Garlic Butter Baked Scallops: Easy Restaurant-Quality Seafood Recipe
An easy and luxurious seafood recipe featuring tender scallops baked in rich garlic butter with lemon and parsley. This restaurant-quality dish combines the subtle sweetness of scallops with aromatic garlic butter, perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Seafood
- 1 pound sea scallops, cleaned and patted dry
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Topping & Garnish
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (optional for topping)
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the scallops evenly.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Mixture: In a bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly to blend the flavors.
- Arrange Scallops: Place the cleaned and dried scallops in a single layer in a small baking dish, making sure they are evenly spaced for uniform cooking.
- Apply Sauce: Pour the prepared garlic butter mixture evenly over the scallops, ensuring each scallop is well coated for maximum flavor.
- Add Breadcrumbs (Optional): If using, sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the scallops to add a crunchy texture after baking.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the scallops become opaque and develop a light golden color, indicating doneness.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm with lemon wedges alongside a drizzle of any remaining garlic butter from the dish to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Always pat your scallops completely dry before baking to achieve the perfect golden sear and prevent steaming.
- For extra crunch, toast your breadcrumbs lightly before sprinkling them on top.
