Creamy Garlic Scallops

By Becky Hardin

Published May 26, 2021

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Elegant and delicious, these creamy garlic scallops are about to become your favorite thing! Ready to serve in 20 minutes, they are bursting with fresh flavors.

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Scallops in Cream

What if I told you, you can have a restaurant quality meal on the table in 20 minutes? These simple instructions and quality ingredients make it fool-proof.

These creamy garlic scallops are all kinds of delicious, but they are so quick and easy to make, you’ll be enjoying this seafood recipe on the regular.

If you like these, be sure to check out my Bacon Wrapped Scallops or this Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp !

Why you’ll love this Creamy Garlic Scallops recipe:

QUICK: Ready in 20 minutes , this dish is perfect to serve for an easy weeknight dinner when you are short on time.
VERSATILE: These creamy scallops are great to serve for dinner, but they make for a great appetizer to serve to guests too.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS : All of the ingredients for this dish are pretty standard, a lot of which you’ll already have to hand.

How to make Creamy Garlic Scallops

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

Sear the scallops on both sides and set aside.
Melt the butter in the pan and add the garlic.
Add in the wine, lemon juice and tomatoes.
Pour in the cream and add the cheese.
Add the scallops back to the pan to warm through and serve.

Can you make them ahead of time?

These creamy garlic scallops are best served as soon as they are made so that they are at their freshest. Leftovers can be stored for a couple of days in the fridge in an airtight container.

Reheat the scallops in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed through to serve.

Can you use frozen scallops

You can use fresh or frozen scallops for this recipe. If you use frozen, be sure to thaw them fully before cooking them and dab them with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

What do you serve them with?

You can serve these garlic scallops as is for an appetizer or on a plate of greens. They are delicious when served over pasta or rice. Honestly, I can eat them straight out of the pan!

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Tips!

If attached, remove the side muscle from the scallops before cooking.
Take care not to overcook the scallops, they only need a few minutes on each side. If you overcook them, they can become chewy in texture.
If you don’t want to use wine in this dish, you can substitute it for some vegetable or chicken stock.

You are sure to impress your family with these delicious creamy garlic scallops! So yummy and so quick and easy! I can’t wait to hear what you all think!

More Seafood Recipes we Love

Seafood Lasagna
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Cod Fish Tacos
Honey Sesame Shrimp
Creamy Parmesan Shrimp
Blackened Salmon

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 ½ lbs. fresh scallops if using frozen, fully thaw out
▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ 6 garlic cloves minced or grated
▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
▢ ¼ cup dry white wine
▢ Juice of half a lemon
▢ 1 cup heavy cream
▢ ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
▢ 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish
▢ Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the scallops and sear for 3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Add the butter to the pan until fully melted and then add in the minced garlic.
Cook for 1 minute and then add in the white wine, lemon juice and cherry tomatoes.
Cook for another 2 minutes and then pour in the cream and parmesan cheese.
Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes or until the liquid reduces and slightly thickens.
Add in the scallops and cook until warmed through.
Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately over cooked pasta, rice or a bed of greens. Enjoy!

Becky’s Tips

If attached, remove the side muscle from the scallops before cooking.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.
Take care not to overcook the scallops, they only need a few minutes on each side. If you overcook them, they can become chewy in texture.
If you don’t want to use wine in this dish, you can substitute it for some vegetable or chicken stock.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Creamy Garlic Scallops Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs. fresh scallops if using frozen, fully thaw out
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 garlic cloves minced or grated
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
¼ cup dry white wine
Juice of half a lemon
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the scallops and sear for 3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Add the butter to the pan until fully melted and then add in the minced garlic.
Cook for 1 minute and then add in the white wine, lemon juice and cherry tomatoes.
Cook for another 2 minutes and then pour in the cream and parmesan cheese.
Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes or until the liquid reduces and slightly thickens.
Add in the scallops and cook until warmed through.
Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately over cooked pasta, rice or a bed of greens. Enjoy!

Notes

If attached, remove the side muscle from the scallops before cooking.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.
Take care not to overcook the scallops, they only need a few minutes on each side. If you overcook them, they can become chewy in texture.
If you don’t want to use wine in this dish, you can substitute it for some vegetable or chicken stock.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!