Pan Seared Scallops Recipe Highlights

Pan seared scallops are…

• INCREDIBLY SIMPLE. Requiring just 3 simple ingredients (scallops included!) & a good ol’ skillet, mastering how to sear scallops at home is all about technique, & it’s honestly quite simple!
• SERIOUSLY QUICK. You can sear up a whole platter of scallops in under 10 minutes! Perfect for healthy weeknight cooking & impressive easy entertaining!
• DELICIOUSLY VERSATILE. An all-purpose protein that can be used in a countless number of meals! Pan seared scallops are great on their own, but you can also serve them with pasta, veggies, sauces, & more to make a beautiful restaurant-quality meal at home.

Once you see how simple it is to make the perfect pan seared scallops at home, you’ll want to put seared scallops on everything. (There are worse problems to have, trust me!) ♡ Read on to learn more about How to Sear Scallops, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin’!

The absolute best part about learning how to sear scallops at home is how simple it is. Unlike other fancy restaurant dishes, seared scallops are really easy to prepare, requiring very minimal ingredients & equipment. You will need…

• A skillet – Any nonstick or stainless steel skillet works beautifully for pan seared scallops.
• Scallops – This recipe is written specifically with jumbo sea scallops in mind, about U/15 – U/20. The “U” designation is a measure of size, indicating how many individual pieces make a pound. The smaller the U designation, the larger the scallops & vice versa (i.e. U/10 sea scallops are larger than U/30 sea scallops because only 10 individual scallops make up 1 pound vs 30). Sharing a few more scallops FAQs below!
• Oil – In my opinion, the best oil for cooking scallops is avocado oil. It’s neutral in flavor & has a high smoke point, which is ideal for seared scallops since developing a beautifully golden brown crust requires high heat. If you don’t keep avocado oil on hand, you can also make these pan seared scallops with another high smoke point oil (e.g. grapeseed, canola, etc.).
• Seasonings – I keep things simple with trusty kosher salt & ground black pepper. You can absolutely season your scallops with other spices (e.g. blackening seasoning, seafood spice blend, etc.) based on the other flavors of your meal.

Scallops 101 – Choosing the right scallops:

• What’s the difference between bay scallops and sea scallops? ⇢ The two most common types of scallops are sea scallops & bay scallops. As their names suggest, sea scallops are caught in deep sea water whereas bay scallops are caught in shallow bay water.
  • Sea scallops are larger in size (U/15-30), have a lovely firm texture, & pan sear beautifully. If you think of a restaurant dish with gorgeous seared scallops, sea scallops are likely what come to mind.
  • Bay scallops are smaller in size (U/50-100), & they’re really delicate & sweet. Based on their small size, bay scallops cook very quickly, so they aren’t ideal for searing.
• What are diver scallops? ⇢ Another term you are likely to hear when you’re shopping for scallops is ‘diver scallops,’ which refers to the method in which the scallops are harvested. Diver scallops are harvested by hand (by divers!), a method regarded as more sustainable than commercially harvested scallops.
• Are frozen scallops good? Frozen vs fresh scallops ⇢ Conventional wisdom may dictate that fresh is best, especially when it comes to seafood. While there’s certainly some truth there, it’s a little more nuanced than that:
  • Fresh ⇢ Unless you live on the coast, ‘fresh’ seafood is most likely previously frozen for transit to the store.
  • Frozen ⇢ On the other hand, frozen seafood is typically frozen quickly after its caught, giving the final consumer more control to thaw immediately before use. In terms of freshness, I think frozen is the way to go! (& a bonus? Frozen is typically less expensive!)
• The best frozen scallops ⇢ Simple – ALDI’s Specially Selected Jumbo Scallops! They are wild-caught, certified sustainable, & individually frozen, which helps protect the integrity & flavor of delicate scallops. You’ll always find them in my freezer!

How to clean scallops:

1. Rinse! Remove the scallops from the packaging & quickly rinse under cold water. Why ⇢ If you’ve ever wondered ‘Why are my scallops gritty?‘, the grittiness you notice is likely sand. A quick rinse washes away any sand that may be hanging out on the surface of the scallop.
2. Remove the side muscle ⇢ Check each scallop for its side muscle, which is really chewy & not particularly pleasant to eat. If present, it looks like a small, rectangular tag right along the side of the scallop, with its fibers running in the opposite direction of the fibers in the scallop itself. Use your fingers to gently tear it away.
3. Pat dry ⇢ In order to take on a beautiful golden-brown crust, the scallops need to be as dry as possible. Transfer the cleaned scallops to a paper towel-lined plate. Gently press a second piece of paper towel over top to remove as much excess moisture as possible. If the scallops still seem pretty wet, pat with fresh paper towels until dry to the touch.

Here’s what you’ll do: (Note: full Recipe Directions are provided in the Recipe Card, below.)

1. Heat the oil – Add the oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. I cook with stainless steel (pictured), but a good nonstick skillet will also work great for searing scallops. Why ⇢ A restaurant-worthy golden brown sear is a result of the scallops coming into direct contact with an an extremely hot surface (thanks to the Maillard reaction!). A good, hot pan is key for making the best pan seared scallops.
2. Pat dry & season – Using paper towel, pat the scallops completely dry, then season generously with salt & pepper. Why ⇢ Moisture is the natural enemy to creating a good, hard sear, so it’s important that the scallops are as dry as possible.
3. Sear the scallops – Once the oil is hot, add the scallops to the pan & cook for a couple minutes per side. The goal is gorgeous, hard sear, so refrain from disrupting the scallops much as they cook, though you can give the pan a gentle shake every 30 seconds or so to make sure the entire surface area of the scallop comes into contact with the hot pan. How long to sear scallops ⇢ Since they’re relatively small, scallops cook very quickly; about 2-3 minutes per side. You tell when scallops are done by looking at their sides; they will be opaque & no longer translucent.

Troubleshooting – Are scallops supposed to be chewy?

A properly seared scallop has a gloriously golden brown & crusty exterior & is nearly melt-in-you-mouth tender & delicate throughout the center. If you find your scallops are rubbery or chewy, they’re likely overcooked. To fix, simply cook your next batch of scallops for a shorter amount of time. With a reduced cooking time, you may need to increase the heat under the pan to ensure they sear nicely & develop the coveted golden brown & crust. It may take a couple of batches to get the hang of how to sear scallops, but it’s so worth it!

Pan seared scallops are gloriously versatile. You can serve them up in a countless number of ways. A few of my favorites…

• All on their own! – My personal favorite! Sprinkle the seared scallops with freshly snipped chives or thinly sliced basil, schmear some butter on your favorite crusty bread, pour a big ol’ glass of white wine, & dive in. If you want to fancy it up a bit, add sauce! An herbaceous drizzle of chimichurri or kale pesto is always a good idea.
• With pasta! – Seared scallops are the easiest way to take a simple pasta dish, like aglio olio, to the next level. This lemony Pesto Pasta with Seared Scallops is one of my all-time favorite meals.
• Surf & Turf – For an epic steakhouse-quality dinner, serve your seared scallops along with a beautiful steak & some mashed potatoes or a cozy gratin.
• Suggested wine pairing – I’m by no means a sommelier, but I enjoy pairing scallops with a crisp, dry white wine with good minerality, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Verdicchio, or an unoaked Chardonnay. Never shy away from telling the folks at your favorite wine shop that you’re looking for a pairing for scallops! They’ll always point you in a great direction.