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    Home » Recipes » Seafood/Fish

    Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce

    First Published: February 10, 2021 . Last Modified: March 2, 2023 lisa16 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    Tips for cooking perfect scallops

    Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce is easy to cook but also the perfect special occasion dinner. This special scallop recipe is sure to impress. If you are wondering what to serve with these scallops, I have that covered  here too!

    Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce is a beautiful looking plate.

    Scallops are high up there on my list of favorite things to eat and cook. If you want to know what scallops they taste like, you can get more details in this post that I wrote.  This brown butter scallop recipe is a special dinner but very easy to make and cooks in no time.

    Pan Seared Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce is a perfect dinner to make for Valentine's Day or any dinner where you want to impress.

    Tips for Buying Scallops

    • Look for Dry Scallops - I get dry scallops when I can that are U/10 or U/12 (meaning about 10 or 12 per pound). They are nice sized scallops. I  prefer the dry ones because they contain no preservatives  so they do not produce much water when cooking them. This allows for a nice seared crust.
    • Choosing Fresh Scallops-  They should be firm to the touch, not have a fishy smell and be a beige to creamy white color. 
    • Buy Scallops when on sale - The downside is that dry scallops are more expensive however the extra money is worth every penny. But they do go on sale so that is when I buy them. 

    Check out the Fulton Fish Market Guide to Scallops for more about scallops or my scallop post. 

    How to Thaw Scallops

    If you can't find fresh scallops, you may be able to find frozen scallops. Frozen scallops are often high quality but defrosting them properly is key to having scallops that are caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside. 

    Scallop Thawing Method 1 - Place frozen scallops in a colander set in another bowl (to catch the liquid) and place in the fridge overnight. 

    Scallop Thawing Method 2 - Place frozen scallops in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes or until the scallops are thawed all the way through.

    For BOTH methods, be sure to thoroughly dry the scallops before cooking. Wet scallops won't caramelize!

    scallops with a beautiful sear.

    How to Sear Scallops

    • Pat the Scallops Dry - Always pat the scallops dry with paper towels before they are added to the pan. These steps insures a beautiful golden crust.
    • Give the scallops a nice coating of seasoning before cooking. I use salt and pepper in this recipe. The seasoning will keep the scallops dry and ensure a lovely golden crust. 
    • Use a HOT Pan - My favorite pan to cook this scallop recipe in is a cast iron skillet. The pan gets really hot and the scallops get a really nice seared crust therefore they are really delicious.
      You can also use a stainless steel pan to give the scallops a nice golden crust. They can be cooked in a nonstick pan however this type of pan will not give it as nice of a crust.   
    • Use the Right Oil for Cooking - I use grapeseed oil because it has a very high smoking point so it doesn't burn quickly. Other oils that you can use with high smoking points are canola oil, avocado oil and peanut oil. Scallops only require a small amount of oil to coat the pan. If you use too much they will get soggy rather than have a brown crust.

    Brown Butter Beer Sauce for Scallops

    I am not a stranger to cooking with wine and a light wine sauce would go perfect with pan seared scallops. But this time I decided to try beer instead.

    Since there is a craft beer craze, I have jumped on the beer wagon. I've never been a beer girl until now. So many flavors and different kinds that now I like beer. My favorite are the fruity beers with overtones of citrus and mango. A lemony beer would be perfect in this recipe. Since it only needs half a cup, feel free to drink the rest while cooking.

    How to Brown Butter 

    Add butter to a pan over medium heat. The butter will melt and begin to foam. When the foam subsides it will begin to turn a nutty brown color. Watch closely so that you don't burn the butter! 

    What to Serve With Scallops

    Pan Seared Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce is a perfect dinner to make for Valentine's Day. As a matter of fact, I might make this with some Angel Hair Pasta to go on the side.

    If you are looking for lower carbs, a Cranberry, Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad will be perfect to serve too. 

    Here are some more favorites if you are still wondering what to serve with scallops:

    • Mini Parmesan Truffle Hasselback Potatoes
    • Greek Quinoa Salad
    • Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Zest
    • Air Fryer Baked Potatoes with Seasoned Sour Cream
    • Tomato Chick Pea Salad

    Check out this post for more side dishes to serve with scallops.

    More Scallop and Seafood Dinner Recipes

    • Asian Scallops with Spinach (Pan Seared)
    • Saucy Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles & Crispy Prosciutto
    • Lightened Up Shrimp Scampi
    • Salmon and Asparagus With Spicy Ranch Sauce
    • Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp from Cook Eat Well

    Happy cooking!

    If you like this Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below.

    RECIPE

    Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce is a beautiful looking plate.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 6 votes

    Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Beer Sauce

    This scallop recipe is nothing less than special. Make it for a special occasion or when you want an elegant dinner that is so easy to create.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Easy Dinner
    Cuisine: Seafood
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 111kcal
    Author: Lisa Grant

    Ingredients

    • One pound large dry scallops
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 Tablespoon grapeseed oil
    • 2 Tablespoons salted butter
    • ½ cup beer citrus types work best
    • 1 Tablespoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

    Instructions

    • Pat scallops dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Heat the oil in a cast iron pan on medium high heat. Add the scallops to the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they have a nice sear on them. Remove from pan and keep warm.
    • Add the butter to the pan and turn heat to medium. Cook until butter starts to foam and turns slightly brown. Add beer, honey and thyme. Whisk mixture and cook for a few minutes until liquid is reduced by over half. Add parsley. Place scallops back in pan and pour sauce over them.
    • Serve scallops with extra sauce poured over them. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 11mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    First Published January 2018; Updated February 2021

    Subscribe to Jersey Girl Cooks if you would like more recipes like this one. You can also order my Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

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    Comments

    1. Penny says

      January 19, 2018 at 7:04 am

      {Didn't know that is how scallops were sized}
      This sounds delicious! I wonder, how big do scallops get?

      Reply
    2. Julie Hoag says

      January 19, 2018 at 10:43 pm

      My husband and boys would love this, they love seafood! I will have to try out this recipe for them. I bet they will adore it!

      Reply
    3. Tanvi Rastogi says

      January 20, 2018 at 8:31 am

      We are not sea food eater in our house ... but I love the photography. Will check out our other vegetarian recipes 🙂

      ❥ tanvii.com

      Reply
    4. Steph says

      January 20, 2018 at 8:55 am

      I love scallops but have never tried making them!

      Reply
    5. Kirsty says

      January 21, 2018 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      They look awesome!!! Pinning this for later 🙂

      Reply
    6. Liz says

      January 23, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      I love, love scallops, but I haven't swayed the hubby to my point of view yet! I'll need to make these gems when he's out of town 🙂

      Reply
    7. Christina says

      March 08, 2019 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious recipe! I'll be making this again and again!

      Reply
    8. Kelsey Apley says

      March 08, 2019 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      This is a recipe we keep making. Easy to follow, flavorful and a favorite!

      Reply
    9. Judy mcavoy says

      March 24, 2019 at 10:00 pm

      5 stars
      Being fron South Jersey shore, Point Pleasant Beach, grew up craving, digging clams, sand eating scallops. Loved it. Now live in Miami, Fl. & we have fresh fish, stone crab

      Reply
      • lisa says

        March 24, 2019 at 10:32 pm

        I am very familiar with Pt Pleasant as my grandparents lived in Brick and I was there every summer. Florida seafood is great! I had stone crabs last month when I went to Clearwater. Thanks for stopping by fellow Jersey girl 🙂

        Reply
    10. Lindsay Cotter says

      March 26, 2019 at 9:40 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! So great for a date night in dinner!

      Reply
    11. Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says

      March 27, 2019 at 10:34 am

      I adore scallops and have been wanting to make them more often at home. This sauce sounds fabulous!

      Reply
    12. Toni | Boulder Locavore says

      March 29, 2019 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      I am sure this will be a huge hit at my house!

      Reply
    13. Jackie says

      February 11, 2021 at 8:41 am

      This looks delicious! I love scallops but don't make them too often because my husband is not crazy about them. I'd love to try this recipe.

      Reply
      • lisa says

        February 11, 2021 at 10:36 am

        Yes, I tend to make things my whole family will like too. But if you want to give them a try, you can cut this recipe in half. The nice thing about scallops is you can buy as many or as few as you like.

        Reply
    14. Denise says

      May 07, 2023 at 10:07 pm

      This recipe sounds delish! Scallops are my most favorite’n

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

    I love creating recipes and cooking for my family and friends. It's great to bring everyone to my kitchen to talk, laugh and eat. I also like to spread my love for cooking to others. So grab an apron and let's do it together. I promise my recipes will be easy and delicious!

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