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    Home » Sweet Little Bluebird

    The Best Baked Hot Clam Dip (4 Ingredients)

    by Mary Neumann · 7 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The Best Baked Hot Clam Dip! Made with just 4 ingredients – cream cheese, canned minced clams, onion and fresh lemon juice. A family favorite for over 35 years, and it’s so easy to make! Perfect for holidays, parties, gameday and more. This dip gets devoured!

    THE BEST BAKED HOT CLAM DIP (4 INGREDIENTS)


    This family favorite appetizer for hot clam dip is a must-have on Thanksgiving and Christmas. With just four ingredients and minutes to throw together, this is THE appetizer everyone looks forward to during the holidays. Simple to make, so good, never any leftovers.  

    This photo shows the clam dip in the baking dish after baking, ready to serve.

    *Original post date – November 23, 2016. Post Updated, November 19, 2023

    WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE HOT CLAM DIP

    • minced clams
    • cream cheese
    • fresh lemon
    • sweet or yellow onion
    This photo shows the ingredients to make the clam dip on a kitchen table - 2 cans of minced clams, 2 blocks of cream cheese, 1 lemon and 1 yellow onion.

    HOW TO MAKE BAKED HOT CLAM DIP

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

    Place all the ingredients in a medium size bowl, squeeze lemon juice over top and mix until well blended and spoon into an oven safe dish.

    This is a 4 photo collage showing the dip in a bowl, being made. The last photo shows the dip in a baking dish before going into the oven.

    Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, until dip starts to turn light golden brown. Remove.

    This photo shows the dip in the oven, ready to bake.

    Serve warm with your favorite crackers and/or banquette. Enjoy!

    This photo shows the clam dip in the baking dish after baking, ready to serve.

    Frequently Asked Questions for Clam Dip

    What clams are best for hot clam dip?

    Canned. Save your money, time and energy and use canned. We’ve used canned for over 30 years, and this dip is fabulous!

    How do you serve hot baked clam dip?

    Serve the dip warm, fresh out of the oven, with your favorite crackers and/or fresh baguette. Our go-to crackers for decades are Sociables and Triscuits.

    How do you store baked clam dip?

    Store leftover dip tightly covered in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave.

    PINNABLE IMAGE

    This photo shows the ingredients needed and the dip in a baking dish, ready to serve.

    Want More Easy Appetizer Recipes Like This One?

    • Easy Sausage Dip (Only 3 Ingredients)
    • The Best Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Hot Crab Dip
    • Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip
    • Fiesta Party Dip
    • Cranberry Cream Cheese Jalapeño Crescent Bites 
    • Old School Favorite Appetizer
    This photo shows the clam dip in the baking dish after baking, ready to serve.

    The Best Baked Hot Clam Dip (4 Ingredients)

    Family favorite dip for over 35 years! Made with just 4 simple ingredients – cream cheese, canned minced clams, onion and fresh lemon juice, it's so easy to make! Perfect for parties, holidays, gameday and more. This dip gets devoured!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Servings 8

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 blocks (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
    • 2 cans (6.5 ounces each) minced clams, drained well
    • ½ cup sweet or yellow onion (or more to taste), chopped
    • ½ lemon – juice from 1/2 of a lemon

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Add all the ingredients in a medium size bowl, squeeze lemon juice over top and mix until well blended.
    • Spoon into oven safe dish, bake on middle rack of oven for 20–25 minutes, until dip starts to turn light golden brown.
    • Serve warm with favorite crackers and/or banquette. We love Sociables and Triscuits.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. I made your best ever clam dip. It was delicious. My question is I had leftovers the next day. The dip was hard as a rock. What can I put in it to soften it up?lois

      November 14, 2018 at 6:25 pm

      I made your best ever clam dip. It was delicious. My question is I had leftovers the next day. The dip was hard as a rock. What can I put in it to soften it up?

      Reply
      • Mary Neumann

        November 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

        All you need to do it reheat the dip, it will soften.

        Reply
        • Hockey123$ Davey

          November 26, 2025 at 4:16 pm

          5 stars
          That’s why God invented microwave ovens

          Reply
      • deborah Allard

        November 19, 2023 at 11:30 am

        I added some juice from the clams before cooking it , It made it to a consistency of a spreadable dip

        Reply
        • Mary Neumann

          November 19, 2023 at 11:32 am

          The dip is super soft and spreadable when it’s heated – so all you need to do is reheat.

          Reply
    2. Karen Richards

      June 26, 2018 at 8:35 am

      not a fan of clams or crab.. could you use diced of cooked shrimp?

      Reply
    3. Kristin Weingartner

      December 31, 2016 at 10:13 pm

      Looks delicious! Did you double the recipe in your picture above? Trying to figure out if I should or not.

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I’m Mary, the face behind the food blog Sweet Little Bluebird. I am a Michigan girl, born and raised in Flint, and currently living outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I am married to a great guy from Northern California, together we have two sweet girls.

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