Pan-Seared Scallops with Dill and Lemon Butter
Plump scallops seared crisp in butter and finished with fresh dill and bright lemon for a restaurant-quality weeknight dish. This French-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 16 minutes, pairs sea scallops, unsalted butter, lemon for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 (about 1.2 lbs), patted dry sea scallops
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1, juiced lemon
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Season 12 scallops with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Place scallops in the skillet, sear undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Flip and sear 1-2 minutes more until opaque and crisp.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill. Swirl to melt, then add 1 lemon's juice. Cook 1 minute until butter emulsifies.






