cant decide

Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Scallops

Name: Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Scallops
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10 oz large sea scallops; 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 2 tbsp olive oil; 3 unit garlic cloves; 1 tsp dried thyme; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp black pepper; 1 unit lemon; 1 tsp fresh parsley

When you want a fancy dinner but have zero energy to actually cook a complicated meal.

Total: 20 min
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
Serves: 2
Difficulty: easy
Calories: 450
Cost: $$$/serving

Sometimes the toughest part of the day is deciding what to eat, especially when you're exhausted and just want something that feels special without the effort. These pan-seared scallops are your secret weapon for those nights; they cook incredibly fast and feel like a high-end restaurant treat. The trick is getting that golden-brown crust while keeping the inside tender and buttery. By using a heavy skillet, you'll achieve that perfect sear in just a few minutes. It’s a low-stress way to enjoy luxury on a budget-friendly timeline. Serve them over a simple bed of greens or with some crusty bread to soak up every drop of the garlic butter sauce.

Ingredients

10 oz large sea scallops — pat extremely dry with paper towels
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
3 unit garlic cloves — minced
1 tsp dried thyme
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp black pepper
1 unit lemon
1 tsp fresh parsley — chopped

Method

1 Pat the scallops very dry with paper towels. This is the most important step for getting a good sear.
2 Season both sides of the scallops generously with salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
3 Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it just begins to shimmer.
Advertisement
4 Place scallops in the pan, ensuring they aren't touching. Sear undisturbed for 2 minutes until a golden crust forms.
5 Flip the scallops. Add the butter and minced garlic to the pan.
6 Baste the scallops with the melting butter and garlic for 1-2 minutes while tossing gently with tongs.
7 Squeeze half the lemon over the mixture and stir in the parsley.
8 Remove from heat immediately and serve.

Variations

Vegetarian Swap — Replace the scallops with thick slices of King Oyster mushrooms, which take on a similar meaty texture and soak up the garlic butter beautifully.
Speedy Prep — Use pre-minced garlic from a jar to shave off 3 minutes of prep time if you're in an extra hurry.

Notes

Make sure your skillet is hot before adding the scallops to ensure they sear rather than steam. If the butter browns too quickly, lower the heat slightly.