Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko
Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko is a flavorful seafood dish featuring tender, oven-roasted littleneck clams topped with a golden, garlicky panko crust infused with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Finished with a splash of white wine and lemon juice, this light and elegant appetizer or dinner option is ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for entertaining.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Appetizer or Light Main
Cuisine Coastal American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 279 kcal
- 3/4 cup panko
- 4 Tbsp olive oil divided
- 4 cloves garlic finely grated and divided
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 dozen littleneck clams scrubbed
- 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley chopped
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
Preheat oven to 400°F. On a small rimmed baking sheet, combine panko, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 of the grated garlic, and a pinch of salt. Massage mixture together.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, combine white wine, red pepper flakes, the remaining garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add cleaned clams to the dish and stir gently to coat.
Transfer both pans to the oven. Bake the panko mixture, tossing once, until golden brown—8 to 10 minutes.
Remove panko from oven and increase oven temperature to 475°F. Continue roasting clams until they open, 8 to 10 minutes more. Discard any clams that remain closed.
Toss toasted panko with chopped parsley and lemon zest.
Drizzle lemon juice and remaining tablespoon of oil over the clams. Top with half the lemony panko and serve the rest on the side for extra crunch.
- Ensure clams are scrubbed and rinsed thoroughly to remove grit.
- Do not overcook the clams—remove immediately once they open to keep them tender.
- If panko starts to brown too quickly, check and toss early to avoid burning.
- You can substitute white wine with seafood stock for an alcohol-free version.
- This dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc.
Keyword clams with lemon and parsley, crunchy clam topping, easy clam recipe, garlic white wine clams, lemony panko clams, littleneck clams, oven-baked clams, quick seafood recipe, roasted clams, seafood appetizer