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Lemon Butter Scallops - All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

Lemon Butter Scallops - All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

As much as I love scallops, I have always been very hesitant to cook with it. At $20 per pound, there is absolutely no room for error when it comes to cooking these.

Lemon Butter Scallops - All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

But little did I know with a few handy tricks, scallops are actually one of the easiest (and quickest) meals to whip up, and they’re just on par with restaurant-quality scallops.

Lemon Butter Scallops - All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

And this lemon butter sauce is absolutely unreal, and the perfect accompaniment to these golden brown oh-so-perfectly seared scallops.

Lemon Butter Scallops - All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!

Just remember – you’ll want to have your side dishes and/or light salads ready to go since these scallops will be ready in a flash in just 10 minutes from start to finish!

Tools For This Recipe

Large cast iron skillet

Lemon Butter Scallops: Frequently Asked Questions

Why use unsalted butter?

Unsalted butter allows you to add as much salt (or as little) salt in your dish. It allows for more control and consistency.

What can I serve this with?

Any of these side dishes and/or light salads would go beautifully with these scallops. Our favorites include glazed carrots, roasted cauliflower, and chicken caesar salad with homemade croutons.

You can also serve this with some light crusty bread to sop up all that leftover sauce!

Lemon Butter Scallops

Lemon Butter Scallops

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
All you need is 5 ingredients + 10 minutes for the most amazing, buttery scallops ever. So easy, so simple, so fancy!
4.9 stars (140 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 pound 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

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
  • Remove the small side muscle from the scallops, rinse with cold water and thoroughly pat dry.
  • Season scallops with salt and pepper, to taste. Working in batches, add scallops to the skillet in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until golden brown and translucent in the center, about 1-2 minutes per side. Set aside and keep warm.
  • Serve scallops immediately with lemon butter sauce, garnished with parsley, if desired.

for the lemon butter sauce

  • Melt butter in the skillet. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

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