This Clam Pizza with Bacon is an unexpected pizza combination. Clams are combined with smoky bacon and a creamy alfredo sauce for a pizza recipe that is perfect for seafood lovers.
Love to switch up pizza night? Try this BBQ Chicken Pizza or this Antipasto Pizza.
I first published a version of this recipe back in 2012. Back then, I thought I was the only one who ever thought of putting clams on pizza.
I was wrong.
Apparently, this is totally a thing in Connecticut. But here in land locked Utah, it’s just not something you see.
But I stand behind what I first posted here all that time ago – this is a pizza combination that everyone needs to try.
Ingredients
- Bacon: You can use either a regular cut bacon or thick cut.
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour.
- Milk: I use 2% milk. I haven’t tested any alternates, but you could probably make the sauce with an alternate milk, like almond or cashew. But you might need to play around with it to make sure it thickens up.
- Parmesan Cheese: I like to use freshly grated parmesan because it will melt into the sauce better.
- Salt and Pepper: Always season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pizza Dough: I use my favorite homemade pizza dough. You can use store bought if there is one that you like, but I promise this dough is easy and so worth making from scratch!
- Clams: Fresh clams are not easy to find where I live, so I use canned, chopped clams. Three cans gives you a generous amount of clams, so if you don’t want a lot of clams, cut this back to 2 cans.
- Mozzarella: I used fresh mozzarella, which really works great here. But you could use shredded mozzarella, as well.
- Basil: I love the flavor and the freshness that the basil adds at the end. Feel free to leave it off if you don’t have it, though.
How to Make Clam Pizza
Start by cooking your bacon. I do this on the stovetop instead of in the oven because you’ll need the bacon grease to make the alfredo sauce.
Reserve 3 tablespoons of the grease and discard the rest. Add the flour and whisk it into the grease for a few minutes.
Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until the sauce has thickened.
Turn off the heat and add in the parmesan. Make sure to season with salt and pepper.
Roll or stretch your pizza dough out.
Top it with a layer of the alfredo sauce, then with the clams, bacon, and mozzarella cheese.
Bake the pizza until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted. Top with the basil before serving.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure you drain your clams really well. Between the alfredo and the fresh mozzarella, if you don’t drain the clams well there can be too much moisture.
You can make a lighter version by skipping the alfredo sauce and instead using a thin layer of garlic infused olive oil.
This pizza is best served right after it is made. If you have leftovers and heat them up, the clams get a bit rubbery.
More Pizza Recipes
White Pizza
Mediterranean Pizza
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Breakfast Pizza
Blue Cheese and Bacon Pizza
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Clam Pizza with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1/3 pound bacon
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 12-16 oz pizza dough*
- 3 cans (6.5 oz each) chopped clams drained well
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella sliced
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450ºF. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven before turning it on and let it preheat for at least 30 minutes.
- Cut the bacon into pieces. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Remove all of the grease from the pan except about 3 tablespoons. Sprinkle the flour over the remaining bacon grease and stir for a couple minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Roll or stretch the dough out into a circle about 14”-16” in diameter. Spread the dough with the Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle the clams over the top, followed by the bacon. Top with the cheese.
- Bake the pizza in the preheated oven until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted, 10-12 minutes.
- Tear or mince the basil and sprinkle it over the top of the finished pizza.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
I love getting creative with pizza toppings, since we do pizza night a few times a month! But I would have never thought to use clams on my pizza. Will have to give this a try!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Great choice of toppings for this pizza! I haven’t tried the Pillsbury artisan crusts yet but they look really good.
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
Oh my goodness this is such a creative pairing. And on pizza- genius!