• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Wine Lover's Kitchen
  • About
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Wine
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Wine
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • Wine
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Fish and Seafood

    Seared Scallops with Warm Bacon Dressing

    Published: May 27, 2021 by Carolyn Hetke · This post may contain affiliate links,

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Seared Scallops with Warm Bacon Dressing are a riff off the classic scallops wrapped in bacon.

    Is there anything that bacon doesn't make better??

    The scallops and the sauce are light enough that they offset the decadence of the bacon- and it is just a wee bit per serving. It weighs in at 227 calories and 11 grams of fat.

    I don't recommend switching out the whipping cream for a lighter cream because you are going to simmer the sauce to reduce it to a gravy consistency. Lighter cream will separate - it won't be pretty and you won't get the consistency you want.

    This makes a great dish for entertaining. Scallops can be expensive though so you are going to want to invite really good friends!

    I can tell you this would be in my regular rotation if scallops were more reasonably priced!

    The large sea scallops are the preferred but in full disclosure - I couldn't find any at the store I was in so I made this with ones I had in my fridge.. bigger than bay scallops but smaller than sea scallops. Sea scallops will sear better because they are bigger and can stay in the pan longer before they overcook. In the end though the taste is pretty much the same. Mine was delicious as is! (You should have heard the moans and groans around the table as we were tasting!)

    It makes 6 main servings but you could also serve this over tender crisp green beans as an appetizer. You should get at least 8-10 appetizer portions out of it. In this scenario you could also switch out the green beans for fresh baby spinach.

    I serve the green beans and scallops with the sauce over white rice. I can highly recommend that if you want make it a heartier main.

    Seared scallop over green beans with bacon bits and creamy bacon dressing.

    Seared Scallops With Warm Bacon Dressing

    Scallops and bacon are a classic match.
    Author: Carolyn Hetke

    If you tried this, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know it went in the 📝 comments below!

    5 from 1 vote
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    SaveSaved!
    Print Pin Facebook
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
    Total Time: 31 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings

    Equipment

    • non-stick skillet

    Ingredients

    • 3 slices bacon
    • 2 lbs scallops preferably sea scallop or the largest you can find
    • salt and pepper for seasoning
    • ¾ cup white wine vinegar
    • ¾ cup water
    • 2 ¼ tsps Dijon mustard
    • 6 Tbsps whipping cream
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper
    • 12 oz French green beans trimmed, optional

    Instructions

    • Pat scallops dry with a paper towel. Press gently to release more moisture. You want the scallops to be as dry as possible or they won't sear.
    • Cook the bacon in a non-stick skillet (cast iron is perfect) over medium heat until crisp.
    • Transfer bacon strips to a paper towel to drain. Leave the drippings in the skillet.
    • Add scallops in a single layer to the hot pan with bacon drippings. They should sizzle when you add them. Leave them undisturbed to cook about 2 minutes then flip and repeat. They should have a a golden sear on them. Do not overcook though. Remove scallop to a separate bowl. (Work in batches if necessary to cook in a single layer.)
    • Whisk vinegar, water and mustard into the drippings in the skillet. Boil over high heat until reduced to half. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. This took about 20 minutes for me but time will vary depending on size of skillet. Stir in whipping cream and continue to boil until sauce is the consistency of gravy.
    • While sauce is reducing and close to being finished, cook beans, covered in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of water. For me it takes about 6 minutes on high. Check doneness - they should be tender crisp. While beans are cooking return scallops to the sauce in the skillet and allow them to heat through.
    • Chop bacon strips into bits and toss with the hot green beans. Top with scallops and drizzle with the hot sauce

    Nutrition

    Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 894mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 623IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thewineloverski or tag #thewineloverski!

    Wine Pairing for Seared Scallops with Warm Bacon Dressing

    The flavours here are warmer and deeper than you might think, thanks to the sauce. An unoaked Chardonnay, a Viognier or a Chenin Blanc would work. Any medium bodied white with good acidity would be fine. I am also partial to Muscadet Sèvre et Maine with a dish like this.

    For die hard red drinkers you would want something unoaked, light bodied like a Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Gamay.

    A Rosé on the weightier end of the Rosé scale with good acidity would be nice here. Look for a Tavel, or perhaps a Grenache based from Languedoc.

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I am Carolyn - the Wine Lover in the Wine Lover's Kitchen! I absolutely love having friends and family around my table with great food and wine to enjoy. If you want great recipes and wine recommendations you have come to the right place!

    Learn more about me →

    Summer Recipes

    • Potato salad in a bowl.
      Potato Salad With Celery and Cucumber
    • Beet, heirloom tomato and burrata wedges on a plate.
      Viking Cruise Recipe: Beet and Burrata Salad
    • A bowl of cold, creamy, almond soup with toasted almond and green grape garnish.
      Chilled Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo)
    • A bowl of cold cherry soup.
      Cherry Soup with Cinnamon Croutons

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up of creamy Cafe de Paris sauce.
      Café de Paris Sauce - The Original 'Secret Sauce'
    • Puffy, crispy flour tortilla flavoured with olive oil and chili, lime seasoning.
      Air Fryer Tortillas
    • Golden brown spinach feta scones on a plate.
      Savoury Spinach and Feta Scones
    • Piece of Italian crumb cake with pistachio cream filling, topped with crushed pistachios and icing sugar.
      Pistachio Cream Crumb Cake
    • Medium rare beef tenderloin sliced on a platter.
      Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin
    • Baked sweetened condensed milk buns piled in a basket.
      Bread Machine Sweetened Condensed Milk Dinner Rolls

    Footer

    ↑ Back to top

    Home

    Recipes Wine

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy
    • About

    Newsletter

    Tired of wandering around looking at wine labels? Get recipes and my Best Buy wine picks every two weeks!

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact

    Follow me on:

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • X -Former Twitter

    Copyright © 2025 The Wine Lover's Kitchen

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.