Prep Time:  10 mins
Cook Time:  3-5 mins
Total Time:  15 mins
Servings:  1

Pan-seared scallops may seem like an intimidating and high-class dish, but it actually doesn’t take much to get those savory, buttery flavors right at home in a cast iron skillet. A splash of lemon at the end adds a pleasant hint of acidity, and what better garnish is there than fried bacon?

Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 Tbsp parsley (chopped)
  • 4 strips of thick-cut bacon
  • 5 sea scallops
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • Juice of ½ a lemon

Items You'll Need

Instructions

  1. Mince the 2 garlic cloves and chop around 1 Tbsp of parsley, then set aside.
  2. Preheat your grill to its highest heat setting, then place a cast iron skillet on the grill.
  3. Place 4 strips of bacon on the cast iron and cook to your desired crispiness.
  4. While your bacon cooks, season both sides of your scallops with the kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
    strips of bacon on cast iron skillet
  5. Once your bacon has finished cooking, remove it from the skillet.
  6. Chop the bacon to use as garnish.
  7. Place your seasoned scallops into the bacon-greased skillet.
  8. Let the scallops cook for around 2 minutes on one side.
  9. Turn each scallop over. They should be a nicely seared, brown color.
    scallops searing in butter on cast iron skillet
  10. Add freshly chopped garlic and unsalted butter to the cast iron skillet.
  11. After 2 more minutes of cooking on this side, give the scallops a quick flip so the other side can pick up a hit of butter and garlic.
  12. Remove the scallops from the skillet and plate them.
  13. Garnish with fresh parsley and chopped bacon.
  14. Cut a lemon in half, then squeeze the juices from 1 half over the scallops. All that’s left to do is enjoy!
    plated scallops with parsley & bacon garnish