Elevate your dinner game with these creamy garlic scallops—perfectly seared and bathed in a luscious, garlicky sauce that’s as easy to make as it is impressive to serve.
These creamy garlic scallops are the ultimate combination of elegance and comfort! Each tender, pan-seared scallop is bathed in a rich, garlic cream sauce combined with a hint of lemon and fresh herbs. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for both busy weeknights and special occasions. Serve over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to soak up every drop of that delicious sauce. Simple, satisfying, and irresistibly flavorful!
Feeds 2-4 people
Prep time – 10 minutes
Cook time – 25 minutes
Why Creamy Garlic Scallops Work
Quick and Easy: With minimal ingredients and just 30 minutes from start to finish, creamy garlic scallops are ideal for a quick, gourmet-style meal.
Rich, Bold Flavors: The creamy garlic sauce, with a touch of lemon and herbs, enhances the scallops’ natural sweetness, creating a well-balanced, flavorful dish.
Restaurant-Quality at Home: This dish gives you a fine-dining experience right in your own kitchen, making it perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself.
Versatile Serving Options: Creamy garlic scallops pair beautifully with pasta, rice, or fresh bread, giving you flexibility to create a complete and satisfying meal.
Ingredients:
- 14-16 sea scallops
- 2 tbsp olive olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoon butter
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 shallot, diced
- Salt & Pepper
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Cooking Process
Prepare the Scallops: Start by patting the scallops dry with paper towels. Then, lightly season each one with salt and pepper. (Pro tip: For the best flavor and texture, place the seasoned scallops on an elevated rack in the refrigerator, uncovered, overnight. This process is called dry brining and helps draw out excess moisture.)
Heat the Pan: On medium-high heat, add olive oil to a large sauté pan. Let the oil heat until it begins to ripple and a slight smoke forms—this is the ideal temperature for searing.
Sear the Scallops: Carefully place the scallops in the hot pan, ensuring they aren’t touching each other. Sear them for at least 2 minutes on each side, until they turn golden brown. Transfer the seared scallops to a plate and set aside.
Creating The Garlic Butter Sauce
Create the Garlic Sauce: In the same pan, add 2-3 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, mix in the minced garlic and diced shallot, sautéing until fragrant.
Deglaze the Pan: Pour in white wine and let it simmer until it reduces by half. Use a spatula to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan—these add a ton of flavor to the sauce.
Add the Lemon and Cream: Squeeze in fresh lemon juice for brightness, then gradually pour in the heavy cream. Stir well to combine, allowing the sauce to come up to a gentle simmer.
Finish with Flavor: Sprinkle in minced parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring to blend the flavors. Let the sauce thicken slightly, adjusting the seasoning to taste.
Serve and Garnish: Drizzle the creamy garlic sauce over the scallops on your serving plate. For extra freshness, garnish with more parsley and a final squeeze of lemon juice.
Enjoy these creamy garlic scallops with your favorite pasta, rice, or a warm slice of crusty bread to soak up every drop!
This creamy garlic sauce also pairs great with BBQ Clams
I love to serve my Pull Apart Garlic Bread with this to dip in that white wine butter sauce!
Creamy Garlic Scallops
These creamy garlic scallops are the ultimate combination of elegance and comfort! Each tender, pan-seared scallop is bathed in a rich, garlic cream sauce combined with a hint of lemon and fresh herbs. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for both busy weeknights and special occasions. Serve over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to soak up every drop of that delicious sauce. Simple, satisfying, and irresistibly flavorful!
Ingredients
- 14-16 sea scallops
- 2 tbsp olive olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoon butter
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 shallot, diced
- Salt & Pepper
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pat scallops dry with paper towels, then lightly season with salt and pepper. (For best results place on an elevated rack uncovered and place in the refrigerator overnight. This process is called dry brining)
- On medium/high heat until oil ripples and when it begins to smoke, add olive oil to a large saute pan.
- Place the scallops in the pan, making sure they are not touching each other.
- Sear the scallops for at least 2 minutes on each side.
- Transfer scallops on a plate, then add 2-3 tbsp butter.
- Mix in the minced garlic & diced shallot
- Pour in the white wine and simmer until it reduces.
- Scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze the pan and get more flavor
- Squeeze in the lemon juice.
- Gradually pour in the heavy whipping cream.
- Sprinkle minced parsley & grated parmesan cheese
- Mix and let the sauce come up to a simmer
- Drizzle cream sauce over the scallops.
- Garnish with more parsley.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and enjoy!
Notes
Why Creamy Garlic Scallops Work
Quick and Easy: With minimal ingredients and just 30 minutes from start to finish, creamy garlic scallops are ideal for a quick, gourmet-style meal.
Rich, Bold Flavors: The creamy garlic sauce, with a touch of lemon and herbs, enhances the scallops' natural sweetness, creating a well-balanced, flavorful dish.
Restaurant-Quality at Home: This dish gives you a fine-dining experience right in your own kitchen, making it perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself.
Versatile Serving Options: Creamy garlic scallops pair beautifully with pasta, rice, or fresh bread, giving you flexibility to create a complete and satisfying meal.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 15.8gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 3.1gNet Carbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gSugar Alcohols: 0gProtein: 6g