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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Fish And Seafood Recipes

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops

    Published: Feb 14, 2018 · Modified: Dec 4, 2019 by Marissa Stevens ·

    Gluten FreeLow CarbPaleoWhole30Quick Meals

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Bacon Wrapped Scallops served on a white plate with two forks

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops are elegant enough for a dinner party or a romantic dinner for two and easy enough to prepare on a busy weeknight. In less than 30 minutes you can cook bacon wrapped scallops in the oven to tender, juicy perfection.

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops served on a round white plate with two forks

    I'd be a little embarrassed to tell you how many times we've had scallops wrapped in bacon for dinner over the past couple of weeks. I wanted them to be just perfect before posting the recipe and it was harder than I thought! I wanted the scallops to be tender like they are when you sear them and have the bacon cooked just right. And I wanted them to bake in the oven, preferably without catching anything on fire.

    I'll explain.

    The first two times I made these bacon wrapped scallops, I tried to broil them as this recipe calls for. After the spattering grease and smoke that billowed from my oven on the first try, I decided to move the pan a little further from the broiling element for the second try. Same problem.

    Next I tried baking them at a higher temperature and finishing them under the broiler. Same spatter and smoke problem and the scallops were tough. And speaking of tough, I saw one recipe that called for baking them for 35(!!!) minutes at 425°F, which I can only imagine would turn a scallop into something like a rubber disc.

    But, at last, success! Baking scallops wrapped in bacon for 12 minutes at 425°F was just perfect. (If your scallops are very large or your bacon very thick, it could take up to 15 minutes. And if you like your bacon even more crisp, partially cook it before wrapping the scallops as you would with Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.) The scallops were buttery and tender, the bacon sizzling and juicy.

    Serve With

    I love to serve these with Greek Salad or Spinach Salad or a seafood dynamic duo with Crab Salad, and on days when we're looking for a decadent meal, they're fantastic served over Pasta Aglio e Olio or alongside Cheesy Potatoes. They also make a crowd pleasing appetizer - why let Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Bacon Wrapped Dates have all the fun!? 😉

    And during grilling season, you can make Grilled Bacon Wrapped Scallops instead.

    How to Make Bacon Wrapped Scallops

    Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Pat scallops dry with a paper towel and remove any side muscles.

    patting scallops dry
    removing side muscle from scallops

    Step 2: Wrap each scallop with ½ slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. (If your bacon is thick or you like it crispier, you can partially bake on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes before wrapping scallops.)

    Wrapping Scallop in half slice bacon
    Securing bacon around scallop with toothpick

    Step 3: Drizzle olive oil over scallops and season with pepper and kosher salt.

    drizzling bacon wrapped scallops with olive oil
    seasoning bacon wrapped scallops

    Step 4: Arrange scallops in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    placing bacon wrapped scallops on baking sheet

    Step 5: Bake in a 425°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on scallop size and bacon thickness. Serve hot!

    baking bacon wrapped scallops

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops Recipe Video

    SUBSCRIBE TO VIDEOS

    Bacon Wrapped Scallops

    Marissa Stevens
    A fast and fabulous recipe for cooking scallops wrapped in bacon!
    4.83 from 51 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 224 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 sea scallops see recipe notes
    • 8 slices bacon cut in half crosswise
    • 16 toothpicks
    • olive oil for drizzling
    • freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • kosher salt to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 425°F. 
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Pat scallops dry with a paper towel and remove any side muscles. Wrap one scallop in a half slice of bacon and secure with toothpick (see recipe note #2). Repeat with remaining scallops.
    • Drizzle olive oil over each scallop and season with pepper and kosher salt.
    • Arrange scallops in a single layer on prepared baking sheet, giving each scallop some room to allow the bacon to crisp.
    • Bake 12 to 15 minutes until scallop is tender and opaque and bacon is cooked through. Serve hot.

    Notes

    1. Look for 'dry' sea scallops, which means they haven't been soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate to make them heavier. (yuck!)
    2. If you like your bacon more crisply cooked, you can partially cook it for 3-5 minutes before wrapping the scallops as with these Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.
    3. 4 scallops makes a hearty main course. If you have light eaters, consider 3 scallops per person.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 12gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 526mgPotassium: 210mgVitamin A: 15IUCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.4mg
    Keyword easy, fast, gluten free, keto, low carb
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Fish and Seafood Recipes

    • Shrimp Tacos
    • Garlic Butter Sauce for Seafood
    • Crispy Baked Coconut Shrimp
    • Tuna Tartare

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori says

      October 22, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      I made these bacon wrapped scallops and they came out perfect. I used thick bacon half slices but placed the bacon around the flat sides instead of the round. I did precook the bacon for 10 minutes. I did not use olive oil, just the bacon. Baked them at 425 for 15 minutes as they were large sea scallops. They came out delicious and perfectly cooked. Thank you for the recipe!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 24, 2021 at 9:34 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed theses, Lori! Thank your for coming back to let me know and for your cooking notes.

    2. Jeff says

      October 09, 2021 at 3:22 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome! Just whipped these up!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        October 10, 2021 at 4:30 pm

        So glad you enjoyed them, Jeff!

    3. Doug Macdonald says

      August 26, 2021 at 7:44 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe. Easy to use

      • Marissa Stevens says

        August 27, 2021 at 3:16 pm

        So glad you enjoyed these, Doug!

    4. Paul Czarnowski says

      July 12, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      5 stars
      This was the best bacon-wrapped scallops I have had. Unfortunately for my waistline, I wanted more.
      Soon.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 12, 2021 at 5:17 pm

        haha, I love it! So glad these are a hit, Paul!

    5. Neva Rae Powers says

      July 04, 2021 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      So simple and so tasty. I served with a salad the first time and over angel hair the second time.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 05, 2021 at 2:34 pm

        I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe, Neva! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

    6. Cindy Williams says

      June 23, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      Made them tonight.....they were great!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Cindy Williams says

        June 23, 2021 at 8:34 pm

        5 stars
        what sauce or condiment would I eat with them ???

      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 24, 2021 at 11:11 am

        I'm so glad these were a hit, Cindy! For a condiment, I recommend my Remoulade Sauce!

    7. GiGi says

      June 20, 2021 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      Great addition to our Father’s Day feast! Thanks so much for the recipe.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 21, 2021 at 1:18 pm

        My pleasure, Gigi! So glad these were a hit.

    8. Lynnette says

      April 10, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made these over and over with perfection every time. Cooking time depends on scallop size and bacon thickness, however I am typically within the cooking times advised. Would not change anything about this recipe. Fresh scallops please.. no frozen here.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 11, 2021 at 2:16 pm

        That's wonderful to hear, Lynette! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know.

    9. Melisa says

      January 24, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was great ! We brushed our home made bbq sauce on as well, half way through cooking. Very tasty. We like them a bit crispy and they were juicy too. 👍

      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 24, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        That's wonderful, Melisa. Thank you for coming back to let me know!

    10. Colleen says

      January 01, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe. I had YUGE scallops and thick bacon, so I baked in a preheated over for 15 mins then leaving my pan on a level just above middle of the oven, I broiled on HI 3-4 mins on each side. Just brown enough and came out amazing! I didnt want to mess with precooking this and cooling, wrapping, etc.....and this worked perfectly New Years Day appetizer for DH and I with some prosecco and elderflower lemonade.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 04, 2021 at 9:41 am

        So glad these were a hit, Colleen!

    11. LFK says

      July 23, 2020 at 10:20 pm

      3 stars
      These were quite tasty, but I found the scallop cooking time was off. I used Costco scallops that I'd defrosted and allowed to come to room temperature. I cut bacon slices in half lengthwise and then across each half slice. I then pre-cooked my bacon at 425 F for 4 minutes, and allowed the slices to cool. I wrapped each scallop in bacon, secured the bacon with a toothpick. put them in the oven and set the timer for 6 minutes. I intended to flip each scallop at that point. However, when I pulled them out, an instant read thermometer showed they were already at 130 F!! I immediately transferred them to a cold plate. They were great, but a disaster was narrowly averted. Next time I'll cook my bacon longer and will check the scallops at 4 minutes. Cook's Illustrated suggests pulling them out at 115 F with carry over cooking taking them the rest of the way.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 24, 2020 at 9:56 am

        Hi there, LFK. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts.

    12. Paul W. Lawry says

      June 28, 2020 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      Marissa, I do a lot of special cooking for my wife & she recently (while on vacation) had bacon wrapped sea scallops . We both really enjoy sea scallops. Your recipe is excellent & my wife said these were much better than what she had ordered while on vacation & at the time she said they were excellent & complimented the chef. While you state to pre-cook the bacon if you like crispy (which we do), this is just common sense. I did not use any olive oil nor butter. I did however use some old bay seasoning. incidentally, I used the 10-20 count size of sea scallops & had 12 scallops for the 1 lb. Additionally, when you pre-cook the bacon it shrinks so I use 1 piece of medium thickness bacon per scallop. As my wife says, "deliciosoooooo". I have never before at age 70 commented on a recipe that I have used which are many & most very good! Thank you so very much for your trials & recipe!!!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 29, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        I'm so glad that you and your wife are enjoying this recipe, Paul! So kind of you to come back and let me know!

    13. Chris Nicholson says

      June 21, 2020 at 7:28 am

      5 stars
      This is the recipe I've been seeking for YEARS. I didn't want any fancy-schmancy flavorings and toppings, but wanted the two main flavors to speak for themselves. They key, I think, is par-cooking the bacon, which I did for four minutes at 425 degrees. (The recipe doesn't specify the temp to cook the bacon, but I used the same as the scallops, and it worked.)

      One note, I couldn't find "dry" scallops, so I used the frozen ones, which had been treated. They worked fine. I think the trick is to thaw them in the microwave, drain them well, and then dry them off with paper towel. If you thaw them in cold water they will become waterlogged and you'll have unappetizing mush-pusch.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 21, 2020 at 5:22 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Chris! Thank you for your detailed recipe notes.

    14. Jan says

      June 21, 2020 at 6:24 am

      5 stars
      This recipe sounds amazing!! Is it possible/safe to par-cook the bacon and wrap the scallops a few hours before cooking them? Keep them in the fridge and then pop them in the oven before we eat. I like to have everything ready to go when my guests arrive for dinner!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 21, 2020 at 5:22 pm

        Hi, Jan! Yes, I think that should work just fine. I'm the same way - love doing as much as possible ahead of time!

    15. Lacey says

      April 26, 2020 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      I made this recipe last night. pre cooked the bacon in the oven for 4 minutes, then cooked the bacon wrapped scallops for 12 minutes and added a bit of butter on top after they came out of the oven! It was perfect, thank you so much. I was totally about to try the broiler method and so happy I kept looking and found your oven baked version.

      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 26, 2020 at 2:09 pm

        Fantastic, Lacey! I'm so glad you enjoyed these!! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

    16. Julie says

      April 14, 2020 at 10:23 am

      5 stars
      This was one of the best meals I've ever made! Thanks for the recipe and the written explanation. Well done!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 14, 2020 at 2:26 pm

        So happy to hear this, Julie!! Thank you for coming back to let me know!

    17. Rick says

      March 21, 2020 at 1:34 pm

      5 stars
      This was great tasting easy prep dish! With the corona virus shutting everything down it made a great birthday celebration dinner!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        March 21, 2020 at 2:44 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed these for a birthday celebration, Rick. Really sweet of you to come back and let me know. 🙂

    18. Jackie B. says

      February 18, 2020 at 8:06 pm

      5 stars
      These are addicting, Marissa, so good! We wished for more 🙂 and EASY to do, just as you directed, getting the bacon started a bit early. Thanks for sharing. Will definitely be doing these again!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 19, 2020 at 8:10 am

        I love to hear this, Jackie! Thank you for coming back to let me know. 😊

    19. Kirby says

      January 12, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was glorious!! My husband was so happy and I’ll definitely make them again and again as a treat! I added a bit of brown sugar to half of them but they were perfect without the pinch. Thank you for posting!!

      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 12, 2020 at 6:02 pm

        That’s wonderful, Kirby! So happy that you and your husband enjoyed these!

    20. Carol says

      December 31, 2019 at 6:05 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for the last night of 2019 and it was a hit. Had huge, huge scallops and they came out perfect. Next time will pre-cook the bacon a bit and use black lava sea salt after the olive oil. Was the 2nd recipe I looked at, you-know-who was first and am glad I chose your version. Thanks for sharing.

      • Marissa says

        January 02, 2020 at 10:11 am

        Yay! I'm so glad these were a hit, Carol! Happy New Year!

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