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Home » Cheap Eats

Pantry Pasta: Linguini and Clams

Published: Jan 31, 2021 · Modified: May 23, 2021 by Ash, The Grocery Addict · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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Growing up, this pantry version of Linguini and Clams was my absolute favorite meal. I'd even ask for it for birthday dinners, so you *know* I thought it was the jam. Now that I'm all grown up, it turns out I still love it, and not only because it tastes good. Made entirely from pantry items, this 20 minute pasta dish is a gee dang lifesaver.

overhead shot of white pasta bowl with a portion of pasta with white clam sauce, gold fork and spoon and a black and white napkin on a white marble countertop

When life comes at you hard, sometimes it's near impossible to have the energy or creativity to come up with a plan for dinner. During those times, having some trusty standbys on deck is crucial to kitchen success. Any tried and true recipe that can be made from only shelf stable ingredients and is kid friendly is one you should memorize stat. This easy recipe for linguini with clam sauce is all of those things.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Make Pasta with Clam Sauce
    • Prepare Noodles
    • How to Make Creamy White Clam Sauce
    • Assembly
  • Serving and Storing
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Need more pantry inspired eats? Check out these other easy recipes using what you already have on hand:

Ingredients and Substitutions

This simple recipe for linguini and clams requires just a handful of ingredients from your pantry. Here is everything you need:

mise en place for linguini and clams - kosher salt, pepper, yellow onion, 2 cans of clams, 1 pound of pasta, half and half, dried thyme and parsley

Just a few notes on ingredients:

  • Pasta shape - while linguini is the traditional choice for pasta with clam sauce, I'd argue that any long, skinny pasta should work. As a wee lass, angel hair pasta was my favorite. In retrospect that might've been because of its name, but capellini (a.k.a. angel hair) also cooks in just three minutes so its a great option if you're on a serious time crunch. Other options that will work are spaghetti, linguini, or bucatini.
  • Fresh or dried pasta - either fresh or dried pasta will work just fine. Dried is cheaper (you can find it for less than a dollar a pound!) and is easy to store on a pantry shelf nearly indefinitely. That said, fresh pasta is delicious. Whenever there is a sale on packaged fresh pasta, I usually stock a few containers in the freezer for "special" occasions. Fresh pasta also cooks up faster than dried, so that's something to consider. And if you're game, you can absolutely make your own fresh pasta for cheap.
  • Canned clams - I personally tend to reach for chopped canned clams when I shop. Not only are they heartier than the minced version, they are also on sale at Costco now (hooray!!). That said, use minced if you prefer smaller, or whole if you like them larger. They'll all do the trick!
  • Half n Half - while I haven't yet found a shelf stable half n half to keep on hand, I always keep both milk and cream in the pantry. I generally opt for single size milks since I don't really drink it, but you can also find quart containers if you prefer. Trader Joe's almost always carries shelf stable cream as well, so I usually grab a few boxes for emergency cooking. Oh, and if you didn't know? Half n half is ½ milk and ½ cream. Makes sense, right?
  • The Extras - if you want to turn this pantry meal into a fancy affair, a few extra ingredients can make a big difference. While these are certainly delicious additions, they are not strictly necessary.
    • White wine: I always keep a box of each white and red wine in the pantry for cooking. Just a half cup of white wine adds another layer of flavor to the sauce.
    • Spice: Since Joe and I dig spicy foods, red pepper flakes are a natural addition to the clam sauce.
    • Toppings: To top it all off? You can either go with:
      • Parmesan (I prefer a wedge of fresh cheese over the shakable kind) or some
      • Quick garlic breadcrumbs (panko + Johnny's Garlic Seasoning and Spread + olive oil toasted in a pan)
mise en place for pasta and clam sauce plus optional extras of white wine and red pepper flakes

How to Make Pasta with Clam Sauce

Prepare Noodles

Bring a stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook your pasta according to package directions. Note: If there is a time range, cook it on the shorter end of the spectrum, as the pasta will continue to cook when the hot sauce is added.

TIP: Be sure to reserve a cup of pasta cooking water when you drain your noodles. You may not need to use the whole thing, but pasta water is gold when you're making pasta sauce!

How to Make Creamy White Clam Sauce

This easy pasta sauce takes just 15 minutes to cook, and only requires that you chop a single onion. Now that's what I call a weeknight WINNER.

  • onions in a sauté pan with oil
  • close up shot of onions after sautéing to appropriate level of doneness with translucent edges

First, heat a few glugs of olive oil over medium heat in a sauté pan. Once it's shimmering, add the diced onions and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the onions are mostly translucent at the edges and are quite soft.

TIP: Save yourself a little time (and tears) and use frozen, chopped onions to get dinner on the table pronto.

  • hand pouring in glass of white wine into sauté pan with onions
  • clam sauce after white wine has reduced by half

Add the wine (if using) and reduce by half.

  • clams and their juices, thyme, parsley and red pepper flakes added to sauté pan for white clam sauce
  • clam sauce simmering in sauté pan prior to addition of half n half

Add the clams with their juices and your herbs/spices, then simmer for another 3-4 minutes.

  • hand pouring glass of half n half into sauté pan with clam sauce
  • overhead shot of completed white clam sauce in sauté pan

Pour the half and half into the mix, stir, then simmer for about 3 minutes.

Assembly

  • stock pot with cooked noodles and white clam sauce added
  • close up of linguini and clams after being stirred together in pan and adding pasta water

Once the sauce is ready, pour it into the stockpot where you cooked your pasta. Add the cooked pasta in with it, and stir. If you have the patience, allow it to rest for about 5 minutes with a lid on. Come back to stir, adding pasta water as necessary to make it silky and creamy.

Serving and Storing

Plate up, being sure to scoop a few of the errant clams and onions on the top of your bowl and garnish with a crack of freshly ground pepper. Either dig right in, or dress things up with a fresh grating of parmesan or a scoop of easy garlic panko breadcrumbs for crunch.

close up shot of plated linguini and white clam sauce in a white pasta bowl garnished with parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper

Linguini and clams plays very nicely with a side green salad, a hunk of crusty bread (or garlic bread!) or a glass of white wine. It will also do very nicely all on its own. Enjoy!

If you have any leftovers, they should keep well for up to a week in the fridge. NOTE: If you didn't use all of the pasta cooking water when assembling the dish, add it to the pasta before putting it into containers to refrigerate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a good keto substitute for noodles?

If you're doing the whole keto/low carb thing, there is no better substitute for pasta than Palmini. Made from hearts of palm, these yummy "noodles" will take on just about any flavor you throw at them without giving a flavor of their own. They are a bit pricey, but the bright side is you just have to open a can, drain them and dump them into the sauce.

If you opt to use palmini, you're not going to have any pasta water to help you thicken up the sauce. You can either opt to simmer the sauce down to a thicker consistency, or take the shortcut of adding a slurry of about ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder with a tablespoon of water to the sauce and cooking for an extra minute or two to thicken.

What shape of pasta works best with this pantry clam sauce?

While traditional pasta with clam sauce calls for linguini, I'm of the opinion that any long, skinny noodle will do the trick. Angel hair (a.k.a. capellini), spaghetti, and bucatini all fit the bill. Don't stress yourself out! This is supposed to be an easy, fuss free meal.linguini and clams twirled around a fork as a bite

Can I make this pantry pasta ahead of time?

Sure! I generally make Linguini and Clams when I don't know what else to cook, so it isn't really a go-to make ahead meal for me. That said, Joe and I can never get through a pound of pasta by ourselves in just one night. The leftovers are quite delicious, and I often eat them for lunch the next day.

TIP: If you didn't use all of the pasta water you set to the side before putting up your leftovers, toss it in before you do. Pasta has a tendency to soak in a lot of the sauce when it gets cold, and the pasta water helps to keep the leftovers nice and creamy when you reheat them.

Cooked pasta and white clam sauce should keep in the fridge for up to a week. I haven't tried freezing it, but if you do, let me know how it turns out by commenting below!

Uh oh, I can't find my can opener. Help!

Don't fret. While using a spoon to open a can is a little tedious, I have used it myself in a pinch. Check out this how-to guide to see how it's done.

Need more pantry inspired eats? Check out these other easy recipes using what you already have on hand:

  • Pantry Sweet Potato and Salmon Cakes
  • Banana Apricot Upside Down Cake | Easily Adaptable Cake Mix Hack
  • Easiest Fruit Crumble

If you tried this easy recipe for pantry Linguini and Clams, let me know how it turned out by commenting below!

You can get more quick recipe ideas delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook to see more of my kitchen adventures.

white pasta bowl with a portion of pasta and white clam sauce garnished with parmesan and pepper on a black and white linen

Pasta with White Clam Sauce

This super simple pantry pasta recipe is made with just a handful of shelf stable ingredients. Fast, kid friendly and delicious, this is a real weeknight dinner winner!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Fusion, Italian
Servings 8
Calories 270 kcal

Equipment

  • Chef's Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Can Opener
  • Stock Pot
  • Sauté Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Pasta any long, skinny variety will work: capellini, spaghetti, linguini or bucatini
  • 1 C Pasta Cooking Water reserve, may not need all of it.
  • 1-2 glugs Olive Oil
  • 1 Yellow Onion diced
  • ½ C White Wine optional
  • 2 cans Clams preferably chopped, with their juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • ½-1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes optional
  • 1 C Half n Half or ½ cup each cream and milk
  • Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Bring a stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook your pasta according to package directions. Note: If there is a time range, cook it on the shorter end of the spectrum, as the pasta will continue to cook when the hot sauce is added.
    TIP: Be sure to reserve a cup of pasta cooking water when you drain your noodles. You may not need to use the whole thing, but pasta water is gold when you're making pasta sauce!
  • Heat a few glugs of olive oil over medium heat in a sauté pan. Once it's shimmering, add the diced onions and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the onions are mostly translucent at the edges and are quite soft.
  • Add the wine (if using) and reduce by half.
  • Add the clams with their juices and your herbs/spices, then simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
  • Pour the half and half into the mix, stir, then simmer for about 3 minutes.
  • Once the sauce is ready, pour it into the stockpot where you cooked your pasta. Add the cooked pasta in with it, and stir. If you have the patience, allow it to rest for about 5 minutes with a lid on. Come back to stir, adding pasta water as necessary to make it silky and creamy.
  • Season with salt and pepper as needed. Enjoy!

Notes

  • For the best keto version of this pasta dish, I recommend using Palmini noodles. Since you won't have pasta water to help thicken the sauce, add a slurry of ¼-1/2 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot with 1 tablespoon water in final cooking step. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
  • Optional toppings include quick garlic breadcrumbs (1 tablespoon oil or butter +½ C panko + 1 teaspoon Johnny's Garlic Spread and Seasoning toasted in a pan until golden) or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  • TIP: Save yourself a little time (and tears) and use frozen, chopped onions to get dinner on the table pronto.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 21mgPotassium: 202mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 151IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cheap, Comforting, Easy, Fast, Seafood
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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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