Beef Bacon Wrapped Scallops (Printable)
Juicy scallops with beef bacon broiled and drizzled in a zesty lemon butter sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 12 large sea scallops, side muscle removed, patted completely dry
→ Meat
02 - 12 slices beef bacon, trimmed if necessary
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced
05 - Zest of 1 lemon
06 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
08 - 1/4 tsp salt
09 - 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Additional
10 - 12 toothpicks, soaked in water for 15 minutes
11 - Olive oil, for brushing
# Steps:
01 - Set oven broiler to high heat. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and position a wire rack on top if available. This setup allows excess fat to drain away from the scallops while cooking.
02 - Wrap each sea scallop with one slice of beef bacon, securing the overlap with a soaked toothpick. Trim bacon slices if they are excessively long to prevent too much overlapping around the scallop.
03 - Lightly brush each wrapped scallop with olive oil using a pastry brush. Arrange the scallops seam-side down on the prepared wire rack or baking sheet, spacing them evenly for consistent cooking.
04 - Position the baking sheet 6 to 8 inches from the broiler heat source. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes, then carefully turn each scallop using tongs. Broil for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the bacon is crisp and scallops are opaque throughout. Avoid overcooking to prevent tough, rubbery texture.
05 - While scallops broil, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for approximately 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
06 - Stir in the lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Remove the saucepan from heat immediately once all ingredients are combined and well-incorporated.
07 - Transfer the cooked scallops to a serving platter using tongs. Drizzle the warm lemon butter sauce evenly over the scallops. Serve immediately while hot for optimal texture and flavor.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The combination of smoky beef bacon and sweet tender scallops creates this perfect bite that feels luxurious but comes together in under 40 minutes
- That lemon butter sauce ties everything together with just the right brightness and richness
02 -
- Overcooked scallops become rubbery and disappointing, so pull them from the broiler as soon as they turn opaque
- Pat those scallops completely dry before wrapping, otherwise the steam will make the bacon soggy instead of crispy
03 -
- Room temperature scallops cook more evenly, so let them sit out for about 15 minutes before wrapping
- If your beef bacon is particularly thick, briefly par cook it in a skillet for 2 minutes so it crisps up by the time the scallops are done