Grilled Scallops

Grilled scallops are so full of flavor! They’re easy to grill and need minimal seasoning to taste irresistibly tender and savory.

Are you a scallops lover? Then stop right there and make these grilled scallops! They come out incredibly tender and full of flavor, no special seasonings required. Grilling scallops is much easier than searing them in a pan: you don’t have to worry about how hot the pan is or getting an even crisp crust. Nope, just pop them on the grill and in 5 minutes they’re juicy and ready to eat. Outside of grilled shrimp, they’re one of the best grilled dinners out there…period.

Want to sear them instead? Try Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Herb Sauce, or Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs.

Ingredients for grilled scallops

Alex and I eat mostly plant-based, but every now and then we splurge on some seafood. And let me tell you: these grilled scallops are at the top of our list for summer. When I took the first bite, I set down my fork and looked at Alex in amazement. There’s nothing fancy here: just scallops and a grill. Really! Here’s what you need to make grilled scallops:

• Medium sea scallops, fresh or frozen (we use frozen)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon wedges, for serving

How to grill scallops: a few tips

There aren’t many tricks to making stellar grilled scallops. All you need to know is the basic grill temperature and cook time: then memorize it and make them on repeat! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe):

• Thaw the scallops: this takes about 15 minutes. See the section below!
• Preheat the grill to medium high heat: that’s 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pat dry and mix with olive oil, salt and pepper. Make sure they’re as dry as possible so the olive oil will stick.
• Place on the grates and grill about 5 minutes, turning once. Grill until browned on the bottom, then flip with tongs. If you want you can spritz with fresh lemon juice before serving: but they’re just as good without!

Make it a meal!

There are so many things that pair well with grilled scallops to make a healthy dinner! Of course, you can go ultra simple and just do something like a green salad and rice. But here are some of our top picks of what to serve with scallops:

• Summer salads. Try any of our top salads for summer like Strawberry Salad, Watermelon Salad, Grilled Caesar Salad, or Greek Orzo Salad.
• Grilled veggies. There are infinitely more grilled veggies to add: try this Grilled Peppers, Corn, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Potato Wedges, Green Beans, Grilled Asparagus or Grilled Mushrooms.
• Summer drinks. If you’re entertaining, you need a signature summer drink! Try Aperol Spritz, Vodka Tonics or Easy Peach Sangria.
• Dessert! Try Grilled Pineapple or Grilled Apples a la Mode.

How to thaw frozen scallops

You can use either frozen or fresh shellfish for this grilled scallops recipe. Most of the time frozen is as good quality as fresh since it’s frozen right after it was caught! Of course, the hardest part about frozen scallops it remembering to thaw them. Here’s how to do it:

• Day before (best option): If you think ahead, simply place the frozen scallops in the refrigerator overnight.
• Day of (in a pinch): Keep the frozen scallops in the package or place them in a resealable plastic bag. Place the package of bag into a large bowl with cold water. The scallops should thaw in about 30 minutes.

What to look for when buying scallops

Want to buy sustainable scallops? How to find the right fish at the store? Here are a few things to note when buying scallops:

• Look for sea scallops, not bay scallops. This recipe is for medium-sized sea scallops, which cook up easily on the grill. Avoid bay scallops because they are very small and are harder to grill.
• Look for wild-caught or US caught. Wild caught scallops are preferable if you can find them. If you live in the US, look for US caught. Imported seafood runs the risk of being overfished, caught under unfair labor practices, or farmed in environmentally harmful ways.
• Look for hook and line as one example of a sustainable type of fishing gear. Bottom trawling is considered the most destructive and least sustainable method.

More scallop recipes? Try 12 Easy Scallop Recipes!

This grilled scallops recipe is…

Pescatarian, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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