Here’s a simple, elegant Garlic Butter Baked Scallops recipe — tender, buttery, and ready in about 20 minutes 🧄🧈🐚
🐚 Garlic Butter Baked Scallops
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs sea scallops (side muscle removed)
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs (panko for extra crunch)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Pat scallops very dry with paper towels (this helps prevent excess moisture).
- Lightly grease a baking dish and arrange scallops in a single layer.
2️⃣ Make Garlic Butter
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and paprika.
3️⃣ Assemble
- Spoon garlic butter evenly over scallops.
- Mix Parmesan and breadcrumbs together, then sprinkle on top.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, depending on size.
- Scallops are done when opaque and slightly firm.
5️⃣ Optional Broil
- Broil 1–2 minutes at the end for a golden, crispy top.
6️⃣ Garnish & Serve
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
🔥 Tips for Perfect Scallops
- Don’t overbake — scallops turn rubbery quickly.
- If they release liquid while baking, carefully spoon some off midway.
- For a richer dish, add a splash of white wine to the garlic butter.
Pairs beautifully with rice, pasta, or roasted asparagus.
If you’d like, I can also give you a pan-seared restaurant-style version with a golden crust — no breadcrumbs, just pure scallop flavor.
