Description
These Lemon Butter Scallops are golden, tender, and coated in a bright garlic lemon butter sauce that tastes like a restaurant seafood dinner made at home. This easy recipe is perfect for quick dinner ideas, elegant seafood recipes, healthy dinner ideas, date night meals, low carb food ideas, and simple weeknight cooking when you want something fresh, buttery, and impressive in minutes.
Ingredients
1 pound large dry sea scallops
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving
Instructions
1. Pat the scallops very dry with paper towels and remove the small side muscle if attached.
2. Season both sides of the scallops with salt and black pepper.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then add olive oil.
4. Place scallops in the skillet in a single layer, leaving space between each one.
5. Sear for 2 minutes without moving them, until the bottoms are deeply golden.
6. Flip the scallops and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, then transfer them to a plate.
7. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add butter to the same skillet.
8. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
9. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and red pepper flakes, stirring to combine.
10. Return scallops to the pan and spoon the lemon butter sauce over the top.
11. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and extra sauce from the skillet.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the skillet. If the scallops are too close together, they will steam instead of sear, and you will miss that golden crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: lemon butter scallops, garlic butter scallops, easy seafood dinner, quick dinner ideas, healthy dinner ideas, scallop recipe, seafood recipes