What to Serve with Scallops: 31 of the Best Side Dish Recipes
Scallops are one of those elegant proteins that can feel intimidating to cook - but the real question most home cooks land on is what to serve alongside them. Living in Maine, I have easy access to fresh scallops year-round, and pan seared buttery scallops with a simple herb finish are my go-to. Whether you're making them for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, the right side dish can pull the whole plate together. Here are 31 of my favorite sides - from simple roasted vegetables to creamy pasta - that pair beautifully with scallops.
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What to serve with scallops at home
Living in Maine, I get to enjoy all different kinds of fresh seafood. While Maine is infamous for tasty lobster, the scallops from our local fish market are my all time favorite. I have a number of scallop recipes, but my favorite way to prepare them is quite simple. I enjoy make pan seared buttery scallops with a dash of fresh herbs like tarragon or basil.
While I believe a simple preparation makes the best scallops, I do love a good side dish to go along with them. So, I decided to put together a list of the 31 best side dish recipes to serve with pan seared scallops or almost any other scallop recipe you enjoy making! A new favorite way to prepare scallops is in the air fryer, they turn out perfect! Here are my easy to make and delicious scallop recipes:
Vegetables to Serve with Scallops
Sauteed green beans tossed in delicious garlic butter and parmesan – Yum! These garlic butter green beans are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish recipe that pair well with seafood.
Swiss Chard Stems with Provolone White Sauce and a Crunchy Breadcrumb Topping
A creamy, cheesy, crunchy side dish that everyone will love! Swiss chard stems take on a whole new look with this recipe!
Earthy and deeply savory, these oven roasted mushrooms are ready in under 30 minutes and pair wonderfully with the delicate flavor of seared scallops.
These Sweet and Salty Brussels Sprouts will turn even the pickiest of eaters into brussels-obsessed veggie lovers with this lick-your-fingers worthy recipe.
This creamy mashed cauliflower recipe is slightly textured, rustic, requires just 7 main ingredients and takes only 20 minutes to make! It’s keto, cheesy, and easily made vegan! A healthy side dish for a simple family meal or fancy dinner party!
These Oven Roasted Carrots with Onions and Thyme are a simple, yet elegant side dish. A savory blend of olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme are tossed with fresh carrots. Then, the carrots are drizzled with vegetable bouillon broth and roasted in the oven until tender.
Crisp-tender beets come to life in this Spiralized Beets with Bleu Cheese, Walnuts, and Sage! You'll love the earthy flavors of this hearty side dish, and it can be on your table in about 20 minutes.
Broccoli Stem Slaw is crisp, colourful and totally delicious. The fantastic texture, bright flavours and creamy dressing pairs perfectly with the sea scallops.
Spaghetti squash offers a delicate, sweet, and crazy spaghetti-like texture and lends itself really well to whatever you add to it.
A simple sheet pan side with parmesan that complements seafood beautifully — ready in 25 minutes with minimal prep.
These Roasted Garlic and Feta Mashed Potatoes are creamy and fluffy with the perfect amount of salt and garlic to amp up each bite.
This easy, cheesy asparagus casserole recipe has layers of tender asparagus, gooey cheese, and creamy hollandaise. Ready in 20 minutes!
A crowd-pleasing classic that works just as well alongside scallops as it does at Thanksgiving.
These low carb zoodles are bathed in a garlic, lemon, Parmesan sauce which pairs well with seafood. Zucchini noodles can be tricky to prepare, but you’ll get it right every time with these simple instructions.
This marinated asparagus side dish recipe is easy to make. Roasted asparagus can be served either hot or cold and goes with a variety of main courses.
These roasted mini potatoes are quick and easy to throw together. The perfect side for roasts, BBQs and mains when you need some roasted carby goodness.
Instant Pot rice turns out perfect, every single time. It is light, fluffy, so delicious, and never a sticky mess. It is the perfect side dish, it goes with anything! Creamy Pesto Gnocchi made with soft and pillowy store-bought potato gnocchi, basil pesto, heavy cream, and shredded parmesan. Ready in just 20 minutes, serve this easy gnocchi recipe as a side dish for scallops. Sundried Tomato Orzo Pasta is a versatile dish. It's great for luncheons, dinner, or a snack in-between. It's light and easy. Plus, it's packed with healthy veggies and herbs that pair well with seafood. Fresh flavors of the Mediterranean in one delicious, crunchy salad! The perfect healthy side dish for any meal and pleasing a crowd. Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice is ready in just 15 minutes! It's a perfect side dish to pair with Sea Scallops, and is made with fresh squeezed lemon juice, Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.p Creamy, tangy, and simple to make — top this baked feta pasta with seared scallops for an impressive dinner. This Yellow Saffron Rice uses vegetable broth and onions to compliment the floral, aromatic saffron for a delicious and versatile side dish. This crispy coconut cauliflower rice is such a delightful, low-carb side dish! A perfect rice substitute that’s so much more nutritious and absolutely delicious. With just 6 ingredients, this healthy recipe will make clean-eating extra easy. A hearty, colorful salad that balances the richness of butter-seared scallops with earthy sweet potato and green This Angel Hair Pasta is made with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. You won't believe how simple and TASTY this recipe is! This Basmati Rice (Instant Pot) with Garlic Butter is super easy to make and loaded with tons of dried herbs. It only takes 5 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. It is light, fluffy, and full of extra flavor from the chicken broth it is cooked in. The perfect no hassle side dish. Bold and briny, this Instant Pot pasta puttanesca is a natural match for scallops — top it with a few seared ones for a restaurant-worthy plate.Pasta, Rice and other Grains to Serve with Scallops
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