Baked Scallops with Panko Breadcrumbs
Baked Scallops with Panko Breadcrumbs are a simple seafood dinner recipe perfect for easy entertaining, delivering crispy topping, tender scallops, and quick oven baking. Sea scallops are baked in butter and topped with toasted panko, lemon zest, and parsley for a light seafood dish with balanced texture and flavor.
Servings: 4
Calories: 172kcal
Equipment
- Small ceramic baking dish (such as a Staub dish)
- Paper towels
- Small skillet
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound sea scallops 10–20 count
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1 tablespoon dry white wine optional
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- pinch salt to taste
- pinch black pepper to taste
- fresh lemon juice for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the scallops very dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and pour it into a small ceramic baking dish. Add the white wine if using and swirl gently to combine.
- Arrange the scallops in a single layer in the dish. They can sit fairly close together but should not be stacked.
- Bake for 10–14 minutes, until the scallops are opaque and just firm to the touch.
- While the scallops bake, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chopped parsley and lemon zest.
- Remove the scallops from the oven and drain off some of the juices if needed. Sprinkle the toasted panko mixture evenly over the top.
- Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve immediately.
Notes
Cooking Notes
Using dry scallops instead of wet-packed scallops helps improve texture during baking. Avoid overbaking so the scallops stay tender instead of rubbery.
Tips for Best Results:
- Pat the scallops very dry before baking.
- Arrange the scallops in a single layer.
- Toast the breadcrumbs until lightly golden only.
- Serve immediately after topping with the panko mixture.
Nutrition
Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
