How to Make Perfect Garlic Butter Clams at Home

7/1/20252 min read

This is the dish my friends and family request time and again: tender clams in a buttery white wine broth, served with garlic bread to catch every bit of that savory goodness!

It’s just as good served outside with chilled white wine in the summer as it is at a cozy table during the holidays. No matter when I make it, this is the dish everyone asks for.

I’ll be honest: a lot of people are intimidated by cooking clams, but they really shouldn’t be! They’re surprisingly simple to prepare, and this recipe makes an amazing appetizer or main course. And while you can always opt for store-bought garlic bread in a pinch… let’s be real: homemade is always better and easy!

Growing up in the Northeast, seafood was a big part of our diet. But when we moved to Texas, I met so many people who had never even tried clams! Now it’s one of my favorite things to serve guests because it always surprises and delights.

Pro tip: The smaller the littleneck clam, the sweeter the flavor. And whenever possible, buy wild-caught clams for the best taste.

Ingredients:

For the Clams:

  • 2 lbs fresh clams, scrubbed & soaked

  • 4 tbsp butter

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 cup dry white wine

  • Juice of 1½ lemon + 1 tbsp lemon zest

  • 4 garlic cloves minced

  • 1 shallot minced

  • 1 cup chopped Italian parsley

  • 2½ tbsp red pepper flakes

  • 3 tbsp black pepper

For the Garlic Bread:

  • 4 slices of your favorite rustic bread

  • 4 tbsp butter

  • 1½ tbsp olive oil

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • ½ cup chopped parsley

  • 1½ tbsp red pepper flakes

  • 2 tbsp black pepper

  • 3 tbsp freshly grated parm cheese

Directions — Clams:

  1. Soak the clams in a large bowl of cold water with a generous handful of salt for 30 minutes. The salt helps the clams purge any sand or grit. After soaking, rinse the clams well and discard any broken ones.

  2. Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and add butter and olive oil.

  3. Sauté shallots for a few minutes until soft

  4. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 2 minutes).

  5. Add clams, white wine, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cover and steam for 5 minutes.

  6. Add red pepper flakes and black pepper. Cover again and cook for 5 more minutes, until clams open.

  7. Toss in fresh parsley

Directions — Garlic Bread:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

  2. Lightly toast bread for about 7 minutes.

  3. While it toasts, mix together butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley, pepper flakes, pepper and parm.

  4. Spread mixture generously onto toasted bread and place under the broiler for a few minutes. Serve warm alongside the clams.

Why These Clams Are So Loved:

✨ The butter + lemon + white wine creates an unforgettable buttery, briny broth.
✨ The spicy garlic bread soaks up all that liquid gold.
✨ Quick to make — ready in under 30 minutes.
✨ Works beautifully as an appetizer or main course.
✨ Impressive for entertaining, easy enough for a weeknight meal.
✨ Great way to introduce clams to those who’ve never tried them!

Kitchen Tools I Love for This Recipe:

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