Pan Seared Scallops – Girl Carnivore

One of our favorite easy seafood recipes is this Pan Seared Scallops recipe. This easy recipe only requires a handful of ingredients, resulting in buttery scallops that melt in your mouth. 

Perfectly caramelized sea scallops are just minutes away with an easy hot pan technique producing delicately crispy golden crust encasing tender, succulent centers thanks to a quick sear. Then, they’re tossed in a garlic butter sauce, like our garlic butter shrimp. Whether making them for special occasions or a quick seafood dinner, pan-searing scallops will become your new go-to recipe when you want to impress.

What Are Scallops?

Similar to oysters, muscle, and claims, scallops belong to the bivalve muscle group. They’ve got two shells that protect their inner muscle, and inside, there’s a tasty white part, aka the adductor muscle (that’s the part we eat), and a funky orange section called the coral. When you cook the white muscle, it becomes round and tender, with a hint of sweetness and a salty vibe.

There are two different varieties of scallops: bay scallops and sea scallops. For this recipe, we’re using sea scallops because they’re larger and not as sweet as bay scallops.

The best way to cook scallops is by pan-searing them on the grill or stovetop or smoking them like our smoked bacon-wrapped scallops. The key is to not over cook them, or they can become tough. Pan-searing gives the scallops a nice golden brown crust quickly and delicious flavor while leaving the centers perfectly done.

Garlic Butter Scallops Ingredients

• Fresh scallops, colossal sea scallops: Buy good quality scallops. You can find them in the seafood section of your grocery store or purchase them online. 
• Kosher Salt 
• Oil: Use any oil with a high smoke point, like canola, vegetable, or avocado oil. 
• Butter
• Garlic 
• Thyme
• Black pepper 
• Lemon zest
• Parmesan cheese

How to Make Scallops in a Pan

Normally, we recommend cast iron skillets for just about anything, but we find that a quality non-stick skillet or a carbon steel skillet is ideal for scallops.

• First, pat the scallops dry with paper towels. Then, season both sides with salt. 
• Next, preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 
• Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Allow the oil to preheat until just starting to smoke. 
• Now, place scallops in the very hot pan and let them sear for 60 to 90 seconds without touching until a golden brown crust forms.

• Flip and continue cooking scallops for another 60 seconds until a golden brown crust forms on the other side. Immediately remove the scallops from the pan and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. 

• Reduce the heat to low, add the butter and garlic, and swirl to melt. Add the thyme sprig and allow the foam from the melted butter to die down. 

• Finally, immediately pour the butter and toasted garlic over the scallops. Sprinkle with black pepper, lemon zest, and a pinch of freshly grated parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.

What to Serve With Butter Garlic Scallops

Our favorite side dish for these scallops is risotto and creamed spinach to create the perfect meal for date night. Or pair your delicious scallops with some air fryer vegetables and domino potatoes.

We also love serving these buttery scallops with a salad, like over a grilled corn salad and arugula. You can also serve them as an appetizer alongside some butter poached lobster tails and grilled king crab legs for the ultimate spread.

Wine Pairing:

These delicately seared scallops should be paired with a wine that is light and buttery, so it won’t overpower the flavor. If you’re up for it, serve this dish alongside an oaky white wine, such as Chardonnay or dry Sauvignon Blanc, to complement the flavor in the delicious sauce.

Leftovers & Reheating

Store leftover scallops in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. However, we recommend these be enjoyed immediately as they lose their texture and overcook when refrigerated and reheated.

To reheat scallops, place them in a large cast iron skillet on medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until warm. Serve with your favorite sides, or throw your scallops on a bed of pasta and make a summer scallop pasta!

More Seafood Recipes

This easy recipe is the perfect way to enjoy these little muscles. With a dreamy garlic butter sauce and golden brown crust, these pan seared scallops are your ticket to a delicious dinner.

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