Description
A kid-friendly, family-safe seafood recipe featuring tender scallops baked in garlic butter with a crispy, lemony panko breadcrumb topping. Ready in just 20 minutes with minimal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds sea scallops (dry, medium-large size)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large lemon (juice of whole lemon, zest of half)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). If using frozen scallops, thaw completely and pat very dry with paper towels. Remove the side muscle if present.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan. Stir in minced garlic and lemon juice. Let sit for a minute to infuse.
- In a medium bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, lemon zest, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Arrange dried scallops in a single layer in a 9×9 inch or small 9×13 inch baking dish. Do not overcrowd.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture over the scallops and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top, pressing gently to help it stick.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden brown and scallops are opaque and firm.
- Let cool for 2 minutes before serving. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.
Notes
Pat scallops very dry to ensure they bake rather than steam. Do not overcrowd the pan. Check at 12 minutes to avoid overcooking, which makes scallops rubbery. Can be made gluten-free by using GF panko or crushed crackers. Can be made dairy-free by using olive oil and skipping parmesan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4-6 sc
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: garlic butter scallops, baked scallops, kid-friendly seafood, easy dinner, lemon breadcrumbs, family recipes, healthy seafood