If you’re a seafood lover, you will love this white clam pizza! The combination of cheese, clams and bacon gets an extra boost of flame-kissed flavor from the grill. This delectable pizza is easy to make and is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

If you haven’t had the chance to try white clam pizza, you are in for a treat. The flavor combination is out of this world. Imagine biting into a creamy pizza filled with clams, bacon, savory garlic, two types of ooey-gooey cheese, and chopped fresh herbs, all on a perfectly grilled crust. Thinking about it makes us hungry. The best part of this homemade white clam pizza recipe is that so easy to make!

Please note that this recipe makes either 4 personal sized pizzas, or 2 medium sized, or one large pizza. Times are based on a cooking temperature of 450 degrees F:

• 4 personal sized pizzas: 6-8 minutes.
• 2 medium pizzas: 8-12 minutes.
• 1 large pizza: 15-18 minutes.

What is Clam Pizza?

Clam pizza was invented in the 1960s by pizzeria owner Frank Pepe in New Haven, Connecticut. Pepe added raw littleneck clams, a regional favorite, to his pizza offerings, and the rest is history. In modern versions, the clams are cooked, and cured meats like bacon or pancetta are added to the pizza. Mozzarella and Romano cheese give this dish its signature white appearance, hence the name white clam pizza.

Ingredients:

• Clams: This recipe calls for canned clams based on its convenience factor, but if you can get your hands on some fresh steamed clams, even better. Aim for 12-13 ounces.
• Bacon: Cooked and crumbled. You can also use turkey, bacon, or pancetta for this recipe if you have it on hand.
• Garlic: Chop or minced
• Fresh Oregano (sub with fresh basil)
• Mozzarella and Romano Cheeses
• Olive Oil
• Pizza Dough: Look for a raw, premade dough in the refrigerator section of your local grocery store. You can use frozen and thawed dough or make your own. For gluten-free dough, consult our Pellet Grill Pizza recipe.
• A Pizza Stone

How to Make White Clam Pizza

• Place peeled garlic in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of water. Microwave on high for 1 minute. This step will remove the harshness from the garlic, but the flavor will remain.
• Remove garlic from the microwave oven and let it cool for 2-3 minutes before handling. Slice thinly and set aside.
• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat or 450 degrees F.
• Divide pizza dough into 4 equal-sized pieces and roll them into 8″-9″ rounds on a floured surface. Place two of the dough rounds on a pizza stone.
• Brush olive oil on each round and top with equal parts of clams, garlic, crumbled bacon, chopped oregano and cheese. Place on the grill, close lid and cook until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown, about 6-8 minutes. Repeat the process with the next two pizzas. (Cook one at a time if making 2 medium-sized, instead of 4 personal-sized).
• Once the white clam pizzas are cooked through, transfer them to a large cutting board, cut each into fourths. Serve immediately.
• Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 325 degree oven for best results.

Cook White Clam Pizza in the Oven

You can always cook these delicious clam pizzas right in your oven. Follow the above directions for your indoor grill, and cook the pizza (using a pizza stone) in the oven at 450 degrees F.

Serving and Alternatives

• This white clam pizza recipe makes four personal-sized pizzas perfect for family dinners, pizza parties, or even appetizers. Slice each pie into fourths or smaller pieces if serving as an appetizer—double or triple the recipe based on your needs.
•  If you’d like to make a larger pizza (say, 1 or 2 instead of 4 small ones), follow the directions above and adjust cooking times as needed. See recipe notes below for guidance.

Like this White Clam Pizza recipe? Try these!

• Pellet Grill Pizza
• Grilled Apple-Brie Naan Pizza
• Grilled S’more Pizza

Print

White Clam Pizza

These delicious homemade clam pizzas are easy to make and fun to eat! This recipe makes 4 small personal sized pizzas, or 2 medium pizzas, or 1 extra large pizza. Adjust cooking times as needed for your chosen option.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American BBQ

Keyword clam pizza, clam recipe, grilled pizza, pizza recipe, white clam pizza

Prep Time 18 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes minutes

Total Time 24 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 222kcal

Ingredients

• 2 6.5-ounce cans of clams, drained
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3/4 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup Romano cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 12 ounces pizza dough
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano (sub with basil)

Instructions

• Place peeled garlic in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of water. Microwave on high for 1 minute. This step will remove the harshness from the garlic, but the flavor will remain.
• Remove garlic from the microwave oven and let it cool for 2-3 minutes before handling. Slice thinly and set aside.
• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat or 400 degrees F.
• Divide pizza dough into 4 equal-sized pieces and roll them into 8"-9" rounds on a floured surface.

  Place two of the dough rounds on a pizza stone.
• Brush olive oil on each round and top with equal parts of clams, garlic, crumbled bacon, oregano and cheese.

  Place stone with pizzas on the grill over low heat. Close lid and grill until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown, about 6-8 minutes. Repeat the process with the next two pizzas.
• Once cooked through, transfer pizzas to a large cutting board, cut each into fourths. Serve immediately.
• Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

Indoor options: You can always prepare these delicious clam pizzas on an indoor grill or right in your oven. Follow the above directions for your indoor grill, and cook the pizza (sing your pizza stone) in the oven. You will need to adjust times and aim for a cooking temperature of 450 degrees F.

 

Grilling times at 450 degrees F.

• 4 personal sized pizzas: 6-8 minutes.
• 2 medium pizzas: 8-12 minutes.
• 1 large pizza: 15-18 minutes.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 434mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 142IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 1mg

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