Description
Golden on the outside, tender on the inside, these Garlic Lemon Butter Seared Scallops are a 15-minute gourmet dish that’s surprisingly easy to make. Seared to perfection in a rich garlic lemon butter sauce, they make a stunning appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
1 lb sea scallops
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Pat the sea scallops thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
3. When the butter is melted and sizzling, place scallops in the skillet without crowding.
4. Sear scallops for 2–3 minutes on the first side until golden brown, then flip and sear the other side.
5. Add the minced garlic and the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Spoon the melted garlic butter over the scallops as they finish cooking.
6. Pour in the lemon juice to deglaze the pan and stir to combine with the butter and garlic.
7. Remove scallops from the pan, spoon the lemon butter sauce over the top, and garnish with chopped parsley.
8. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
Pat scallops very dry for the best golden crust—moisture prevents browning.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet; sear in batches if needed to avoid steaming.
Use fresh lemon juice and fresh garlic for a vibrant and rich sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 scallops
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg