Quick Clam Linguine 🦪🍝🌿 Briny, Garlicky, and Ready in 20 Minutes With a Glossy White Wine Sauce

This is coastal Italian simplicity at its best — tender clams simmered in a garlic-white wine broth with parsley and chili flakes, tossed with al dente linguine until glossy and perfectly coated.

It’s fast, unfussy, and deeply satisfying. Pantry clams? Totally fine. Fresh clams? Even better.

Serve it with chilled white wine and warm bread to mop the sauce.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the pasta

• 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
• Salt for pasta water

For the clam sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3–4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• ¼ cup dry white wine (or seafood stock)
• 1 (10 oz) can whole baby clams, including liquid or 1 lb fresh littleneck clams (scrubbed)
• 1 tbsp butter
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Optional garnishes

• Extra parsley
• Parmesan (controversial but allowed)
• Toasted breadcrumbs or lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1: Boil the Pasta

Cook linguine in salted water until just al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.

Step 2: Start the Sauce

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

Step 3: Add Wine and Clams

Pour in white wine and simmer for 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly. Add clams with their liquid (or fresh clams, if using). Cover and steam 5–6 minutes, just until clams open. Discard any that stay shut.

If using canned clams, simmer uncovered 2–3 minutes to warm through.

Step 4: Combine and Finish

Add cooked pasta, butter, lemon juice, and zest to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a bit at a time until the sauce lightly coats the noodles. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Finish with parsley and more lemon juice if needed.

Step 5: Serve

Serve immediately with extra parsley and a drizzle of olive oil. Add toasted breadcrumbs or grated cheese if desired (but only if you’re not trying to impress Italians).

Flavor Variations

• Add chopped anchovies or capers for more umami
• Stir in sautéed cherry tomatoes or spinach
• Use chili oil instead of flakes for a spicy finish
• Swap parsley for basil or tarragon for a twist
• Add a splash of clam juice for a bolder sea flavor

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook canned clams — they’re already done
• For fresh clams: soak in cold water with salt for 20–30 minutes to purge sand
• Undercook the pasta slightly and finish in the sauce for best texture
• Garlic burns fast — cook it gently for a sweet, mellow base
• Reserve more pasta water than you think you need — it’s gold for sauce consistency

Final Thoughts

Quick Clam Linguine is fast, briny, and full of quiet elegance — the kind of dish that feels fancy but lives in your weeknight rotation. It’s just the right mix of garlic, wine, sea, and heat — all in under 30 minutes.

Toss it. Twirl it. Savor the sea. 🦪🍝🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.