Bacon-wrapped scallops are tender, buttery, and delish!!
Juicy scallops wrapped in crispy bacon create a flavor explosion that’s perfect for impressing your guests or simply treating yourself to a delicious snack.
They can be an appetizer or a main dish and can be cooked on the grill, broiled, or cooked in the air fryer!
Crowd Pleasing Appetizer or Meal
- Scallops wrapped in bacon can be served as appetizers as an entrée.
- Cooked in a light garlic butter sauce, the bacon adds a great smoky salty flavor and the scallops come out perfectly tender.
- This bacon wrapped scallops recipe is easy to make, can be prepared ahead of time yet they look impressive.
- Serve with tangy cocktail sauce for dipping!
Ingredients
Fresh scallops and smoky bacon are what make this recipe so great!
Scallops – There are two sizes of scallops; small (bay scallops) which are better suited for tossing in a sauce over pasta, or large (sea scallops) which are used in this recipe or for seared scallops.
Bacon – Use regular (not thick cut) bacon and cook it part way, this allows the bacon to crisp without overcooking the scallops.
Seasoning – Garlic, lemon pepper, parsley, salt & pepper are mixed with butter to season for these scallops.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
- Fry or microwave the bacon until soft but not too crispy.
- Wrap the bacon around the scallop, secure it with a toothpick (per the recipe below).
- Melt butter and mix with garlic, parsley, and lemon pepper. Brush over scallops.
- To grill: Grill on medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes.
- To broil: Set under the broiler for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway.
- To air fry: Cook for 11 to 13 minutes.
Tips for the Best Bacon Wrapped Scallops
- Choose scallops that are uniform in size so they cook evenly. Scallops should be opaque and have a pleasant ocean-fresh smell.
- Soaking wood skewers or pics in water for 30 minutes ensures the skewers don’t burn.
- Choose bacon slices that will fit around the sides of each piece. If the scallops are small, wrap two scallops in one slice of bacon.
More Seafood Appetizers
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Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Bacon wrapped scallops are a delicious appetizer or main dish and they’re easy to make!
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Place short wooden skewers in water to soak for 30 minutes.
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Place bacon in a frying pan and cook about 3-4 minute per side or until just slightly cooked and some of the fat has rendered out. Bacon should not be crisp.
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Pat the scallops dry with paper towel and season with salt & pepper to taste.
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Wrap bacon around the scallops and thread 2 to 3 scallops onto each skewer leaving a little bit of space between each scallop.
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In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with garlic, parsley, and lemon pepper. Brush over scallops.
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Place an oven rack 6-inches from the broiler and Preheat the broiler to high heat.
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Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
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Place the scallops on the prepared pan and broil for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping over after 3 minutes. Cook just until bacon is crisp and scallops are cooked through, do not overcook.
Soaking skewers in water for 30 minutes ensures they do not burn.
To Grill: Preheat grill to medium heat. Add scallop skewers and grill 6-8 minutes or just until bacon is crispy. Do not overcook.
To Air Fry: Place scallops into an air fryer at 350°F for 11-13 minutes. Cook just until bacon is crisp and scallop is cooked. Do not overcook.
Calories: 196 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Side Dish
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