29 Scallop Recipes for Restaurant-Worthy Dinners at Home
The best scallop recipes are the ones that let the natural sweetness of the shellfish shine. The simplest way to cook scallops is to sear them and dress with a little melted butter and lemon juice, which is as easy and delicious as it sounds. But the versatility of this shellfish means that you can also put them in a stew, grill them, enjoy them raw, or even toss it with pasta like linguine, angel hair, or busiate. Most of these recipes don’t require a lot of prep time and are perfect for quick weeknight meals, no-fuss appetizers, dinner party mains, or an effortless dinner for a date night in.
Scallops are best paired with sweet corn and ripe tomatoes in the summer and are excellent when served atop creamy risotto or lengthy pasta—think linguine or angel hair—in the winter. Regardless of season you can’t go wrong when cooking scallops with white wine or bacon, in a garlic butter sauce, or a simple seasoning of sea salt and black pepper.
If you’re working with frozen scallops, thaw them in the fridge and dry well before cooking. Some choose to rinse fresh scallops in cool water to dislodge any lingering sandy particles, but it usually isn’t necessary—just pat them dry with reusable or paper towels. You can also soak scallops in milk (for about 1 hour in the refrigerator) to tenderize them further and eliminate any fishy odors. Again, be sure to pat dry before cooking.
Many recipes will instruct you to remove the small muscle attached to the side of scallops before cooking them. These side muscles can become tough when cooking whole scallops, but don’t throw them away. Save them up to toss into a soup, where they’ll tenderize, or blend into a seafood patty with shrimp.
Below you’ll find our best scallops recipes, including simple appetizers, easy main dishes, and even restaurant-worthy showstoppers like scallop crudo.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce1/29Scallop Rice Bowls With Crunchy Spice Oil
In this quick, simple sea scallop recipe, the shellfish is drizzled with a crunchy, garlicky oil, then served atop a bed of rice along with kale and avocado.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell2/29Truffled Bay Scallops with Celery Purée
Bay scallops—which are smaller and sweeter than sea scallops—are found in estuaries up and down the Eastern Seaboard, from New England to the Mid-Atlantic region. This lost Gourmet scallop recipe was recovered from our archives a few years ago and features a celery purée swirled with black truffle butter that enhances the delicacy of the seafood.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege3/29Crispy Scallop Salad
For extra crispy scallops with a golden crust, dredge the shellfish in Old-Bay spiced cornmeal and shallow fry. Dressed in a bright olive oil and citrus dressing, this refreshing salad is an easy scallop meal and works equally well in smaller portions as a starter or side dish.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch5/29Seared Scallops With Basil Risotto
If you’re looking to wow guests with a meal they’d be likely to find in a five-star restaurant, then this is a dinner recipe for you. This creamy risotto gets tang from pineapple juice, and is topped with crisp seared scallops that are seasoned simply with just salt and black pepper.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone7/29Seared Scallops With Mint, Peas, and Bacon
A gourmet scallop dinner in under 22 minutes? It's possible. Here, pan-seared scallops are paired with smoky bacon, fresh peas, and mint for a low-effort, high-reward main course.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou8/29Grilled Scallops with Nori, Ginger, and Lime
Photo by Romulo Yanes9/29Seared Scallops With Pan Sauce
Leave it to cookbook author Mark Bittman to come up with a main dish that's easy but still impressive. Pat your scallops dry with paper towel, then cook until golden brown. Dress them in a sauce of garlic, lemon, and white wine, then garnish with fresh chives for a restaurant-worthy meal.
Photo by Alex Lau11/29Grilled Scallops with Creamed Corn
Don't be daunted by the long list of spices this recipe calls for. Triple the batch, and keep a jar of it stored for marinating meat and seafood. Sauté corn with green garlic, shallots, and garlic in olive oil, then cook with a touch of water until creamy. Finish it off with a pat of unsalted butter, then thread scallops onto skewers for a quick grill.
12/29Cioppino
Fresh, succulent sea scallops bring sweetness to this hearty seafood stew with clams, crabs, shrimp, and white fish. The abundance of shellfish brings deep, complex flavor to this simple stew, making it one of our favorite seafood recipes.
Colin Clark16/29Stone Fruit Gazpacho with Scallops
This summer, consider swapping tomatoes for stonefruit in your gazpacho. For an easy dinner that can be made ahead and requires almost no prep time at all, blitz together this fruit gazpacho in a blender, then set it aside until you're ready to eat. Before serving, cook scallops in olive oil until just seared, then garnish each bowl of gazpacho with a diver scallop.
Zach DeSart18/29Pistachio-Crusted Scallops
This zero-fuss seafood recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight meal or a dinner party. Pistachios toasted in butter are tossed in fresh chives, tarragon, and thyme, then used to coat seared scallops. Serve it with a green salad, toast, or make some linguine to go with it.
20/29Scallops with Hazelnuts and Warm Sun Gold Tomatoes
Make these scallops in August, when tomatoes are at their peak and bursting with flavor. With sweet, acidic sun gold tomatoes and aromatic hazelnuts to complement the flavor of scallops, you won't need any lemon juice or brown butter here. Enjoy these scallops on their own, or toss them with olive oil and angel hair for a satisfying summer dish.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers22/29Seafood Stew for Two
Make date night an elegant and effortless one with this layered seafood stew, which gets rich flavor from an assortment of shellfish. Make the broth the day before, then sear a few pieces of fish and some sea scallops before serving with fresh tarragon and bread.
Brian Leatart24/29Shrimp and Scallop Posole
Posole, a hearty Mexican soup, is traditionally prepared with pork or chicken. Shrimp and scallops make this version special enough for a party. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
CIA/Keith Ferris26/29Fritto Misto
For the best fritto misto, dredge seafood in flour and season liberally with salt and black pepper. Fry until crispy and golden brown, and serve with lemon wedges and tangy tartar sauce.
Gentl & Hyers29/29Scallops With Herbed Brown Butter
The secret to getting the perfect golden crust is to make sure your scallops are as dry as possible. Pat them dry with a paper towel, then season them with salt and pepper right before cooking. Served with a herbed brown butter, this simple scallop recipe requires just a few ingredients and comes together in no time at all.
