Description
Golden on the outside, buttery within, and kissed with lemony garlic goodness, these Garlic Lemon Butter Seared Scallops are a fast and elegant option for a quick dinner, weekend indulgence, or a date-night delight. Perfectly seared scallops bathe in a rich garlic butter sauce with a squeeze of lemon, making this one of the best quick dinner ideas or seafood recipes for effortless gourmet cooking at home. A go-to for healthy snacks or protein-rich food ideas when you want something easy and special.
Ingredients
450g sea scallops
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Pat scallops very dry using paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat.
3. Once hot and bubbly, place scallops in the skillet, leaving space between each.
4. Sear undisturbed for 2–3 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
5. Flip scallops and cook for another 1–2 minutes until opaque and golden. Remove and set aside.
6. Lower heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and minced garlic to the skillet.
7. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
8. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Simmer for 30 seconds.
9. Return scallops to the pan, spooning sauce over the top.
10. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with lemon slices, if desired.
Notes
Make sure scallops are completely dry to get the best sear.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet—cook in batches if needed.
Use a stainless steel or cast iron pan for better browning.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 112g
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: seared scallops, quick seafood dinner, lemon garlic scallops