<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0603</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>D/A</submissionType>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <primaryIssuer>
        <cik>0001270461</cik>
        <entityName>TCW ABSOLUTE RETURN CREDIT FUND L P</entityName>
        <issuerAddress>
            <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
            <street2>SUITE 2000</street2>
            <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
            <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
            <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerPhoneNumber>310-235-5900</issuerPhoneNumber>
        <jurisdictionOfInc>DELAWARE</jurisdictionOfInc>
        <edgarPreviousNameList>
            <previousName>TCW BASS LAKE PARTNERS LP</previousName>
        </edgarPreviousNameList>
        <entityType>Limited Partnership</entityType>
        <yearOfInc>
            <overFiveYears>true</overFiveYears>
        </yearOfInc>
    </primaryIssuer>

    <relatedPersonsList>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>TCW ABSOLUTE RETURN</firstName>
                <lastName>CREDIT, LLC</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 2000</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification>NOT A DIRECTOR, THIS IS THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE ISSUER.</relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>TCW ASSET</firstName>
                <lastName>MANAGEMENT COMPANY</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 1800</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification>NOT A DIRECTOR, THIS IS THE MANAGING MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE ISSUER.</relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>MARK</firstName>
                <middleName>L</middleName>
                <lastName>ATTANASIO</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 2000</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>MARC</firstName>
                <middleName>I</middleName>
                <lastName>STERN</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 1800</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>MICHAEL</firstName>
                <middleName>E</middleName>
                <lastName>CAHILL</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 1800</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>JEAN-MARC</firstName>
                <lastName>CHAPUS</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 2000</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>CRAIG</firstName>
                <lastName>RETHMEYER</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
                <street2>SUIET 2000</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>DAVID</firstName>
                <middleName>S</middleName>
                <lastName>DEVITO</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 1800</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90017</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>MELISSA</firstName>
                <lastName>WEILER</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>11100 SANTA MONICA BLVD</street1>
                <street2>SUITE 2000</street2>
                <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>90025</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
            <relationshipClarification></relationshipClarification>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
    </relatedPersonsList>

    <offeringData>
        <industryGroup>
            <industryGroupType>Pooled Investment Fund</industryGroupType>
            <investmentFundInfo>
                <investmentFundType>Other Investment Fund</investmentFundType>
                <is40Act>false</is40Act>
            </investmentFundInfo>
        </industryGroup>
        <issuerSize>
            <aggregateNetAssetValueRange>Decline to Disclose</aggregateNetAssetValueRange>
        </issuerSize>
        <federalExemptionsExclusions>
            <item>06</item>
        </federalExemptionsExclusions>
        <typeOfFiling>
            <newOrAmendment>
                <isAmendment>true</isAmendment>
                <previousAccessionNumber>0001157775-09-000004</previousAccessionNumber>
            </newOrAmendment>
            <dateOfFirstSale>
                <value>2003-10-01</value>
            </dateOfFirstSale>
        </typeOfFiling>
        <durationOfOffering>
            <moreThanOneYear>true</moreThanOneYear>
        </durationOfOffering>
        <typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
            <isOtherType>true</isOtherType>
            <descriptionOfOtherType>LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS</descriptionOfOtherType>
        </typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
        <businessCombinationTransaction>
            <isBusinessCombinationTransaction>false</isBusinessCombinationTransaction>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </businessCombinationTransaction>
        <minimumInvestmentAccepted>1000000</minimumInvestmentAccepted>
        <salesCompensationList>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>N/A</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>None</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>None</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>None</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET</street1>
                    <street2>SUITE 1800</street2>
                    <city>LOS ANGELES</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>CA</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>90017</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <value>All States</value>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
        </salesCompensationList>
        <offeringSalesAmounts>
            <totalOfferingAmount>Indefinite</totalOfferingAmount>
            <totalAmountSold>25033867</totalAmountSold>
            <totalRemaining>Indefinite</totalRemaining>
            <clarificationOfResponse></clarificationOfResponse>
        </offeringSalesAmounts>
        <investors>
            <hasNonAccreditedInvestors>false</hasNonAccreditedInvestors>
            <totalNumberAlreadyInvested>37</totalNumberAlreadyInvested>
        </investors>
        <salesCommissionsFindersFees>
            <salesCommissions>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </salesCommissions>
            <findersFees>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </findersFees>
            <clarificationOfResponse>NOT APPLICABLE</clarificationOfResponse>
        </salesCommissionsFindersFees>
        <useOfProceeds>
            <grossProceedsUsed>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </grossProceedsUsed>
            <clarificationOfResponse>NOT APPLICABLE</clarificationOfResponse>
        </useOfProceeds>
        <signatureBlock>
            <authorizedRepresentative>false</authorizedRepresentative>
            <signature>
                <issuerName>TCW ABSOLUTE RETURN CREDIT FUND L P</issuerName>
                <signatureName>George P. Hawley</signatureName>
                <nameOfSigner>GEORGE P. HAWLEY</nameOfSigner>
                <signatureTitle>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MANAGING MEMBER</signatureTitle>
                <signatureDate>2010-03-08</signatureDate>
            </signature>
        </signatureBlock>
    </offeringData>
</edgarSubmission>
