Recipes

40 Clam Recipes We’re Shelling (Get It?) Out for Right Now

Clams can do much more than chowder. And we made this list to prove it. 
Image may contain Food Dish Meal Animal Clam Sea Life Seashell Invertebrate and Bowl
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Bowls by Meilen Ceramics 

Don’t let a clam’s hard shell intimidate you: These bivalves are easy to cook, and you don’t have to be a mollusk-master to nail these delicious clam recipes. And it’s not all creamy soups, either! Let this 15-minute Clam Dip serve as proof. Clams can thrive in most savory environments, ranging from Thai green curries to saucy fennel and white bean situations to crispy-gone-soggy grilled toasts piled high with olives and lemon, so think outside the seafood chowder box—though, hey, that’s a great option too. Whatever genre of clam dishes catches your eye, these shellfish hit that sweet spot at the intersection of impressive-looking and totally doable. (Just follow these tips for how to cook clams, clean ’em, and shop for them too.) If you’re searching for something quick and tasty to serve tonight, look no further—you’ve arrived at Delish Clam Recipes Road.

  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Animal Clam Sea Life Seashell Invertebrate and Bowl
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Bowls by Meilen Ceramics 
    3/40

    Brothy Clams With Soba

    Every batch of clams will bring a different level of saltiness to this update on linguine with clams, so be sure to taste the broth and add water as needed in case it's too salty.

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  • Bowl of Clams Arrabbiata
    Photo by David Malosh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Cindy Diprima
    4/40

    Clams Arrabbiata

    Pancetta, garlic, and jammy slow-cooked tomatoes bring big, concentrated flavor to these brothy clams. 

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  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Sea Life Clam and Seashell
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson
    5/40

    Clams With Spicy Tomato Broth and Garlic Mayo

    If you don't have a grill, don't sweat it: Just heat the cast-iron skillet over medium on your stovetop. Inside or out, you’ll still have buttery clams to enjoy.

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  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Plant Animal Clam Sea Life Seashell and Invertebrate
    Photo by Andria Lo, prop styling by Jillian Knox
    6/40

    Almejas con Alguashte

    Alguashte, a Salvadoran seasoning, lends deep nuttiness to the spicy acidic tomato broth that the clams steam in.

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  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Clam Seashell Sea Life and Food
    Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Emily Eisen
    7/40

    Skillet Cod, Clams, and Corn with Parsley

    Who says clam sauce is only good for pasta? Not this buttery corn-studded dish.

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  • A bowl of seafood chowder with white fish and lobster meat topped with oyster crackers
    Photographs by Elizabeth Cecil, food styling by Danielle Pattavina
    8/40

    Seafood Chowder

    This New England–style soup is deeply flavored, creamy but light, and never gloppy.

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  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Animal Seafood Sea Life Lobster and Plant
    Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
    9/40

    Paccheri With Shellfish, Squid, and Tomatoes

    Think of paccheri as the big brother to rigatoni that will catch and be draped in so much saucy goodness.

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  • Image may contain Cutlery Fork Animal Seashell Sea Life Clam Invertebrate Food Oyster and Bird
    Chris Fischer
    10/40

    Beer-Steamed Clams

    Clams are inexpensive, plentiful, easy to cook, and delicious. And you barely need a recipe—once they open, they’re done.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Food Dish Meal Soup Bowl Stew and Soup
    Chris Court
    11/40

    New England Clam Chowder

    Channel New England with this rich and warming one-pot clam chowder. If fresh clams are unavailable (or you're running short on time), substitute two 10-ounce cans of baby clams and 6 cups of bottled clam juice.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal and Platter
    Christopher Testani
    12/40

    Grilled Seafood Paella

    If you’re using a charcoal grill, you’ll want to actively monitor the heat in different spots and shift the pan this way and that as needed.

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  • A large platter of linguine with clams alongside a bottle of white wine and two glasses.
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Kat Boystova
    13/40

    BA's Best Linguine and Clams

    Clams vary in brininess and the amount of liquid they’ll release during cooking, so you’ll need to adjust the salt and add pasta water accordingly. To prevent the sauce from getting too salty, we recommend a measured amount of salt for the pasta water. If possible, look for an artisanal dried pasta for this recipe—the rougher surface texture will catch the slippery sauce better.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable and Bean
    Gentl & Hyers
    14/40

    Lemony Fregola with Cockles and Herbs

    Fregola, a small, toasted Sardinian pasta, is classic with clams, and cockles make a great sub for Italy’s tiny vongole veraci.

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Mehreen Karim was formerly the Recipe Production Assistant at Bon Appétit, where she built recipes and stories for bonappetit.com. She also developed recipes and wrote stories to help readers discover unlikely food combinations (caramelized dates and asparagus) and cooking hacks (how to grill chicken without a grill) to inspire home ... Read More