The secret to these pan seared scallops in butter is to cook them in a hot skillet with ripplingly hot oil and occasionally baste them with butter. That’s it. Simple, quick, and impressive. Twenty minutes from fridge to table.
Look no further for how to make perfectly seared scallops that turn out perfectly golden brown on the surface, ever so slightly wobbly on the inside, and sweetly supple through and through.–David Leite
☞ Contents
Why our testers loved this
Our testers loved these easy seared scallops so much that they were scrapping dinner reservations just to stay home and enjoy them. Yes, they’re that good. They loved that they were easy to make, and the finished scallops were “perfectly cooked, with a nice, crisp crust.”
Rita R. joined in with her comment, “These scallops are easy and delicious. What more can one ask from a simple Sunday dinner? This was my first time making seafood from beginning to end, and I have to say, it’s definitely a recipe I’ll make again.”
Notes on ingredients
- Scallops–Use fresh sea scallops for this recipe, and pat them completely dry before searing to get a golden crust.
- Oil–Use a neutral flavored oil with a high smoke point. You will be using the oil to sear the scallops initially before basting them in butter, so you don’t want the oil to smoke and turn bitter while the scallops are searing. Canola, vegetable, mild olive oil, refined sunflower, or safflower oil are all good choices.
How to make this recipe
- Dry the scallops. Use a dish towel or paper towel to dry the scallops thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a skillet until very hot. Add the scallops and sear, without touching them, until golden brown on the bottom.
- Reduce the heat and flip the scallops. Toss in the butter and cook, basting with the butter, until the scallops are just cooked through.
Recipe FAQs
What kind of pan is best for cooking scallops?
A cast-iron skillet. No doubt. The sturdy metal not only retains heat well, but it also heats evenly.
That results in that beautiful golden brown sear that we so covet on our scallops, pan-seared chicken, pork chops, steaks, and more. You’ll often see recipes call for nonstick skillets to sear food to avoid sticking. But they’re made of flimsier metals, which means they throw heat less efficiently, ergo a less lovely sear.
How do you prevent scallops from sticking to the skillet?
The secret to preventing scallops (or any protein) from sticking is simply to be patient. Rather than nudge and poke them, worrying about them sticking, trust that when they’re properly seared, they’ll release from the skillet. If they don’t, then it’s not ready yet.
Try again in a few moments. When it’s had enough time, it’ll let go.
What’s the difference between bay scallops and sea scallops?
Sea scallops are larger and have a meatier texture than bay scallops, which tend to be smaller, sweeter, and more tender. Sea scallops are ideal for grilling or pan-searing. Save the bay scallops for adding to easy pasta dishes, like this simple spaghetti with scallops.
Lemon brown butter variation
To make a lemon brown butter version of this recipe, cook the scallops as directed but serve with this sauce on the side: Cook 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, tilting the saucepan constantly, until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1 minced small shallot and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 teaspoons minced flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1/4 teaspoon minced thyme leaves, and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Helpful tips
- Use tongs or a thin metal spatula to flip the scallops.
- This recipe is suitable for gluten-free diets.
More great scallop recipes
☞ If you make this recipe, or any dish on LC, consider leaving a review, a star rating, and your best photo in the comments below. I love hearing from you.–David
Pan Seared Scallops
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh (not frozen) sea scallops
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon mild olive or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon (1/2 oz) unsalted butter or ghee
- Lemon wedges for serving
Directions
- Place the scallops on a large plate or rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean dish towel or several paper towels. Place another clean dish towel or stack of paper towels on top of the scallops and gently press to blot any liquid. Let the scallops rest at room temperature for 10 minutes so the towels absorb any excess moisture.
- Just before cooking, season the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot and almost but not quite smoking.
- Add the scallops to the skillet in a single layer, preferably around the perimeter of the skillet and without crowding them. Cook, without touching the scallops, until they're magnificently golden brown on the bottom, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and, using tongs, flip the scallops. (If the scallops stick to the skillet, just let them be still for another moment; they're just not ready to be turned yet. When they're ready, they'll let go.)
☞TESTER TIP: For the love of all things good, don't use a plastic spatula to flip sea scallops.. Tongs are best but a super skinny metal spatula—you know, a bendy flexible spatula—also works quite well.
- Add the butter to the skillet and use a large spoon to baste the scallops with melted butter as you continue to cook the scallops until the sides and centers are opaque, 60 to 90 seconds more, depending on the size. Use tongs to transfer the scallops to plates or platters as soon as each is done.
- Serve immediately with the lemon wedges.
Notes
- Lemon brown butter variation–Cook the scallops as directed but serve with this sauce on the side: Cook 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, tilting the saucepan constantly, until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1 minced small shallot and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 teaspoons minced flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1/4 teaspoon minced thyme leaves, and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Dietary–This recipe is suitable for gluten-free diets.
Show Nutrition
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Loved, loved, loved this scallop recipe—so much so that I wanted more after eating them for dinner, woke up thinking about them and decided that they would be dinner that next night, too. We even scrapped plans to go out to dinner in order to eat these again. And you know how sometimes when you have something again, it doesn’t live up to what you experienced the first time? Didn’t happen here.
I should have prefaced this by saying that I like scallops that are allowed to shine on their own. These do just that. I also believe in using a cast-iron skillet to sear mine. I just couldn’t use a non-stick skillet.
The technique of adding the butter and basting the scallops as you cook them is fabulous. No burned or blackened butter. No over-done scallops. Just succulence.
And the butter that’s left in the skillet? Pour it over the scallops. We dipped them in that butter. We also dipped a marvelous green rice that I had made to accompany. Oh, so delicious.
While I’m waxing poetic, I’m going to mention that these sea scallops are so very quick and easy to make. You want something really good that will cook in no more than a few minutes? This is it. You can’t heat up prepared food, whether fresh or frozen, this fast. You can’t get take-out or delivery this fast.
I will also mention that even though previously frozen scallops are not ideal, you can definitely use them and get them to sear. (Scallops that are not previously frozen can be extremely difficult to find. I decided a while ago not to let that stop me. I defrost the scallops with paper towels under them as well as over them. I do need to change the paper towels a few times till they are defrosted and “dry.”) I’m now able to achieve beautifully seared scallops that I can enjoy even when fresh aren’t available. Wouldn’t want to be scallop-deprived.
These scallops are easy and delicious. What more can one ask from a simple Sunday dinner? This was my first time making seafood from beginning to end, and I have to say, it’s definitely a recipe I’ll make again.
I used a cast-iron skillet to sear the scallops, and I had no problem with the butter burning. The sauce became nicely brown, and the timing worked out perfectly.
And even with the absence of lemon wedges that my mom forgot to buy, the scallops were still amazing. For the rest of the meal, I prepared a fresh green garden salad with bacon and I served the scallops on top along with their buttery sauce.
This seared scallop recipe was a real treat. I used a stainless steel pan. After the first side was seared, I added the butter, flipped the scallops, and turned off the flame. They were done perfectly in less than a minute.
I made the lemon browned butter variation, which I prepared ahead of time and added to the skillet just before the scallops were done, and this was a very special splurge for a weekday supper!
If you follow the instructions in this recipe, you’ll get perfectly cooked scallops with a nice, crisp crust. Butter-basting is a technique used by restaurants that evenly sears the scallop while imparting flavor. The technique isn’t a new one, but it works well, and adding the butter in the second half of cooking prevents the butter from burning.
Be sure to follow the advice in the recipe and use only “dry” scallops. Also make sure they are completely dry before searing them. Also make sure your pan and your oil are very hot. I agree that the oil shouldn’t be smoking hot, but rather good and hot, which is indicated by the oil shimmering in the pan.
I didn’t want to take a chance with a nonstick pan, so I used a cast-iron pan. I knew this would give the best possible crust while allowing the center to cook to the perfect degree of doneness. I turned down the heat when I added the butter to ensure that the butter would brown rather than burn. I made the variation with the lemon browned butter, which is a classic combination with the scallops.
These seared scallops were sweet and delicious and simple.
My butter got very, very brown. Next time I’d probably take the pan off the heat after flipping the scallops, and just baste them and finish the cooking off the heat. I transferred them to a plate and squeezed some lemon over them. The scallops were nice and brown on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
These were fabulous—nicely browned and perfectly done. I followed the instructions as written using an All-Clad nonstick skillet, but only turning the heat to medium because my stove and skillet both get really hot.
I cooked the sea scallops for 90 seconds per side and was pleasantly surprised that they were done and opaque in the center. The butter baste helped the browning and gave the scallops quite a nice flavor.
This recipe was a home run. This is truly a recreation of what would be served in a fine restaurant and, if you’re using gas, it works well for adapting to the lower BTU temps of a home stove. My stove is electric and can achieve much higher temps.
There’s a difference in the types of scallops mentioned and the quality is very noticeable. I found wild scallops were superior to the ones at the local fishmonger so I opted for them. They were all natural, very pink, and also a nice size. It’s very important that there is very little moisture in them or they’ll steam before they sear. A good gentle squeeze between paper towels will do it.
This dish was incredible and made a nice presentation. My tasters (that is, my family) loved it. This will be made again for sure.
The timing will have to depend on the size of the scallops, because it took more than double the noted time for the scallops I had. In addition, especially if you’re using a cast-iron skillet, remove it from the heat for a minute before adding the butter, then return it to the heat so the butter doesn’t burn.
I personally am not particularly fond of sea scallops, but my other half is, and as a treat I made this for her. As a result, I’m a convert. I found this to be a fun recipe, and there’s room to play since the basic recipe allows for a creative approach.
Some high-quality scallops and just a couple minutes produced a really delicious meal for the sea scallop lover in my family.
I used my cast iron enameled skillet and found that when I went to turn the scallops the crust had stuck to the pan on most of them. I suppose it meant that they were not quite ready yet. Those that kept their crust had a beautiful color. I turned down the heat as I basted it with butter and had to watch carefully as the heat quickly browns the butter. They were perfectly done when I served them.
The cooking technique led to a significant cooktop clean-up for the person who cleans up after dinner…ok, that’s me. I assume that the splatter that was on the cooktop, backsplash, and floor indicated that I had not dried my dry scallops sufficiently.
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
I just wanted to share a picture of what the inside of my 5-pound bucket of freshly caught sea scallops looks like.
GLORIOUS. Thank you for sharing, Lorna!
I followed your directions & video to pan sear my sea scallops. Mine are very very dry, as they are very very fresh. After removing the foot from each scallop, I used paper towels, but the scallops were dry as I have them delivered to my door and they arrive within hours after they are caught out of New Bedford. A family in my Boston suburb has a scallop boat and offers this delivery, next morning. The cast iron pan is the best, but my pan was so big, I think it’s 14” and I only cooked a pound for dinner last night for just the two of us. I carefully tried to place the scallops where there was the most heat. I get the scallops in 5-pound buckets. Five pounds is the only size. They were delicious and sweet, and so big that I used a knife as I was eating them to get several bites per scallop.
Have you ever tried finishing your scallops off with a drizzle of real maple syrup? It’s divine! I have some pictures and will try to download them. Thank you, especially for the tip not to flip until it’s ready!
Great photo, Lorna! Fresh seafood usually requires very simple steps, but “simple” doesn’t mean insignificant. It’s critical those steps be followed faithfully and you absolutely champion them with this recipe. And maple syrup?! Sounds like a must-try!
Delish! They were easy to make and tasty too!
Thanks, Heather!
I followed somebody’s advice about the 1/4 cup of white wine, garlic, and butter and it was delicious. Will be making this again.
Wonderful, Britney! I’m so pleased to hear this.
Almost perfect my husband said! Easy recipe. Definitely will use again.
Thanks, Ellisa! So glad it was a hit at your dinner table.