Description
Lemon Butter Scallops are a quick and elegant seafood dinner made with tender sea scallops, garlic, butter, fresh lemon juice, and parsley. This easy lemon butter scallops recipe delivers restaurant-style flavor in minutes and is perfect for a light dinner, date night meal, or simple skillet seafood recipe at home.
Ingredients
1 lb sea scallops
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Pat the scallops very dry with paper towels and remove the small side muscle if needed. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until hot.
3. Place the scallops in the skillet in a single layer and sear for about 2 minutes without moving them, until the bottoms are golden brown.
4. Flip the scallops and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the second side is golden and the centers are just tender. Transfer the scallops to a plate.
5. Reduce the heat slightly and add the butter to the same skillet.
6. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
7. Add the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, stirring to create a glossy sauce.
8. Return the scallops to the skillet and spoon the lemon butter sauce over them for a few seconds.
9. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Perfectly dry scallops are the key to getting a rich golden sear instead of a pale steamed surface.
Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches if needed so the scallops caramelize properly.
Scallops cook very quickly, so remove them from the heat as soon as they are opaque at the edges and still tender in the center.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Seafood Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg