Easy Garlic Butter Scallops Recipe
Wondering what to make for a special holiday meal, important family dinner, date-night at home (Valentine’s Day here’s looking at you), or a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday? Look no further than this easy garlic butter scallops recipe! Admittedly, scallops aren’t usually my go-to. I have tons of recipes for shrimp including 10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi, Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp With Angel Hair Pasta, and Coconut Shrimp with Orange-Chili Dipping Sauce. See more below the recipe card section. And if salmon is your jam, then my ever-popular Sheet Pan Garlic Butter and Lemon Salmon (similar flavor profile to this recipe) Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon, or Easy Salmon and Potato Packets have you covered. However, in advance of Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve dinner, I wanted to have an elegant yet super quick and easy recipe that’s a little different than the norm, which is where this recipe comes into play. In fast, this recipe will go from fridge to table in less than 15 minutes which is music to any home cook’s ears. Plus, it’s made in one skillet which makes cleanup a breeze. This stovetop recipe for scallops highlights the fresh sea scallops natural sweetness and tenderness, while adding richness from garlic butter and gentle citrus notes. You can use either lemon or lime, based on your personal preference. It’s a simple and elegant dish that’s sure to impress your guests or make a delightful meal for a your special person!
Ingredients in Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops
This scallops with garlic butter recipe is made with just a handful of common and easy-to-find ingredients including the following:
Fresh sea scallops Salt Pepper Unsalted butter Olive oil Shallots Garlic Lemon zest or lime zest Lemon juice or lime juice Fresh parsley, for garnishing
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
What Kind of Scallops Are Best for Pan Searing?
There are three main kinds of fresh scallops:
How to Sear Scallops in Garlic Butter Sauce
Don’t be fooled by the luxurious looking result of these perfectly seared, juicy scallops thinking that they’re impossible to make at home. Wrong! They’re very easy and the recipe moves very fast! Step 1: Pat the scallops dry to ensure a great sear and season with a generous pinch of sea salt and pepper. Tip – Dry scallops will sear more nicely than wet scallops so give ’em a little paper towel pat. Step 2: Over medium high heat, heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet until the butter has melted and add the scallops. Melted butter is what helps provide more browning than olive oil. Step 3: Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until they’re seared. While they’re searing, add and saute the shallots, and then the garlic. Step 4: Off the heat, drizzle the scallops with the citrus zest, juice, toss to coat evenly, garnish with parsley, and serve!
How Long Should You Sear Scallops?
The enemy of all proteins, but particularly for seafood, is overcooking. When dealing with something with such a small amount of surface area and mass, it’s logical to assume that it will cook quickly! In the case of scallops, even if you’re using ‘large’ scallops, they’ll sear in just about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side. Once you see they’re nicely crusted, take them off the heat and out of the pan! They’ll continue to cook due to carryover cooking even off the stove.
How to Tell When Scallops Are Done
There are a few signs to tell when pan seared scallops are done, including the following:
Tips for the Best Pan Seared Scallops with Garlic
Don’t Crowd the pan: In order to sear the scallops properly, you’ll want to make sure they have some literal breathing room in your skillet and don’t cram or crowd them in, which would cause them to steam, not sear. Not what you want! Therefore, if your skillet isn’t quite large enough to accomodate roughly 10 to 15 scallops, simply cook them in two batches so that they’re in a single layer. Fresh Herbs: I used fresh parsley, but you could try fresh thyme, chives, tarragon, or even basil if you have them on hand. I do not recommend dried herbs for this restaurant-worthy meal at home! Non-Stick Skillet vs. Stainless Steel Skillet: For absolute insurance against sticking, use a nonstick skillet if you’re worried that your scallops may stick. Kitchen newbies, I am talking to you here. One downfall though to stainless steel is you don’t get quite as good of a sear as you would if you were using a stainless steel skillet. For the photos, I used a nonstick 10-inch skillet. However, I also love to make this recipe in my 3-quart All-Clad Stainless Steel Saute Pan, which is my BFF. It sometimes goes out of stock, here’s the 4-quart version. If you’re an experienced cook and have both, you may consider using your stainless steel. You could also use a cast iron skillet if you know how to cook in cast iron and your skillet is well seasoned.
What to Serve with Scallops
I recommend keeping your sides and accoutrements for this elegant seared scallops recipe on the simpler side. You really want the accompanying dishes to accentuate, not distract, from the scallops. I would serve the following:
The Best Classic Mashed Potatoes Slow Cooker Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes Rice of any kind Cauliflower Gratin Cheesy Roasted Asparagus Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Parmesan Balsamic Roasted Broccoli Herb-Roasted Tri-Colored Carrots Classic House Salad Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls
More Easy Seafood Recipes:
Easy Better-Than-Takeout Shrimp Fried Rice — One-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never get takeout again!! Homemade tastes WAY BETTER!! Tons more flavor, not greasy, and loaded with tender shrimp! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! 10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi – If you thought shrimp scampi was just a dish to order out at a fancier restaurant, think again. You can make mouth-watering shrimp scampi at home in less than 10 minutes! Easy Shrimp Cakes — Easy, ready in 10 minutes, and they taste better than from a fancy restaurant! A CRISPY exterior with JUICY and tender pieces of shrimp on the inside, with spicy mayo on the side! Great as an appetizer or main course! Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp With Angel Hair Pasta – This is the kind of recipe my family loves. Buttery noodles with juicy plump shrimp, flavored with lemon and garlic. And it’s the kind of recipe I love because dinner is ready in 15 minutes and it’s so easy! Coconut Shrimp with Orange-Chili Dipping Sauce – Plump, juicy shrimp with a crispy, crunchy coconut coating!! Fast, easy, and better than you get in restaurants! Will be your new favorite shrimp recipe! Garlic Shrimp Stir-Fry — Made with juicy shrimp, crisp-tender veggies, and a homemade stir-fry sauce, this stir-fry is QUICK and EASY! It’s ready in just 25 minutes and tastes so much better than takeout! Serve the stir-fry with noodles or rice for a complete meal. Healthy Shrimp and Broccoli — An EASY and healthy meal that’s ready in no time, made on ONE sheet pan, and full of FLAVOR!! Perfect for quick lunches and busy weeknights!! 15-Minute Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp – Juicy pineapple, tender shrimp, and rice with a touch of heat and tons of tropical FLAVOR!! Made on ONE sheet pan, ready so FAST, and perfect for busy weeknights!! Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas – EASY, ready in 30 minutes, tastes AUTHENTIC, and made on ONE sheet pan to keep things simple – especially on busy nights!! You don’t need to go out to a Mexican restaurant when you can make fajitas this GOOD and healthier at home!! Lime Cilantro Shrimp and Black Bean Salad – Tender juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more coated in a lime sauce that’s a FIESTA in your mouth!! An EASY and HEALTHY Mexican-inspired salad that’s ready in 10 minutes!! Shrimp Ceviche — The EASIEST way to make traditional shrimp ceviche and it tastes the BEST! Ready in 30 minutes, great as an appetizer, side, or as a healthy main course that everyone LOVES!! Shrimp Boil — Juicy and succulent large shrimp along with corn and potatoes, all drenched in the most heavenly horseradish butter!! There’s the option to make your own homemade and ultra flavorful stock for the boil, or use store-bought stock as a shortcut! Either way, this is a finger lickin’ amazing meal!!
