What To Serve With Scallops

If you’re wondering What To Serve With Scallops, I’ve got over 30 tasty ideas for side dishes, appetizers, and more gathered here to help you plan an exquisite seafood dinner! Everything from simple, mild-flavored sides to hearty co-stars that will still let the tender scallops shine as the star of the meal!

What To Serve With Scallops

Scallops are a seafood delicacy enjoyed by many as a treat both at home and at fine dining locations. The unique texture and flavor of scallops have earned the tender scallops a spot in seafood-lovers hearts world-wide!

There are many important things to note about purchasing scallops for home-cooking that you can read on my guide here. Once you have selected your scallops, the most important part of cooking them is to make sure that they do not overcook.

No one wants to spend money on buying quality scallops, only to end up with scallops that have the consistency of hockey pucks. I’m sure I’ve heard my favorite celebrity chef call the overcooked scallops by many other names as well!

The methods of cooking scallops are just as varied as the side dishes that can be served with them. Some suggest keeping sides light and pairing your scallops with flavors that won’t overpower their flavor’s subtle seafood richness.

Others argue that rich, hearty, and flavorful sides are perfectly suited for having with your scallops. I think it depends on your cooking method.

The sauce, salad, appetizers, sides, and main dish co-stars listed below are all family favorites. If I pan-sear my scallops as shown above, then I’m pretty open to serving rich pasta dishes or a surf-n-turf style dinner with a great cut of beef!

If I make my breaded stuffed scallops, then I would most likely lean toward a refreshing salad and veggies for a side dish. Then again, it may just depend on my mood that day! Any way that you decide to serve your scallops, they’re always a delightful appetizer or main dish!!

Sauce for Scallops

In addition to the simplicity of freshly squeezed lemon juice, various flavors would be suitable to serve as a sauce for your scallops. Your desired complimentary sauce will depend on the scallop seasoning used when cooking.

1. Drawn Butter

This is an amazing all-around winner for serving with seafood in general! It’s easier than homemade clarified butter and has more flavor.

The tasty infusion of white wine, onion or shallots, garlic, lemon, and herbs make drawn butter the perfect easy sauce to serve with scallops!

Best Appetizers to Eat With Scallops

When I buy seafood, I usually buy a nice selection of fresh fish, shellfish, clams, or sea scallops. So I would typically also serve some additional seafood as an appetizer or as a secondary appetizer along with my scallops.

Here are some of my personal favorites, including luscious lobster poppers and hot-dip, some air-fried coconut shrimp, and super easy steak tips!

2. Lobster Jalapeno Poppers

I could gush about how delicious these decadent lobster poppers are! They are a perfect appetizer to serve with scallops, for Father’s Day, or any special occasion dinner!

The creamy filling is studded with tender bits of cooked lobster, bacon, and lemon zest. These flavors are classic pairings with scallops!

3. Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak Tips

Stage 1 of surf-n-turf is to serve seafood and steak appetizers together! I highly recommend it and know you won’t regret the food combination!

4. Coconut Shrimp

Perfectly crispy coconut fried shrimp are a delightful finger food appetizer! The crunchy coating makes this a nice contrast to creamy main dishes and tender scallops!

5. Lobster Artichoke Dip

Another amazing lobster appetizer to enjoy with your sea scallops for dinner is this lobster artichoke dip. Served hot and right out of the oven, it’s a tasty dip with a creamy texture and mild but addictive flavor!

Tasty Vegetable Sides to Have With Scallops

These vegetable sides are all delightful when served with scallops. Plus, they’re all pretty easy dishes to have on the table fast!

I like to have everything ready and left on warm while cooking my scallops. That way, my sides are ready to dish up as soon as the scallops leave the pan ( or oven ).

6. Roasted Vegetable Medley

This flavorful combination of beets, brussel sprouts, and carrots is baked in the oven while you cook the rest of your dinner! They come out superbly tender with light seasoning and are simply amazing when cooked with fresh herbs!

7. Sauteed Zucchini & Summer Squash

A few quick tosses in a hot pan and you have this side dish almost done! Top the sautéed zucchini and yellow squash off with some Parmesan and pair it with scallops for a crowd-pleasing combination of subtle flavors!

8. Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan & Garlic

If you have yet to try roasting your favorite vegetables, start with some Parmesan topped roasted broccoli! The oven-roasted vegetables have a distinctly different flavor than their steamed or sauteed counterparts that is unique and incredibly tasty!

Cook this broccoli until you see darkened, crispy edges on your broccoli for a deep roasted flavor to contrast with mild, tender scallops!

9. Sauteed Asparagus & Cherry Tomatoes

I’m not usually a fan of raw cherry tomatoes, but I will eat them every day when they’re cooked with asparagus! Saute the asparagus until tender, and the cherry tomatoes burst to make a divine pan juice!

The slight citric acidity will complement your scallops beautifully and make you a fan too!

10. Succotash

This is a classic dish that combines lima beans, corn, red peppers, and butter. It’s a perfect vegetable side dish for seafood and is absolutely suited to serving with scallops!

I love serving my breaded stuffed scallops over a robust succotash with the addition of peas and carrots or parsnips!

11. Grilled Vegetables

Is it grilling weather? Then you definitely need to skewer some fresh vegetables like zucchini, corn, sweet bell peppers, and baby potatoes and get them on the grill!

These veggies will need a head start if you plan on grilling your scallops!

12. Creamed Corn

Corn is an all-around favorite to serve in some way, shape, or form with my scallops. I’m thrilled when I have classic creamed corn as a side dish, or succotash, or a corn souffle!

13. Caprese Salad

A tasty caprese salad is a nice, light side dish to enjoy before or with your scallop dinner. In fact, it’s such a great combination that it’s the base of the sea scallops alla caprese recipe!

Easy Pasta, Bread & Rice Side Dishes to Serve With Scallops

Some of your everyday staple dishes are still fantastic sides to enjoy with scallops. Use the smaller, sweeter bay scallops and cook just enough to toss into your favorite pasta recipes. They’re also totally OK to add to a casserole or pasta bake like my garlic shrimp alfredo casserole below!

For an economical option, there are at times, scallop pieces available for sale depending on your local stores.

14. Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Wonderfully garlicky, tangy shrimp pasta is a quick and easy family meal that everyone loves! Add some scallops when cooking the shrimp for a great addition to toss with the pasta meal!

15. Lemon Asparagus Orzo

A light pasta dish that features one of my favorite vegetables, yummy asparagus! The hint of lemon and freshly grated Parmesan make this a side dish that the whole family loves!

16. Parmesan Risotto

Not only is this a great basic risotto recipe, but the page features pointers for making the perfect risotto every time! Risotto is a classic pairing with scallops so it’s time to brush up on your risotto-making!

17. Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Bake

This one-skillet meal is sure to please the seafood lovers in your life! Bay scallops would be a superb addition to the easy dinner too!

18. Pesto Pasta

I love pesto with practically everything savory, so it makes sense that it totally works with seafood too! Serve your scallops with this classic pesto sauce tossed with your favorite pasta for a wonderful entree!

19. Saffron Rice

Saffron rice is a spectacular dish to serve on special occasions. With a little curry seasoning on your scallops, it’s the perfect rice side dish to serve!

20. Pasta Primavera

This light and vegetable-studded pasta dish is a great entree to serve with some scallops! Large pan-seared sea scallops served over the top of the pasta dish, or some sweet bay scallops added at the last minute of cooking would be ideal!

21. Garlic Bread

The all-around side that can be served with practically anything, right?! Garlic bread works well with any pasta or salads that you serve with your meal.

Hearty Potato Side Dishes to Have With Scallops

Whether you serve up one of these delicious mashed potato dishes or the classic fondant potatoes, you’re sure to love them with your scallops! There’s a little extra work involved with the fondant potatoes, but for an elevated seafood dinner the results are easily worth the effort!

22. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Easy, creamy mashed potatoes made with roasted garlic for an added depth of flavor are a great side for scallops! Add fresh herbs for an extra touch of flavor, or make them rich and buttery!

23. Parmesan Roasted Mashed Potatoes

Perfectly toasty mashed potatoes that are highlighted with a panko and Parmesan topping! The added texture is a great contrast to the creamy mashed potatoes and the tender texture of scallops!

24. Fondant Potatoes

These are my favorite potatoes, ever. Period. They’re so addictive and delicious that I ended up wondering where they had been my whole life!

For an extra special touch to a date night dinner, fondant potatoes would be the perfect addition!!

Meaty Mains to Enjoy Alongside Your Scallops

Who said you could only have one main? The whole concept behind surf-n-turf is to have your seafood plus some!

But it’s not limited to just steak! How about some more seafood to go with your seafood? Or a bit of chicken!

25. Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak

My favorite pan-seared steaks are always ribeye cut! They can cowboy or tomahawk steaks as long as it’s cut at least 1 1/2 inches for a great thick-cut steak!

Pan-sear the steaks for your dinner, then set them aside to rest while you cook up your scallops. Serve and enjoy!

26. Prime Rib

Add some scallops to those special occasion dinners or holiday meals! It’s totally the time of year to share in some decadent deliciousness!

Plus, you might actually have some leftover prime rib to use with all of my amazing recipes!

27. Steamed Littleneck Clams {Steamer Clams}

My family can never get enough seafood! We’re in the Midwest after living on the Oregon coast, so when we get seafood we usually order a great variety.

It’s always the perfect time to splurge and enjoy seafood with your seafood!

28. Chicken Cordon Bleu

This classic chicken recipe tastes amazing with a serving of some pan-seared scallops! You might want some vegetables with that too, but I’ll get it if you opt to be totally carnivore for a night!

The Perfect Desserts to Serve With Scallops

Besides all things citrusy like lemon bars and key lime pie, light desserts are a wonderful accompaniment to a rich scallops dinner menu. Simple servings of fresh fruit, fruit sorbets, poached pears, and angel food cake top my list for favorites in the lighter fare category, but my absolute fave desserts for seafood dinners are below!

1. Strawberry Shortcake

Need I say more? Strawberry shortcake is such a classic recipe and a wonderful summertime treat with freshly sliced strawberries. It would be a stunning way to end the perfect dinner!

2. Hokkaido Cheese Tart

This lemony baked cheese tart is an addictively delicious dessert! It’s creamy, slightly sweet, but definitely rich with just a hint of lemon!

3. Blackberry Apple Crumble

An amazingly delicious dessert that combines two popular fall fruits in a tasty base topped with my almond flour crumble! I love to make my crumbles in ramekins, otherwise, there would be a fight over who gets the last of the crumble!

4. Blackberry Cream Pie

A graham cracker crust and creamy blackberry filling combine to make this heavenly pie! Make it in advance so you can freeze it before serving it with your scallops dinner.

5. Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

I love overnight cinnamon rolls when they come fresh out of the oven. The second they start to harden around the edges, it’s time to chop up any leftover cinnamon rolls and make this rich, cinnamon dessert! This is a family favorite that everyone requests!

Now that I’ve shared all of my favorites for a scallop dinner menu, I’d love to hear what your favorites are! Or come back and let me know what you decided to serve with your scallops! ~ Angela