Description
Succulent Garlic Butter Scallops become your weeknight dinner hero, delivering restaurant-quality elegance straight from your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum flavor. These tender seafood gems will have your family asking for seconds before the first plate is even cleared.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ pounds sea scallops
Dairy and Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 garlic cloves
Seasoning and Garnish:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 400°F and coat a ceramic baking dish with cooking spray.
- Remove side muscles from 15-18 large sea scallops and thoroughly blot them dry with paper towels.
- Arrange scallops in a single, neat layer across the prepared baking dish, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Melt ¼ cup unsalted butter and combine it with 4 finely minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.
- Gently drizzle the aromatic butter mixture over each scallop, making sure every piece gets an equal coating.
- For extra texture, sprinkle ⅓ cup grated Parmesan and ½ cup breadcrumbs across the top of the scallops.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated 400°F oven and bake for exactly 12-15 minutes until scallops transform into a translucent white with delicate golden edges.
- Retrieve the dish from the oven and immediately garnish with 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley.
- Serve the scallops hot, directly from the baking dish for maximum flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Drying scallops thoroughly before cooking ensures a perfect golden sear and prevents watery, steamed results.
- Use fresh, high-quality sea scallops for the best flavor and texture, avoiding previously frozen if possible.
- For a gluten-free version, skip the breadcrumbs or replace with almond meal or gluten-free panko.
- Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the scallops at their most tender and succulent stage, with the garlic butter still warm and fragrant.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 185 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 275 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg