Broiled Scallops are one of the easiest and most luxurious seafood dishes you can make at home. With just a few ingredients and under 15 minutes, you’ll have golden-topped, juicy broiled scallops bursting with flavor. Whether you’re making a fancy dinner or a quick weeknight meal, this broiled scallops recipe is fast, foolproof, and absolutely delicious.
Scallops are one of our absolute favorite seafood. They are SO rich and luscious, 5 star restaurant dish that you can make at home SO EASILY!
We shared a full tutorial on How to Cook Scallops. This includes seared scallops and Baked scallops. We also hopped on the air fryer trend and made Air Fryer Scallops. And so it’s only fitting to broil scallops too!
Broiling fish is such a convenient hack because it’s the quickest possible way to cook them. It also gets you a nice char wit minimal effort. We especially love it with Miso Salmon and Sweet Chili Salmon. If you have a great weather situation where you are, then follow our Grilled Trout : How to Grill Fish without it sticking. This is the BEST tutorial to grilling any fish!
For now, let’s go back to this scallops recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Broiled Scallop Recipe
- Fast & Easy: Cooks in under 8 minutes—no flipping, no mess as the oven does the work for you!
- Restaurant Quality at Home: Crisp golden top, tender inside—just like fine dining. Super juicy scallops that you can enjoy and impress your guests with if you’re entertaining!
- Healthy Option: High in protein, low in fat and carbs.
- Minimal Ingredients: Just scallops, butter, garlic, seasoning and lemon.
- Versatile: Serve as an appetizer, over pasta, or on a salad, or with Air Fryer Garlic Bread.
Ingredients You Need
-
Sea scallops . You can use any size scallops that you prefer. We have used here the jumbo or large size. I you’re lucky to have fresh scallops, we absolutely would recommend that!! However we used frozen today, that we thawed and patted dry. Patting the scallops helps the seasoning stick to the fish and infuse it with flavor.
- Butter. While you can use oil like olive oil or a neutral avocado oil, we love butter. The flavor compliments the juicy and rich scallops so WELL! We always prefer unsalted butter.
- Garlic. Freshly minced to infuse the flavor. You can use garlic powder an an alternative too.
- Lemon juice. Bright and zesty lemon flavor for sqeezing over the cooked scallops. You can use lemon zest as well if you like for the marinade.
- Seasoning. Simple salt and black pepper of course. Extra seasoning we love is a inch of an Italian blend and paprika.
How to Make Broiled Scallops
Prep the Scallops
- Remove the scallops from the bag and pat them dry, then remove any side muscle if present.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. This is a crucial tip for broiling. Avoid using parchment paper as it may burn, always opt for foil when lining your sheets.
- Season the scallops with the dry seasoning, some minced garlic and melted butter.
- Toss well to coat.
Broil The Scallops
- Preheat the broiler to high and have the oven rack about 7-8 inches away from the heat elements.
- Broil the scallops for about 5-7 minutes until the tops are golden and the scallops are just opaque in the center.
- Remove from the broiler and they’re ready!
Serve
- To serve, simply plate it next to pasta, bread, rice or a simple salad we did here. Don’t forget to have plenty of lemon wedges!
Scallops Recipe Tips
- If you’re using frozen scallops, make sure you thaw them.
- Pat and dry them well. This helps the marinade and seasoning stick to the scallops. Most importantly, drying the scallops helps with the browning.
- You ca use any size scallops you prefer, but just add the cooking time accordingly.
- Arrange the scallops in a single layer always so they cook evenly.
- Broilers are a very high source of heat, so always keep an eye on the scallops. They may cook faster than you expect.
- Make sure to read the full tutorial on How to Cook Scallops. This covers everything from Seared Scallops to baked Scallops and all the tips you need!
Can I use frozen scallops?
Yes! We did so right here, but make sure you thaw them fully in the fridge overnight. And keep in mind you need to pat them completely dry before broiling.
How do I know when scallops are done?
They should be opaque in the center and lightly golden on top. A perfectly cooked scallop is slightly springy to the touch.
Should I flip the scallops when broiling?
No flipping needed—broiling cooks from the top down. Just make sure the tops are nicely browned.
What kind of pan should I use?
You need to use either a heavy duty cast iron skillet, or baking sheet. If using a baking sheet, make sure you line it with FOIL and never with parchment paper. The parchment can burn so quickly under the broiler. Avoid glass bakeware as it can shatter under direct broiler heat.
What’s the difference between broiled and seared scallops?
Broiled: Cooks under high heat from above, often slightly more hands-off. Seared: Cooks in a hot pan with direct contact, needing more active attention.
Can I use bay scallops?
Bay scallops are smaller and cook much faster. Reduce the broiling time to 2–3 minutes. We have used them in our Air Fryer Scallops.
What to serve with broiled scallops?
- Pasta. Burrata Pasta, Lobster Pasta, Pasta Primavera, Pesto Pasta with Pistachio Pesto.
- Rice. Make Lobster Risotto, Cilantro Lime Rice, Coconut Rice.
- Veggies. Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Asparagus, Sautéed Green Beans.
- Salad. Mexican Street Corn Salad, Easy Cucumber Salad, Ahi Tuna Salad.
- Breads. Ultimate Garlic Bread.
15 Mins Seafood Dinners
Miso Salmon
Shrimp Pasta
Black Cod Recipe
Grilled Halibut
Seared Ahi Tuna
Butter Poached Lobster
Salmon Bowl
Crab Claws
Broiled Scallops
Ingredients
Scallops
- 1 lb Scallops Large size, patted dry
Seasoning
- 3 Tablespoons Butter melted
- 2 garlic clloves minced
- 1 Tabelspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper or to taste
To serve
- 1 lemon wedges
Instructions
-
Remove the scallops from the bag and pat them dry, then remove any side muscle if present.
-
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. This is a crucial tip for broiling. Avoid using parchment paper as it may burn, always opt for foil when lining your sheets.
-
Season the scallops with the dry seasoning, some minced garlic and melted butter.
-
Toss well to coat.
-
Broil The Scallops
-
Preheat the broiler to high and have the oven rack about 7-8 inches away from the heat elements.
-
Broil the scallops for about 5-7 minutes until the tops are golden and the scallops are just opaque in the center.
-
Remove from the broiler and they're ready!
-
Serve
-
To serve, simply plate it next to pasta, bread, rice or a simple salad we did here. Don't forget to have plenty of lemon wedges!
Recipe Notes
Scallops Recipe Tips
- If you're using frozen scallops, make sure you thaw them.
- Pat and dry them well. This helps the marinade and seasoning stick to the scallops. Most importantly, drying the scallops helps with the browning.
- You ca use any size scallops you prefer, but just add the cooking time accordingly.
- Arrange the scallops in a single layer always so they cook evenly.
- Broilers are a very high source of heat, so always keep an eye on the scallops. They may cook faster than you expect.
- Make sure to read the full tutorial on How to Cook Scallops. This covers everything from Seared Scallops to baked Scallops and all the tips you need!
Can I use frozen scallops?
Yes! We did so right here, but make sure you thaw them fully in the fridge overnight. And keep in mind you need to pat them completely dry before broiling.
How do I know when scallops are done?
They should be opaque in the center and lightly golden on top. A perfectly cooked scallop is slightly springy to the touch.
Should I flip the scallops when broiling?
No flipping needed—broiling cooks from the top down. Just make sure the tops are nicely browned.
What kind of pan should I use?
You need to use either a heavy duty cast iron skillet, or baking sheet. If using a baking sheet, make sure you line it with FOIL and never with parchment paper. The parchment can burn so quickly under the broiler. Avoid glass bakeware as it can shatter under direct broiler heat.
What’s the difference between broiled and seared scallops?
Broiled: Cooks under high heat from above, often slightly more hands-off. Seared: Cooks in a hot pan with direct contact, needing more active attention.
Can I use bay scallops?
Bay scallops are smaller and cook much faster. Reduce the broiling time to 2–3 minutes. We have used them in our Air Fryer Scallops.
What to serve with broiled scallops?
- Pasta. Burrata Pasta, Lobster Pasta, Pasta Primavera, Pesto Pasta with Pistachio Pesto.
- Rice. Make Lobster Risotto, Cilantro Lime Rice, Coconut Rice.
- Veggies. Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Asparagus, Sautéed Green Beans.
- Salad. Mexican Street Corn Salad, Easy Cucumber Salad, Ahi Tuna Salad.
- Breads. Ultimate Garlic Bread.
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