As you guys know, I am a huge fan of seafood (See: Butter Poached Lobster + Seafood Fettuccine), so when I need to make a really simple and easy appetizer, these scallops are usually the first thing that comes to mind. They are easy to prep ahead of time (just wrap the scallops up and place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them), everyone always loves them and they just happen to be Whole30 + Paleo + Dairy-Free (if you use olive oil instead of ghee)! Plus, they can be made on the grill or in the oven!
Looking for Even More Grilled Scallops?
Then you definitely need to try our Buttery Grilled Scallops + Citrus Salsa!
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
- scallops – large, fresh bay scallops are the best for wrapping in bacon! Look for them at your local grocery store or seafood market.
- bacon – only use regular sliced bacon, NOT thick-cut bacon. And check the ingredients if you need it to be Whole30/Paleo compliant.
- butter – always a must when cooking any type of seafood. Option to use ghee, olive oil, or even plant-based butter.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Scallops
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Scallops on the Grill
Preheat the grill to a medium-high heat and make sure the grill grates are clean. Fully pat dry all of the scallops with paper towel and then wrap each one in a piece of bacon (trim, if needed). Season with salt and pepper. Spray the hot grates with a non-stick cooking spray and place the wrapped scallops directly on them to cook for 3-5 minutes per side. Brush with melted butter before serving.
How Do You Know When Scallops Are Cooked
You know they are fully cooked when they are no longer translucent and look like they are “cracking” on top! Try not to overcook them or they will start to become tough.
Best Ways To Serve Bacon Wrapped Scallops
We actually love serving these little beauties with a variety of appetizers for a holiday dinner, like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Perfect for pairing with a Charcuterie Board, a Goat Cheese Ball, or some cut-up veggies and Veggie Dip! When we aren’t making them as an appetizer, we are enjoying them as a romantic dinner option. Perfect to have with some Grilled Steaks or a little Crab Pasta Salad. Or if you really want to go for all the seafood, you can make some Baked Crab Legs!
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Bacon Wrapped Scallops Recipe (Oven + Grill)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 12 scallops 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Oven or Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
Our Bacon-Wrapped Scallops are easy enough to be an appetizer and delicious enough to be a main course! Cook in the oven or on the grill!
Ingredients
- 12 large scallops, patted dry
- 12 bacon slices (*see notes)
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted (sub ghee, olive oil, or plant-based butter)
- 12 toothpicks (soak in water 30 minutes prior to using)
Instructions
- Prep: Turn oven broiler to HIGH. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and place a wire rack on top of it. Spray the wire rack with olive oil or other non-stick cooking spray.
- Wrap Scallops: Wrap a slice of bacon around a scallop, securing with a soaked toothpick. Repeat with the remaining scallops. Trim bacon, as necessary, to fit scallops (see notes below). Place scallops on wire rack and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- Broil: Place the whole pan under the broiler (one notch below the top one in the oven) for 10 minutes, pulling out half way through the cook time to brush with melted ghee. Then move sheet pan up to directly under the broiler for 2 minutes, or until bacon is fully cooked and the tops of the scallops are slightly golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven, brush with additional melted ghee, and then serve immediately.
Notes
- Bacon: I would recommend using “regular” cut bacon (and NOT thick-cut bacon). Depending on how wide your bacon is and how big your scallops are, you may need to trim the bacon. Cut it in half, lengthwise, if your scallops are not as thick or cut off an inch or two off the end, if the bacon is simply too long.
- Grill Method: Bring grill to medium-high heat, clean grill grates and spray with non-stick cooking spray right before adding the scallops. Wrap and season the scallops as directed above, then place them directly on the hot grates to cook for 3-5 minutes per side.
- Whole30/paleo: check the bacon ingredients – we love this Applegate Bacon!
- Prep Ahead: scallops can be wrapped with bacon ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until it is time to cook them.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Scallop
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 0.9 g
- Sodium: 386.3 mg
- Fat: 13.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 23.6 mg
Tim J Dunn says
R u sure bacon cools enough at just 12 min. No one likes soggy bacon. What if u were to precook the bacon a bit?
Erin says
Hi Tim, I have tested the recipe multiple times and the bacon has always cooked through! Like I say in the recipe card, I wouldn’t use thick-cut bacon for this recipe for that specific reason though. A few things you can do though if you are at all concerned – 1) you can pre-cook your bacon a bit in the microwave or even in the oven 2) just keep an eye on your bacon and if you need to extend the cooking time by a few minutes directly under the broiler, do that as needed! Hope that helps! I agree, no one likes soggy bacon 🙂