Crispy Baked Scallops are buttery and crispy with panko, Parmesan Cheese, paprika, butter and olive oil baked in just 15 minutes.
If you like easy to make sea food, like Pesto Shrimp or Crispy Fried Calamari, or if you liked my Pan Seared Scallops you should definitely try this recipe.
BAKED SCALLOPS
Baking scallops in butter not only gives them a delicious taste, it makes the outside crisp and flavorful and the cook time is incredibly short. If you want a classy, high brow dinner but either can’t find a sitter or don’t want to pay for a gourmet restaurant, this is an easy you can make at home.
Scallops are a delicious shell fish that has a rich flavor, a springy texture and tastes absolutely fantastic when drenched in butter. This recipe combines paprika, black pepper, Parmesan Cheese and breadcrumbs to make a golden brown, flavorful topping for the scallops that add just enough flavor to make this dinner unique and delicious.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED SCALLOPS
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and remove the tough side-muscle.
- Place scallops in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, spices, butter and olive oil.
- Top the scallops with the mixture
- Put them in the oven and bake until the scallops are opaque (about 15 minutes).
- Broil the scallops for a minute or two if the topping isn’t browned.
VARIATIONS
- Lemon juice: drizzle the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon over the top of the scallops for some extra zesty flavor.
- White wine: add a little bit of white wine to the bottom of the pan. the scallops will absorb the flavor as they cook.
- Au Gratin: closely layer scallops together in a baking dish and then cover them in a thick layer of your choice of cheese, casserole style. Once you bake them, the cheese will add a yummy savory flavor.
- Bay scallops: bay scallops are a smaller variety of shellfish but are equally as tasty. If the bay variety are all that you have available, don’t worry! You can still make this great tasting scallop recipe as an entree or as a tasty appetizer.
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What to serve with Baked Scallops:
- Roasted Green Beans: green beans are delicious, and they’re even better roasted. They stay crisp without drying out, and they compliment the flavor of the baked scallops perfectly.
- Scalloped Potatoes: from one scallop to another. These potatoes are practically floating in cheese and have a rich, full flavor. The baked scallops are fantastic served up next to a bed of sizzling, thin sliced potatoes.
- Three Bean Salad: if you want to eat some veggies but are really tired of classic salads, go for three bean salad. It’s light enough to leave you enough room to enjoy a whole pan of scallops but also filling enough if you absolutely have to share your scallops with someone else.
- Easy Mushroom Rice: rice is a great base for all sorts of flavors, and the buttery flavor of button mushrooms, onions and thyme take this side to a whole new level.
The Unsung Trivia – Scallop Trivia
- Up until pretty recently, scallops weren’t actually eaten very much. They were valued for their beautiful, scalloped edged shells (see what I did there?) and the meat was pretty much ignored. Kind of shockingly, the reasons that scallops weren’t a favorite was because they were considered too sweet.
- The scallop is the official state shell of New York.
- Scallops use their shells to “jump” around in the water.
How to Store Baked Scallops:
- Serve: for the good of your insides, don’t leave scallops out for longer than 2 hours.
- Store: once cooked, you can store scallops for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: in an airtight container, you can keep scallops for up to 3 months in the freezer.
WHEN ARE THEY SAFE TO EAT?
According to the USDA’s website, scallops are considered cooked through and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (62.7 degrees C).
While some sushi restaurants serve raw scallops that seafood is sourced through incredibly thoughtful channels that your local grocer may not be utilizing, so it is best to not serve your scallops raw.
Crispy Baked Scallops
Ingredients
- 16 large sea scallops , (1 - 1 1/2 pounds)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese , grated
- 2 tablespoons parsley , chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Dry scallops well with paper towel and remove any attached side-muscle on the scallop by pinching and tearing it away from the scallop (the muscle is much tougher to eat than the scallop).
- Combine the salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, panko, Parmesan, parsley, olive oil, and butter in a bowl stirring well until combined.
- Place the scallops into an 8x10 baking dish, then cover with the bread crumb mixture.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the topping is browned.
Five star fantastic! Made for Christmas dinner on a whim, was a HUGE success! Wouldn’t change a thing…YUM!!
This is THE best and easiest scallops recipe! I can serve it to my family or at a dinner party. Always a huge success.
I’m so glad to know everyone loves it! Thanks for coming back to let me know, Linda.
My new favorite scallop recipe. Absolutely the best.
Thanks for such a big compliment, Mariann!
I would not include parmesan cheese in this recipe next time I make it. Also less butter or oil.
This recipe is first class all the way! Delicious!! This is one of the best recipes out there!
Excellent and easy!! Might try not adding salt to crumb mixture next time as parm is salty but recipe was fabulous as is. Will be making again for sure
I made these tonight. Delicious!! My husband said these are the best scallops he has ever eaten. Definitely a keeper recipe. Btw I also served the green beans you suggested. Another keeper. Thank you!
Absolutely 5 star is right, i wouldnt change a thing, mouthwatering.
Just follow the recipe and your as good as gold. A side of scalloped
potatoes and my husband was in heaven.
Thanks for the 5 stars, Jeanne.
Best scallops we have EVER had. I’m including restaurant meals in this review. These are just amazing. And easy to make. Can’t wait to make them again.
Wow! Thanks, Laurie.
Best and easiest way EVER to serve scallops! Tonight I omitted the parmesan for no particular reason and we loved them that way, too (I did increase the salt a bit to compensate.) So easy to test doneness with an instant thermometer…a totally foolproof recipe. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Jane.