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Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops

Quick, vibrant, and packed with flavor, this Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops recipe turns an ordinary weeknight dinner into a gourmet experience with sweet, buttery scallops, garlic, and lemon.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Seafood
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound fresh scallops (dry scallops preferred)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter because butter makes everything better
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 juice from lemon an extra lemon for garnish
  • to taste salt and pepper
  • to taste fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
  • drizzle olive oil for cooking

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the scallops under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
Cooking
  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a splash of olive oil and one tablespoon of butter. Let it melt and get a bit bubbly.
  2. Once the skillet is hot, add the scallops in a single layer. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on one side until they turn golden brown.
  3. Flip them over and cook for another 1-2 minutes until just opaque in the center.
  4. Add the minced garlic and the rest of the butter to the skillet. Squeeze in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Swirl the pan to mix everything together.
Serving
  1. Plate the scallops and drizzle with the garlic butter. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and add a lemon wedge for garnish.

Notes

Cooking Tips: Let the scallops sear well for caramelization. If using frozen scallops, thaw overnight in the fridge. Customize with red pepper flakes or spinach.