread and butter and a nice glass of white wine.

I was thrilled with my inaugural Ninja dish. The browning feature of the Ninja saves on time since you don’t have to clean up extra pans – it is so convenient. Off to a great start!

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

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