Clam Dip Recipe

5 from 16 votes
14 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.

This clam dip recipe is always a favorite at family gatherings! It is a creamy dip with minced clams and a touch of lemon. Best served with salty ridged potato chips.

Clam Dip next to a bowl of Potato Chips.
Featured with this recipe
  1. Easy Clam Dip Ingredients
  2. How to Make Homemade Clam Dip
  3. Tips for Making the Best Clam Dip
  4. What to Serve with Clam Dip
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Storing and Making Ahead
  7. So Many Dips, Please Pass the Chips
  8. How to Make Clam Dip
  9. Clam Dip Recipe Recipe

This easy clam dip recipe just takes a few minutes to make. I often make it for the holidays, game nights, and summer BBQs and have many requests for the recipe. It is so yummy and a staple chip dip at our home. We usually double this recipe and it still doesn’t last long!

This classic dip is especially good served with potato chips, the kind with the ridges to hold as much clam dip as you can. It requires a sturdy potato chip so it can hold plenty of the dip. Make ahead and be prepared or make it the day of. It is great for parties and simple to make. This clap dip recipe is creamy and flavorful in every bite!

Easy Clam Dip Ingredients

With only four ingredients, you might be wondering what makes this dip stand out above the crowd. The flavorful combination of ingredients makes your tastebuds sing! It is that good!

  • Minced Clams – We use canned minced clams for this recipe. Minced simply means the clams are chopped clams or sliced finely into very small pieces. Canned clams are cooked and tend to be on the chewy side, so mincing them makes them easier to eat. The clam juice the clams are canned in gives the clam dip extra flavor as well. If you have access to fresh clams, by all means, wash and cook them, then chop them up for the dip. The clam flavor will be more potent than using a can of minced clams.
  • Softened Cream Cheese – This is the base of the dip and gives it a rich texture. Some clam dips are made with sour cream, which also works, but the dip is not as thick and can be a little runny.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – If you’ve never worked with Worcestershire sauce before, it is a condiment made from vinegar and seasoned with anchovies, molasses, tamarind, onion, garlic, and more. It has such a distinct flavor and adds so much depth to this dip. You can see the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon, but you can add more or less, depending on your taste.
  • Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice is always best if you have fresh lemon on hand. Bottled lemon juice can also be used.
  • Additional Seasonings – If you want to kick things up a bit, feel free to use additional seasonings to your taste. Lemon pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, parsley, or a drop or two of hot sauce are all seasonings that will complement this dip.
clam dip ingredients


How to Make Homemade Clam Dip

Combine this clam dip recipe in minutes and chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to share with friends and family! It is the perfect dip to share that is a total crowd-pleaser.

  1. Blend – Open the clams and discard about half of the clam juice. With an electric mixer, blend the remaining clam juice with cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon pepper (optional).
  2. Stir – Once blended, gently stir in the clams.
  3. Chill – Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to eat. Serve with potato chips with ridges.

Tips for Making the Best Clam Dip

Keep these tips in mind when making this clam dip recipe! Clam dip has simple ingredients that have all the flavor. Follow these tips, they will benefit the overall flavor and presentation of your dip.

  • Quality ingredients – Make sure that your ingredients are within the date and high quality for the best results.
  • Soften – Set the cream cheese out to rest at room temperature. Room temperature cream cheese will ensure you have no lumps in your dip.
  • Drain – Empty the contents of the canned clams and reserve clam juice for the dip. The juice holds all the flavor of the clams. If you want to add more flavor to the clam dip, drain one to two tablespoons of liquid into the clam dip.
  • Flavors – Taste right before adding to the fridge. Make sure that the flavors are balanced right and that it is just how you like it before chilling it in the refrigerator.
  • Don’t overmix – Stir and combine the ingredients for a few minutes. Once they are combined you no longer have to mix. Overmixing will mush the clam together.
  • Spicy – Make it spicy using a squirt or two of Tabasco sauce or sprinkling in a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
  • Garnish – Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or a dash of paprika for a colorful garnish!
Dipping a chip into a bowl of clam dip.

What to Serve with Clam Dip

This clam dip recipe is so addictive that you will want to eat it right off the spoon! It pairs well with veggies, chips, crackers, and bread. You can’t go wrong with these favorite dipping

  • Vegetables – Cut-up carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower are delicious with clam dip.
  • Chips – A strong chip is best like Ruffles or tortilla chips.
  • Crackers – Find a thick and sturdy type of cracker to dip in the clam dip dish. Wheat thins or a classic hard cracker will be great!
  • Bread- Slice pita bread, naan, baguette, or artisan bread is delicious to dip into the clam dip!

“This is exactly what I’m looking for simplicity at its best! This is a great recipe! Thanks for sharing! I needed this easy recipe, last minute New Years eve dip!”

-Nora

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you serve with clam dip?

We recommend a hearty potato chip with ridges or kettle chips. You can also serve this dip with your favorite crackers like Wheat Thins or Triscuit Original Wheat Crackers. For a healthier option, try fresh-cut vegetables like carrots and celery sticks.

Can I use fresh clams instead of canned clams?

Yes! Fresh clams will work for this clam dip recipe too. Be sure to wash and steam the fresh clams before adding them to the dip. Remove them from their shells and chop them into smaller pieces.

Can I freeze clam dip?

It is best that you do not freeze the clam dip. The ingredients that you use for the dip recipe will freeze well but the thawing process is not the best and the flavors start to change.

What can I substitute for the cream cheese?

If you can stick with cream cheese, that would be best. However, if you need to substitute cream cheese try a combination of sour cream and mayo. Both of these ingredients will alter the flavor and appearance of the dip.

How do I adjust the consistency of the clam dip?

If the dip seems to be too thick, add in some milk, clam juice, or water a little at a time. When the clam dip is too thin, add extra cream cheese to the bowl.

Storing and Making Ahead

Making ahead clam dip is a great idea to be prepared for the day of. Storing it in the fridge is best and will keep for a few days longer. Follow these suggestions for making ahead, storing, and how long it will last.

  • Making ahead – You can make this clam dip recipe 24 hours in advance. Let it sit in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy the next day.
  • Storing – Place the make-ahead recipe or the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
  • Lasting – The clam dip only lasts about three to four days. Each time you serve it, be sure to stir it together.

So Many Dips, Please Pass the Chips

Any sort of get-together is better when you have something on which your guests can nosh. Chips and dips are the perfect casual, yet fabulous thing to put out on the buffet. People just love dipping things. Whether it’s veggies dipped in hummus, chips in an amazing Clam Dip, or fruit in a delicious fruit dip. Don’t worry, we have you covered with a bunch of great ideas.

How to Make Clam Dip

Dipping a chip into a bowl of clam dip

Clam Dip Recipe

5 from 16 votes
This clam dip recipe is always a favorite at family gatherings! It is a creamy dip with minced clams and a touch of lemon. Best served with salty ridged potato chips.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Seafood
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Hand Mixer

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Open the clams and discard about half of the clam juice. With an electric mixer, blend the remaining clam juice with cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon pepper (optional).
    clam dip ingredients
  • Once blended, gently stir in the clams.
    Adding clams to clam dip mix
  • Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to eat. Serve with potato chips with ridges.
    Blending together clam dip ingredients

Notes

Nutrition does not include potato chips.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 133mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 391IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg

Love this recipe?

We want to hear from you! Please leave a review.

Rate and Review



Share This With the World

PinYummly

About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

More about Emily Walker

Similar Recipes

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How many stars would you give this recipe?




Comments

  1. Why have you changed things so we can no longer just print a recipe? trying to figure out how to get copies now.

    1. Hi Jeanne,
      That is a great question! We did just update our site to be more user friendly. In the recipe card, we have a printer icon that you are able to still continue to print any and all of our recipes. We even have a “jump to recipe” button at the top.

  2. 5 stars
    This is exactly what I’m looking for simplicity at its best! This is a great recipe! Thanks for sharing! I needed this easy recipe, last minute New Years eve dip!

  3. I love the horseradish tip. Could you also add a tad of sour cream to make it creamier? And also could you change clams for crab meat? Sounds wonderful

    1. We have never had it with crab meat before but it would probably be ok! As for the sour cream, sure! It is already nice and creamy but if you wanted to use sour cream to make it go further I am sure it would be fine!

  4. Add some grated onion, crushed garlic, and salt and you have a recipe my family has been making for every holiday for the past 65 years.

  5. 5 stars
    Try this same recipe except change out the lemon juice with a dab of horseradish…its delish!!!