Scallop Scampi

Name: Scallop Scampi
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound bay scallops (patted dry); 1 teaspoon olive oil; 4 garlic cloves (minced); 2 tablespoons butter; 1 cup white wine; 2 tablespoons Italian parsley; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice from 1-2 lemons); 8 ounces linguine (cooked and drained, 1/4 cup cooking liquid reserved)

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Scallop scampi is a simple yet elegant dinner made with pan seared scallops and a garlicky scampi sauce all tossed with linguine! It only takes 25 minutes to make so you can easily enjoy it for weeknight dinner!

Overhead of seared bay scallops tossed with scampi sauce and linguine.

If you’ve ever had shrimp scampi, you’ll love this version with scallops! It’s simple to make and has all the amazing flavor thanks to the classic scampi sauce!

The bay scallops are pan seared until browned and a little caramelized, and then coated in a garlicky, lemony white wine sauce and served with linguine!

We normally pair scallop scampi with crusty bread or air fryer garlic bread and a side salad. You can also serve the scallops on their own as an appetizer!

However you serve them, the recipe is perfect for a family meal, date night or a dinner party. It’s so easy, but so impressive, just like this butter garlic shrimp spaghetti!

Once you’ve given this scallop scampi recipe a try, be sure to check out this Instant Pot shrimp scampi recipe. And, if you love scallops like we do, you’ll want to give these sous vide scallops or these air fryer scallops a try too!

Jump to:

Why this recipe works
What is scampi sauce?
What are bay scallops?
Ingredients
Step by step instructions
Expert tips
Common questions
Serving options
Other seafood recipes to try
Recipe
💬 Comments

Why this recipe works

The scampi sauce is so simple and pairs beautifully with the sweet and tender scallops! If you have sauce leftover, I highly recommend dipping some crusty bread in it!
Scallop scampi is a rich and elegant meal, and tastes like restaurant quality without the high price tag. You can impress your dinner guests and save money!
The scallops and linguine cook quickly and the sauce takes no time to make. You can have this quick and easy meal on the table in just 25 minutes!

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What is scampi sauce?

Scampi sauce is a simple sauce usually served with seafood and made with fresh garlic, butter and white wine. Lemon juice is also sometimes added, and salt, pepper and herbs are typically added for seasoning.

What are bay scallops?

Bay scallops are small scallops, about ½ to ¾-inch in diameter. They have a sweet flavor and can be found in shallow bays or estuaries. They differ from sea scallops, which are about 3 times larger and harvested from cold, deep ocean waters.

Ingredients

The following are some of the key ingredients for scallop scampi. For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.

You’ll need 1 pound of bay scallops for this recipe. You can also use sea scallops but you’ll need to increase the cooking time.

Since the sauce is heavy on the wine, I recommend using a good quality, dry, crisp white wine like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. I would avoid wines labelled as cooking wines.

Step by step instructions

Step 1: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

Bay scallops being seared with oil in a skillet.

Step 2: Add the scallops and cook until lightly browned on the outside. (Cook in two separate batches to ensure they brown evenly).

Garlic and butter sautéing in a skillet.

Step 3: Remove and set aside. Turn the heat down to medium and add the butter. Add the garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until garlic is softened and fragrant.

Step 4: Add the wine and simmer on low for 5-7 minutes. Add the salt, pepper and parsley and cook for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and cook for 1 minute.

Step 5: Turn the heat down to medium-low and add in the scallops and pasta. Toss to combine.

If the sauce is too thin, stir in 1 tablespoon of the pasta cooking liquid at a time (while pasta is on medium heat) until the desired thickness is reached.

Expert tips

For the best flavor, use a good quality dry white wine for the scampi sauce instead of a cooking wine.
If you prefer not to use wine, you can use chicken or vegetable broth instead.
If you’re using sea scallops, you’ll need to increase the cooking time as they are larger in size and will take a few minutes longer to cook.
Scallops can easily over cook and turn rubbery, so keep an eye on them. Once they are browned and turn opaque, they’re cooked.
To ensure the scallops brown and cook evenly, be careful not to overcrowd your skillet. I recommend searing the scallops in two batches.
For the best sear, pat your scallops dry with paper towels before placing them in the skillet.
For an extra pop of flavor and creamy texture, stir in some grated parmesan cheese just before serving.

Overhead of scallop scampi with linguine on a plate with a fork.

Common questions

What type of scallops are best for scallop scampi?

I like to use bay scallops in pasta dishes as they cook quickly and have a sweeter taste than sea scallops. Their small size also means they mix well throughout the pasta. You can also use sea scallops, but you'll need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.

When choosing scallops to make this scampi, I also prefer to go with fresh scallops and always recommend dry scallops, which are natural scallops that haven't been treated with a phosphate solution.

How do you thicken scampi sauce?

To thicken scampi sauce, use some of the liquid the pasta cooked in. I usually reserve a quarter cup and just stir in 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired thickness is reached. Make sure the pasta is on medium heat. This will help the liquid thicken the sauce.

Can you use frozen scallops for this recipe?

If you only have frozen scallops, I would defrost them first and pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. If you cook them frozen, they will be watery and will not brown well.

Storage and reheating instructions.

This scallop scampi is best enjoyed as soon as it’s ready. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat, I suggest warming the pasta and scallops with a little drizzle of olive oil in a skillet on the stovetop until heated through. The oil will help prevent the linguine from clumping.

I don’t recommend microwaving the leftovers as the scallops can get a little chewy and rubbery.

Close up view of scallop scampi with linguine and topped with fresh herbs.

Serving options

While this recipe is served with linguine, you can use another type of pasta or rice like this coconut jasmine rice.

You can also pair it with a simple side salad like this strawberry spinach salad.

To soak up the scampi sauce, you can serve it with air fryer biscuits or some crusty bread.

If you prefer to serve it as an appetizer, you can always pair it with other seafood appetizers like these air fryer crab cakes and this Instant Pot shrimp.

Scallop scampi with linguine served on a plate.

Other seafood recipes to try

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