These Lemon Butter Scallops are an absolute showstopper — buttery, garlicky, and citrusy, with a beautiful golden sear. Ready in just 10 minutes with only 5 ingredients, this recipe is simple yet fancy enough to rival your favorite seafood restaurant. Perfect for an elegant dinner or a quick, luxurious meal at home!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Scallops:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 1 pound sea scallops

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the Lemon Butter Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves (for garnish)

Directions

1. Prep the Scallops:
   Remove the small side muscle from the scallops, rinse with cold water, and pat dry thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Sear the Scallops:
   Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add scallops in a single layer and cook 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown and translucent in the center. Set aside and keep warm.

3. Make the Lemon Butter Sauce:
   In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant (about 1 minute). Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve:
   Serve the scallops immediately, drizzling them with the lemon butter sauce and garnishing with fresh parsley.

Nutrients

(Per serving, approx.)

• Calories: ~250 kcal

• Protein: ~20g

• Fat: ~18g

  • Saturated Fat: ~8g

• Carbohydrates: ~3g

  • Sugar: ~1g

• Sodium: ~300–400mg

• Cholesterol: ~60mg

• Vitamin A: High (from butter)

• Vitamin C: High (from lemon juice)

• Calcium: ~3% DV

• Iron: ~2% DV

Why You’ll Love Lemon Butter Scallops

There are endless reasons why Lemon Butter Scallops deserve a spot in your regular cooking rotation. First and foremost is how incredibly quick and easy they are to make. From start to finish, this dish comes together in under 15 minutes, making it ideal for busy nights when you still want to enjoy something special.

Second, the flavor is simply unbeatable. Perfectly seared scallops have a sweet, almost buttery flavor on their own, and when paired with a simple yet luxurious lemon butter sauce, they transform into something truly extraordinary. The minimal ingredient list allows the natural taste of the scallops to shine while enhancing it with the complementary richness of butter and the brightness of lemon.

Another reason to love this dish is its versatility. Lemon Butter Scallops can be served as an appetizer to impress guests, or turned into a full meal by pairing them with pasta, risotto, or a crisp salad. They are elegant enough for a date night dinner yet simple enough to make whenever you’re craving a quick seafood fix.

Finally, scallops are a naturally lean protein packed with essential nutrients, making this dish as nourishing as it is delicious.

Health Benefits of Lemon Butter Scallops

Beyond their delectable flavor and stunning presentation, Lemon Butter Scallops offer an array of nutritional benefits. Scallops are an excellent source of lean, high-quality protein, providing about 20 grams per serving. Protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass, supporting immune function, and promoting overall satiety, making this dish a smart choice for a balanced diet.

Scallops are also rich in Vitamin B12, a nutrient essential for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. Additionally, they provide good amounts of phosphorus, selenium, and zinc, which are important for bone health, thyroid function, and immune support.

The healthy fats from butter, while indulgent, offer fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and help your body absorb key nutrients. Lemon juice adds a significant boost of Vitamin C, supporting immune health and skin vitality.

Overall, Lemon Butter Scallops strike a harmonious balance between luxurious flavor and smart nutrition, making them a worthwhile indulgence you can feel good about enjoying.

Customizing Your Lemon Butter Scallops

While the classic version of Lemon Butter Scallops is perfect as written, there are plenty of ways to customize it based on your taste preferences or what you have available.

For a slightly smoky twist, you could add a pinch of smoked paprika to the butter sauce or dust it lightly over the scallops before searing. If you enjoy a touch of spice, a few red pepper flakes stirred into the sauce can bring gentle heat that balances beautifully with the lemon and garlic.

You can also play with fresh herbs. In addition to or instead of parsley, try topping the scallops with chives, dill, or basil for a different herbal note. Adding a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan before finishing the sauce introduces another layer of flavor and makes the sauce even more luxurious.

For those who love a little texture, you could serve the scallops over a bed of crispy prosciutto or crushed toasted nuts like pistachios or almonds for a delightful contrast.

The sauce itself can be made richer with a tablespoon of cream whisked in at the end, creating a lemon butter cream sauce that’s velvety and decadent.

Perfect for Any Occasion

Lemon Butter Scallops are one of those rare dishes that effortlessly fit into almost any occasion. Hosting a dinner party? These scallops make a jaw-dropping appetizer that’s guaranteed to impress. Planning a romantic dinner for two? Their rich flavor and elegant presentation make them the perfect centerpiece. Need a quick yet luxurious weeknight meal? Their 10-minute preparation time makes them a practical choice even on the busiest nights.

For an appetizer, simply plate three to four scallops per person with a drizzle of lemon butter sauce and a garnish of fresh parsley. If turning them into a main dish, serve over angel hair pasta, creamy risotto, a quinoa salad, or atop a bed of sautéed spinach or asparagus.

No matter how you serve them, Lemon Butter Scallops bring a touch of elegance and sophistication to any table, elevating everyday meals into memorable experiences.

Tips for Making the Best Lemon Butter Scallops

Pat the scallops dry thoroughly before seasoning and searing. Removing excess moisture ensures that you get a perfect golden-brown crust rather than steaming them in the pan.

Use a heavy-bottomed skillet, such as cast iron, which retains heat well and promotes even browning.

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Give each scallop plenty of space, which helps them sear instead of steam.

Sear the scallops quickly over medium-high heat. Overcooking can turn tender scallops rubbery, so watch carefully and remove them from the pan as soon as they are translucent in the center and golden brown on the outside.

When making the sauce, keep the garlic moving in the butter to prevent it from burning. Burnt garlic can impart a bitter taste to the entire dish.

Taste the sauce before serving. Depending on the tartness of your lemon and the saltiness of your butter, you might need a little extra seasoning to perfectly balance the flavors.

Nutritional Value Overview

Each serving of Lemon Butter Scallops provides approximately 250 calories, making it a relatively light yet satisfying choice. It offers around 20 grams of protein to help maintain muscle health and promote satiety. Fat content is about 18 grams, primarily from butter, with 8 grams being saturated fat.

The carbohydrate count is low, at about 3 grams per serving, making this an excellent dish for low-carb and keto-friendly diets. Sodium is moderate at approximately 300–400 milligrams per serving, depending on your seasoning. It is also a rich source of Vitamin A from the butter and Vitamin C from the lemon juice, supporting immune health, skin health, and overall vitality.

Conclusion

Lemon Butter Scallops prove that extraordinary meals don’t require complicated ingredients or endless hours in the kitchen. With their beautiful golden sear, tender sweetness, and vibrant lemony butter sauce, they deliver restaurant-quality luxury in just minutes. They are elegant enough for special occasions yet simple enough to elevate an ordinary evening into something truly special.

This recipe highlights the beauty of simplicity: using fresh, high-quality ingredients and a straightforward method to create a dish bursting with flavor and texture. Once you master the art of the perfect sear and the balance of the luscious sauce, Lemon Butter Scallops will undoubtedly become one of your favorite quick and impressive go-to meals.

Serve them to guests or savor them all to yourself — either way, these scallops guarantee a memorable and delicious experience with every single bite.