Quick Look at the Best Bacon Wrapped Scallops Recipe
- Ready In: 25 minutes!
- Enjoy As: appetizers for a crowd or a special occasion dinner!
- Main Ingredients: bay scallops, bacon, butter, salt & pepper
- Dietary Info: gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo & Whole30-friendly
- Cooking Techniques: under oven broiler or on the grill.
- Origin: I am a HUGE fan of any type of seafood (hello 20 Minute Grilled Lobster Tails) and scallops just might be my all-time favorite. So, I created incredible Fresh Lemon Butter Scallops for Valentine’s Day, Christmas Dinner, or a simple date night at home. And now it is time to turn these large scallops into a super easy appetizer or dinner that can be prepped ahead of time but feels fancy & will impress a crowd!
Share and summarize this recipe:
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, & estimated nutritional information.
- 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
Step 1 – Pat the scallops dry with paper towel.
Step 2 – Wrap each scallop with a half slice of bacon & secure with a toothpick. Season with salt & pepper.
Step 3 – Cook scallops under the oven broiler for 10 minutes or see recipe card notes for grilling instructions.
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.
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 Healthy Charcuterie Board, a Goat Cheese Ball, or some cut-up veggies and Easy Veggie Dip! When we aren’t making them as an appetizer, we are enjoying them as a romantic dinner option. Make dinner surf and turf by pairing them with the Best Grilled Steaks or a little Crab Pasta Salad. Or if you really want to go for all the seafood, you can make some Oven Baked Crab Legs!
Bacon Wrapped Scallops FAQs
It isn’t necessary but it is highly recommended for the best results. Scallops tend to be pretty wet when you purchase them. Therefore, it is important to pat them fully dry with paper towels to get slightly crisp and golden brown on the outside.
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.
The main issue can be having bacon that is too large or too thick for the size scallops you are cooking. Be sure to get the largest scallops that you can find and then use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to trim the bacon to fit around the scallops. This will help ensure even cooking.
There are so many great options, my favorites are an easy oven baked potato, fresh house salad, or the best grilled broccoli.
Other Seafood Recipes for Dinner You Might Like
Made this recipe and loved it?!
We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
Follow Us on Social
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 the sheet pan up to directly under the broiler for 2 minutes, or until the 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: highly recommend using “regular” cut bacon (and NOT thick-cut bacon). Depending on how wide the 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.
- Flavor Variations: feel free to level up the flavor with a sprinkling of creole seasoning, old bay seasoning, or lemon pepper.
- Grill Method: Bring grill to medium-high heat, clean the 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.
Bridget says
So simple and SO GOOD!! Thank you!
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 🙂