If you’re from New England, you’re guaranteed to know what stuffed clams are! This east coast favorite turns seafood into comfort food.
Stuffed clams are diced clams, breadcrumbs, and other goodies mixed together and baked on a half-shell.
The result is a fried, crunchy burst of hot shellfish– all in a bite-sized serving.
Presentation is built into the recipe since the half-shells can be used for both easy baking and serving.
You can eat them independently, but adding a little extra always enhances a recipe! Now, you might be wondering what to eat with baked stuffed clams?
The ideal side dishes for stuffed clams are bread, potato salad, and green salad because the flavors and textures pair nicely. Opt for tomato soup or creamed spinach for dinner to create a well-balanced meal. Tartar sauce, sriracha, and lemon butter make excellent sauces for stuffed clams.
If you’re looking for a stuffed clam pasta dish, spaghetti and linguine are the top choices.
Which one appeals to you most? Read on to find out why these sides, sauces, and pasta complement stuffed clams.
You are sure to find a delicious idea for your next seafood feast.
What Side Dish Goes Well With Stuffed Clams?
Of course, baked clams can be enjoyed on their own! But it’s always more fun– and flavorful– to provide accompaniments.
To add that extra something to stuffed clams, pair it with one of these tasty side dishes.
1.Homemade Foccacia
Bread is an obvious choice with seafood! Its doughy texture works like a sponge to absorb all the flavor of the stuffed clams.
Focaccia in particular is simple, but with an interesting texture. The Italian flatbread has a dense interior and a golden, crispy exterior.
It has a richer flavor, almost like a nutty olive oil– and with yummy Italian herbs sprinkled on top.
The taste, the texture, and the ease of both these dishes make them an excellent pair.
2.Potato Salad
If you’re a meat and potatoes person, you may also be a seafood and potatoes person!
I love a protein paired with a starch, and potatoes make an amazing accompaniment to seafood.
Potato salad comes with many ingredients, but usually has a base of chopped potatoes, mayonnaise, and veggies.
It can be crunchy, creamy, and soft all in one go.
Try scooping the clam mixture out and eating it together with the potato salad. The potatoes and fish balance each other out well.
3.Green Salad
A classic green salad is the black heels of cooking. It goes with everything!
The acidity and slight bitterness of green salads complement the saltiness of the stuffed clams. It’s perfect for those savory food fans!
4.Garlic Bread
Another Italian bread to get that appetite going! Garlic is always a foodie’s favorite because it adds so much flavor to any dish.
Here, it goes with stuffed clams because seafood and garlic complement each other so well.
If you’re looking for a softer bread with more intense, pungent quality, garlic bread is the way to go!
5.Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a classic, American staple. It’s also an easy option for fork-free eating.
Think about it– serving stuffed clams and corn on the cob means no dishes to clean up after!
Typically, it’s served with butter and salt sprinkled over top. You have buttery, crunchy corn kernels and soft, salty stuffed clams.
That sounds like an ideal summer day by the sea. So throw away those forks and get your hands (just a little) dirty!
What Goes With Stuffed Clams For Dinner?
Stuffed clams make an excellent main. To turn those stuffed clams into dinner, all you need is the right side dishes!
Here are some nutritious, veggie-heavy options to balance out the seafood. Pick one, two, or all three, and create a dinnertime masterpiece!
6.Creamed Spinach
Looking to sneak some heart-healthy spinach into the meal without the kids noticing? Creamed spinach is the way to go!
When cooked and mixed with dairy, the intensity of spinach subsides. It has a softer, more savory taste.
Add some cream and parmesan cheese and you’ve got turned spinach into a sought-after side dish. Even your kids will be asking for seconds.
7.Tomato Soup
Tomato soup is a great side dish for a meal. The warmth and heartiness of soup enhance the cozy vibes of a good dinner.
Creaminess goes well with soft, decadent textures of stuffed clams. The acidic qualities of tomatoes are also balanced by the milder clams.
Add some parmesan cheese to get a richer, saltier taste. All together, these ingredients make for one addictive meal.
8.Roasted Veggies
Roasted veggies are easy, healthy, and flavorful. What’s great is you can actually cook it all at the same time.
Roasted veggies are low maintenance and can cook in the oven at the same time as those clams.
Use a variety of veggies of all colors– bell peppers, red onions, carrots, and broccoli. Aim for the rainbow and you’re more likely to get all the vitamins you need!
The colors will spice up the presentation, and the variety of flavors will create a well-rounded dinner. Bon appetit!
What Sauce Goes With Stuffed Clams?
The half-shells are the perfect vessel for baking and serving, making them excellent finger food for parties or meals.
When served as a snack, it’s customary to provide stuffed clam dips!
These sauces can add a spicy, tangy, or buttery flavor to the mix. Try one of these easy, tasty options alongside your stuffed clams.
9.Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce is to seafood what ketchup is to fries. The perfect couple!
Tartar sauce is a mayonnaise base with chopped pickles, herbs, and often extras like lemon juice.
It’s slightly sour and slightly sweet, adding contrasting but complementary flavors to shellfish.
The creamy base pairs well with the crispy baked breadcrumbs on the clams.
10.Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce is loved by many. While it has a powerful kick, it’s also loaded with flavor.
Baked clams are usually mild. If you want to turn up the heat, this is an easy but tasty option!
It contributes spiciness and tanginess to the clams. So if you’re a fan of sriracha, it’ll taste delicious atop this dish!
11.Lemon Butter Sauce
The description is in the name. Lemon and butter make dishes citrusy and scrumptious.
After all, acid and fat are like the yin and yang of cooking. And what better to capture this quality than bite-sized baked clams.
Drizzle a lemon butter sauce over the stuffed clams. The thin sauce is absorbed by the baked goodies easily, and the rest drips over into the shell.
After you scoop the center out, you’ll have a tasty little sip of sauce to coat your tastebuds.
What Pastas Go With Stuffed Clams?
Stuffed Clams and pasta take us to an Italian seaside village. It’s fresh and flavorful, and oh so satisfying.
There are a few kinds of pasta that work particularly well with stuffed clams.
Here we have a red, white, and green one for delicious variety. Try one of these to get see what I mean!
12.Baked Clams and Linguini
Linguini are long, flat noodles somewhere in between spaghetti and fettuccine.
The thicker texture works well to wrap around the baked clams, getting flavors of both in each bite.
I prefer linguini with a simple cream sauce. Toss in some garlic and lemon to brighten the flavor.
The combination will liven the dish and bring out the flavors of the stuffed clams.
13.Baked Clams and Spaghetti
Spaghetti and stuffed clams in a tomato-based sauce are full of fresh flavor. Top it off with some basil and a sprinkle of olive oil to really complete the dish.
Pasta may not be the most spectacular to look at on its own. However, with a mound of baked clams and cherry tomatoes, it’s quite the culinary exhibit.
The soft pasta swirled around soft-baked clams make this dish extremely easy to eat. As a bond, the shells work well to spoon out the extra sauce.
14.Stuffed Clams and Farfalle
Farfalle, or bowtie pasta, is fun to look at it and tasty to eat! I like this dish with basil pesto.
The sauce adds a bright, nutty element to the clam. The combination of flavors is pleasant, but somehow still gives it a nice freshness.
It really brings the dish to life. If you’re looking for a pasta dish that will surprise and delight you, stuffed clams with farfalle in a basil pesto sauce will do it!
What Goes With Gluten-Free Clams?
Aside from breadcrumbs, stuffed clams are naturally gluten-free.
Luckily, you can replace this one ingredient with a gluten-free option such as crushed oats, almond flour, or prepackaged gluten-free breadcrumbs.
To round out the meal, add one of these delicious gluten-free side dishes.
15.Roasted Butternut Squash
Butternut squash makes an excellent side dish to clams. It provides substance and starch without all the gluten!
It’s easy to make as well. Pop it in the oven until soft and drizzle some grass-fed butter over the top for flavor.
You can cut the squash into serving-sized slices and leave the skin on. Both the squash and clams can be finger food and a good party option!
16.Risotto
Risotto is a rice dish with a creamy, rich texture. It’s the naturally gluten-free version of mac and cheese, but with a fancier edge.
Stuffed clams pair well with risotto since they are both soft and buttery. Try removing the stuffed clams and mixing them into the rice for an extra flavorful combo.
17.Gluten-free Cornbread
Cornbread always adds a homemade touch to meals. Like other types of bread, cornbread does a great job soaking up all the flavor of clams.
Its slightly sweet taste balances the savory stuffed clams. Add a dollop of butter and eat them together for an even richer flavor.
How Do You Cook Store Bought Stuffed Clams?
Stuffed clams are so popular, you can even find them prepared! Buying store-bought stuffed clams will save you a lot of time in the cooking process.
They usually come frozen and should remain so until you’re ready to bake them. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the clams on a baking tray and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or about 30 minutes.
Don’t forget to prepare your favorite side dish, sauce, or pasta. Combine and serve!
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Final Thoughts
Clams are already delicious, and stuffed clams take them to a whole new level.
The crispy breadcrumbs, soft fish, and extra herbs create a delightful combo. You can easily pick the half-shell and eat it!
They’re great with sauces as an appetizer, or with side dishes to make a whole meal.
Try one of the many suggestions above to get you started. Your guests will be as happy as clams! And maybe even stuffed ones as well.
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