Cheesy Ham and Corn Chowder

Ingredients

• 2 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup sliced celery
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 (15 ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup diced cooked ham

Directions

Stir chicken broth, carrots, chicken bouillon, bay leaves, sea salt, pepper, thyme, marjoram, and garlic powder together in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Add potatoes and onion; cook for 10 minutes more. Add celery; cook until all vegetables are fork tender, about 10 minutes more.

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk flour into butter until smooth. Return saucepan to medium heat; gradually add milk to butter mixture, whisking constantly, and cook until mixture thickens, 6 to 7 minutes.

Stir milk mixture into vegetable mixture; add corn, Cheddar cheese, and ham, reduce heat to low, and simmer until ham is heated through and cheese melts, 10 to 15 minutes.