Best (Easy) Sea Scallop Appetizers

Last Updated on August 29, 2023 by Sabrina Currie

Scallops are one of my favorite seafoods. Sweet and mild with a delicate texture that caramelizes well, these little bivalves lend themselves to many recipes but especially appetizers. If you've got fresh scallops (or frozen), here are the very best scallop appetizers to try. I hope you enjoy!

Collage of 4 scallop appetizer recipes including pistachio crusted scallops, pan seard scallops in a black pan, bacon wrapped bivalves and scallops in pink shells with fresh parsley and lemon juice. This is a tall graphic with title in the middle meant for Pinterest.

Scallops are elegant enough for special occasions and easy enough for a family dinner. Whether you want to go simple or get fancy, be sure to buy the freshest scallops you can get. Here are the best appetizer recipes for swimming scallops in their shell, larger, shucked sea scallops and small bay scallops.

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Pan Seared
In The Shell
Bacon Wrapped
Primi Pasta + Risotto
Air Fried
Grilled + Broiled
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Pan Seared

Planning a special dinner? Delicious pan fried scallops are an easy appetizer that never fails to impress. Be sure to pat scallops dry with paper towels before searing for a perfect, golden brown crust. Using a cast iron skillet helps retain heat and achieve the perfect sear.

Squishes of lemon juice and generous scatterings of herbs or green onions are the perfect finishing touch for your scallop recipe. Nut encrusted and classic scampi style also make a spectacular starter.

Row of caramelized scallops on top of small circles of red beet puree on a white plate.

Pan Seared Scallops With Vermouth Cream Sauce

A hot skillet is all you need for these pan-seared scallops. Vermouth cream sauce makes this an elegant, easy appetizer for company or date night. Fragrant vermouth adds complexity to this delicious creamy sauce.

Seared Scallops With Vermouth Sauce

Browned scallops on top of creamy white sauce on a blue plate.

Pan Seared Scallops With Garlic

Learn how to perfectly sear scallops in just 10 minutes! A good sear ensures these easy, pan-fried sea scallops have a perfect golden crust. Savory garlic butter sauce gets drizzled over top of the scallops to finish.

Scallops With Garlic

Pistachio Crusted Scallops (DF, GF)

Nutty, citrus flavors caramelize with sweet scallops in these pistachio-crusted scallops with just 6 ingredients and 10 minutes. A decadent seared scallop appetizer that's elegant and easy.

This recipe works well with smaller bay scallops too, just don't cook them for as long as larger sea scallops.

Pistachio Crusted Scallops

Browned scallops with a crushed pistachio coating on a white plate.

Seared Sea Scallops With Beet Puree (GF, DF)

These seared sea scallops with beet & roasted garlic purée are a great holiday appetizer for your next party. Not just beautiful, this healthy recipe is easy to make, full of flavor, and always a hit with guests! A cast iron pan over medium-high heat helps create the perfect golden crust on these scallops.

Scallops With Beet Puree

Easy Scallop Scampi

Easy scallop scampi is ready in less than 10 minutes. Butter, lemon, and garlic make these seared scallops a decadent, elegant starter for company or date nights at home! Large scallops or small bay scallops both work well in this recipe. Try adding ¼ - ½ cup of heavy cream to this recipe at the end to get creamy Tuscan scallops!

Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops

In The Shell

If you're lucky enough to get some swimming scallops in their shell, they make a showy and impressive appetizer. Steam them up Vongole style with garlic, butter and white wine or broil them in a creamy sauce with a bubbly cheese topping for a great way to show off the beautiful shells.

Over head shot of many individual round and square plates with one broiled scallop on each. They are on a black tablecloth and the corner of the blue platter is showing in the top right corner.

Scallops Vongole (GF and Dairy Free)

Delicious, cream-free aromatic broth steams these scallops in their shell into sweet deliciousness. An easy and elegant appetizer, be sure to serve this with your favorite crusty loaf of bread to mop up the the beautiful broth.

Scallops Vongole

Fresh BC Wild Scallops In Vongole Sauce Recipe

Broiled Scallops In Their Shell

Creamy, cheesy sauce glazes scallops on the half shell. Use large sea scallops or small bay scallops in the shell for this. Broiled scallops don't take long and will impress your guests. The scallop shells make stunning serving dishes.

Cheesy Broiled Scallops

Pink Scallops broiled on the half shell with creamy sauce. They are sitting on a bright blue platter decorated with orange calendula.

Bacon Wrapped

You don't have to be a professional chef to enjoy restaurant worthy bacon wrapped scallops! Feel free to play around with them too. Try pancetta or prosciutto wrapped scallops and serve them up on a bed of lightly dressed herb or arugula salad for a pop of bright green color and flavor.

White scallops wrapped in pink brown bacon and secured with toothpicks on a white plate.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops (GF)

Learn how to cook classic bacon-wrapped scallops in the oven! This delicious great combination with lemon butter sauce needs just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep and cook time.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Scallops (DF, GF)

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Scallops are an easy-to-make yet impressive and elegant holiday appetizer. The perfect finger food for serving at Christmas, New Year's Eve, cocktail parties, or any special occasion.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Primi Pasta + Risotto

Do like the Italians and serve up a small portion of scallop pasta or risotto for a great appetizer. Olive oil, black pepper, Parmesan, white wine, bacon and lemon juice add big, complimentary flavors to these easy recipes.

These recipes are shown with scallops in shell but bay scallops or large shucked scallops (just the firm, white adductor muscles) work just as well in these comforting appetizers.

3 bowls of creamy risotto with pink swimming scallops in shell, lemon zest and parley sprinkled over.

Lemon Scallop Risotto

Creamy risotto, sweet scallops, and bright lemon join forces to create this quick and easy Italian-style scallop risotto. A perfect appetizer on its own or serve as a side dish.

Lemon Scallop Risotto

Scallop and Bacon Pasta

With just 6 ingredients and only 30 minutes you'll be eating this fragrant, silky scallop and bacon pasta in no time! Scallop and bacon pasta is made like carbonara but with a west coast twist featuring West Coast Wild Scallops.

Scallop Carbonara

Close up of pink scallops in shell with spaghetti noodles glazed with the sauce and large pieces of bacon.

Air Fried

If you've got an air fryer, use it for your scallops. This bright, lemon pepper recipes is a fresh and tasty take that's less mess than pan frying.

White cooked scallops with herbs and lemon wedges piled on a rectangular white plate with grey napkin in the background.

Air Fryer Scallops With Lemon And Tarragon

These tender air fryer scallops are flavored with lemon, garlic and tarragon and come out juicy and flavorful every time. All you need is10 minutes and you'll have a fancy appetizer that pairs perfectly with white wine and friends.

Check out this recipe

Grilled + Broiled

Fresh seafood loves the grill and the broiler. Fast, hot heat sears the outside while keeping the inside of your scallops tender and juicy. Big bold red pepper dip pairs well with smoky grilled scallops. Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs add extra crispiness to oven broiled scallops.

White scallops with brown grill marks on a grey plate with basil leaves around and a dish or bright orange dipping sauce.

Grilled Scallops with Red Pepper Cilantro Pesto

Grilled scallops are fantastic for a backyard BBQ or easy weeknight dinner. The red pepper cilantro pesto matches perfectly with their naturally sweet flavor and succulent texture. Serve with toothpicks for dipping or on individual plates.

Grilled Scallops With Red Pesto

Grilled Scallops with Red Pepper Cilantro Pesto

Broiled Scallops with Parmesan Bread Crumbs

An easy, crispy coated scallop appetizer that is broiled, not fried and flavorful parmesan flavored bread crumbs bring big flavors.

Broiled Scallops with Parmesan Bread Crumbs

Seared scallops with thin slices of crisp beets and other veggies and colorful, small dots of sauces around the white plate.

If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.

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Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina