Campbell's New England Clam Chowder Dip

Whip up a crowd-pleasing appetizer in minutes with this easy Clam Chowder Dip recipe featuring just 2 ingredients: Campbell's condensed New England clam chowder soup and cream cheese! Dive into the irresistible combination of savory clam chowder flavors melded with the velvety richness of cream cheese.

It’s perfect for dipping crackers, bread, or veggies. Find creative variations and add-ins to customize this delectable dip. Get ready to wow your guests at your next gathering!

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Campbell's Zippy Clam Dip

This is a clam dip recipe I recently found in my 1968 edition of the Campbell Cookbook Easy Ways to Delicious Meals. Cambell's Zippy Clam Dip is a vintage recipe and super simple to make - it has only two ingredients – cream cheese and Campbell's Condensed New England Clam Chowder!

Are Clams Good for You?

The short answer is a definite YES! Clams are high in protein and almost fat-free. They can be served in various ways - fried, baked, steamed, stewed, stuffed, in soups and chowders, and even raw on the half-shell. Clams can be divided into two categories, as follows:

Hard Shell Clams

• Little Necks: The smallest and most expensive. Named after Little Neck Bay on Long Island. Little necks are tender and sweet and are often served raw on the half-shell.
• Cherrystones: Larger than littlenecks and named after Cherrystone Creek on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. They are usually eaten raw, steamed, or made into chowder. Cherrystones are also perfectly sized for stuffing.
• Chowders or Quahogs: The largest clam. Although the meat tends to be tough, they make very flavorful chowder. They are also used in clam cakes and fritters.

Soft Shell Clams

• Steamers (aka mud clams or long-neck clams): Soft shell clams cannot completely close their thin, brittle shells because of their long rubbery neck (or siphon). In New England, they are known as pisser clams because of their habit of spraying out of their long necks. These clams are usually steamed, but they are also suited to sautéing or deep-frying.

Why You Should Try This New England Clam Dip Recipe

This is another recipe you can file under make ahead – you can’t have too many of those! Perfect for saving you time on those busy days. Also, this clam dip tastes better when you make it in advance - the flavors open up, and the clam taste really shines through.

This clam chowder dip is so easy to prepare and perfect for a holiday appetizer, tailgate party, or summer BBQ. You can't go wrong with a tasty creamy dip when you're entertaining and this classic party dip is sure to please a crowd.

Clam Dip Recipe – Ingredients You Will Need

Only two ingredients!!

• Cream cheese
• Campbell's Condensed New England Clam Chowder

Garnish with parsley, chives, or thinly sliced green onion. See below for ideas on what to serve with this creamy dip.

How to Make Clam Chowder Dip

Nothing could be simpler than this clam dip made with Campbell's cream clam chowder soup. All you need is a food processor as follows:

1. Place the ingredients in a food processor or mixer bowl.
2. Process or mix with a hand mixer until it's combined and smooth.

3. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs if desired.
4. Serve immediately.

Note: The ingredients are easier to mix if your cream cheese is at room temperature. If you forget to take it out of the fridge, pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Just make sure to remove the foil packaging before microwaving.

Zippy Clam Dip Variations

Who doesn't love old cookbooks? I especially love Campbell's cookbook where I found this vintage clam dip recipe. While yes Campbell's soups are used in the recipes, the book also gives lots of tips and tricks on planning a meal, hosting a party, and much more. I love how you can be empowered to cook and turn an ordinary meal into something more. For example, this recipe for Zippy Clam Dip has two additional preparation ideas.

• Manhatten Clam Dip - Add 2 tablespoons minced onion and 2 tablespoons ketchup to the basic recipe.
• Garlic Clam Dip - Add 1 medium clove minced garlic and ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce to the basic recipe.

Seriously? Who doesn't appreciate modification ideas when they are added to a recipe?

What to Serve With This Clam Dip

Serve this New England clam dip recipe with some Ritz crackers, saltine crackers, potato chips, and vegetable sticks like carrots and celery on your crudité tray. Here are a couple more dunking ideas:

• Pork rinds may turn into your go-to dip partner.
• For a seafood overload feeling, try boiled shrimp.

How to Store Clam Chowder Dip

Clam dip will last stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Freezing is not recommended, as the cream cheese in the dip will change its texture.

More Dip Recipes

• Green Goddess Dip
• Pumpkin Pie Dip