Easy Grilled Scallops

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

Are you a scallop lover? So stop and do this grilled scallops! They come out incredibly tender and full of flavor, no special seasonings required. Grilling scallops is a lot easier than searing them in a pan: you don’t have to worry about the pan’s temperature or a crispy crust. No, just put them on the grill and in 5 minutes they are juicy and ready to eat. Aside from the grilled shrimp, this is one of the best grilled dinners… period.

Want to grab her instead? Try seared scallops with lemon and herb sauce or scallops with lemon and herbs.

Ingredients for grilled scallops

Alex and I eat mostly plant-based, but we do indulge in seafood every now and then. And let me tell you, these grilled scallops are at the top of our summer bucket list. As I took the first bite, I put my fork down and looked at Alex in amazement. Nothing fancy here: just scallops and a BBQ. Really! What you need for grilled scallops:

• Medium scallopsfresh or frozen (we use frozen)
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• lemon slicesServe

How to grill scallops: some tips

There aren’t many tricks to preparing excellent grilled scallops. All you need to know is the base grilling temperature and cooking time: memorize them and repeat them! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe):

• Defrost the scallops: It takes about 15 minutes. See section below!
• Preheat grill to medium heat: it’s 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pat dry and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Make sure they are as dry as possible so the olive oil sticks.
• Place on the grids and grill for approx. 5 minutes, turning once. Grill until golden brown on the underside, then turn with tongs. If you like, you can spritz on fresh lemon juice before serving: but they taste great without!

Make it a meal!

There are so many things that go well with grilled scallops to make a healthy dinner! Of course, you could go very simply and have something like a green salad and rice. But here are some of our top picks on what to serve with scallops:

• summer salads. Try one of our best summer salads like Strawberry Salad, Watermelon Salad, Grilled Caesar Salad or Greek Orzo Salad.
• Grilled vegetables. There are endless more grilled veggies to add: try these 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 quintessential 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 frozen or fresh shellfish for this grilled scallops recipe. Frozen food is usually as good as fresh as it is frozen right after it is caught! Of course, the hardest part about frozen scallops isn’t thawing them. Here’s how:

• The day before (best option): If you’re thinking ahead, just pop the frozen scallops in the fridge overnight.
• Day of (in case of need): Store the frozen scallops in the wrapper or place in a resealable plastic bag. Place the bag pack in a large bowl of cold water. The scallops should defrost in about 30 minutes.

What to look out for when buying scallops

Would you like to buy sustainable scallops? How do I find the right fish in the store? Here are some things to consider when buying scallops:

• Look for scallops, not bay scallops. This recipe is for medium-sized giant scallops that are easy to grill. Avoid scallops as they are very small and difficult to grill.
• Search for Wild or Caught in the USA. Wild-caught scallops are best if you can find them. If you live in the United States, search for US catch. Imported seafood is at risk of being overfished, caught under unfair labor conditions, or farmed in environmentally harmful ways.
• Seek hook and line as an example of a type of sustainable fishing gear. Bottom trawling is considered to be the most destructive and least sustainable method.

More scallop recipes? Try 12 Easy Scallop Recipes!

This recipe for grilled scallops is…

Pescetarian, dairy free and gluten free.