13 Best Sauces for Scallops (+ Easy Recipes)

Seafood lovers brace yourself, these sauces for scallops will leave you drooling!

Scallops aren’t just any ordinary shellfish. They’re a buttery delicacy that deserves only the best sauce to match. 

As a scallop lover myself, it’s my duty to share these scallop sauce recipes.

The hardest part, though, is deciding where to start. 

There’s miso sauce for an Asian twist and tomato cream for Italian food lovers.

Of course, you can never go wrong with classic garlic butter.

From simple enhancements to bold flavors, these scallop sauces will create the perfect bite.  

1. Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Lemon and butter are great. But if you want big, bold flavors, you need this red pepper sauce. 

Roasted red peppers serve as the backbone with their sweet, smoky flavor.

Right there with it are chickpeas, which give it a thick consistency.

For flavorings, add lemon juice, garlic, chili flakes, and a glug of olive oil.

While I’m sure it’s obvious, you also need the two sauce musts: salt and pepper. 

2. Garlic Butter Sauce for Seafood

Garlic butter sauce is a foolproof accompaniment to any type of seafood. That includes big plump scallops. 

The combination of freshness, richness, and pungency is the ultimate decadent touch.

And you can’t help but love the simplicity. 

Aside from salt and pepper, you just need four ingredients and less than 10 minutes. Oh, and a saucepan, too.

3. Saffron Cream Sauce

Saffron is a remarkable spice that’s sweet, earthy, and floral.

With complexity like that, you know it makes a killer sauce. 

So if you want something unique and creamy, you get that and more with this sauce. 

It starts with sauteed alliums in a roux followed by milk and white wine.

Whisk in the saffron water and add a hint of chili powder. 

Not too much, though. You won’t want the spiciness to mask the saffron. 

4. Lemon Caper Sauce

Zippy, zesty, and creamy, the flavor notes here are precisely what your scallops are missing. 

This sauce has that tantalizing factor you want with the minimal fuss you desire. I’m talking about 5 minutes!

The hardest part about this recipe is gathering the five ingredients you need.

So you can see how truly effortless it is to make.

This easy sauce is also a fantastic pairing for chicken, salads, and roasted veggies.

5. Tomato Cream Sauce

This sauce has got some depth! It’s guaranteed to give your scallops some personality. 

Fire-roasted tomatoes themselves have a big flavor. The fennel, garlic, onions, oregano, parmesan, basil, and cream add layers.

Now that I’m thinking about it, it’s also a phenomenal sauce for gnocchi. 

Whether you’re making seafood pasta or just need a sauce, this is an absolute must-try.

6. Miso Sauce

Up the umami factor with miso sauce. This is a prime choice to give your scallops an Asian flare. 

It’s tangy, light, sweet, and savory. 

It’s a wonderful complementary sauce for the delicate flavor of scallops. It plays on the savory, briny, and sweet notes like a dream.

Plus, you only need four ingredients.

For a bolder take, use red miso. Otherwise, stick with white miso.

7. Avocado Cream Sauce

If you’re in the mood for Mexican seafood, this sauce is right up your alley. 

Creamy avocados meld with lime, jalapenos, cilantro, sour cream, and cumin.

You just want to smother your scallops in this avocado sauce. It’s so creamy and fresh, it’s hard to hold back. 

I for one say go for it. Pile it on those succulent scallops and enjoy! 

After all, it’s your scallop dish.

8. Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

If creamy sauces are your jam, meet your new kryptonite. 

This sauce is lavishly creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and savory.

There’s also a pinch of nutmeg in there for a comforting earthy note. 

It takes 20 minutes so be sure to time it right.

You won’t want it to burn and scallops only need a hot minute on each side.

9. Sweet Sesame Sauce

Sweet sesame sauce is another way to give your scallops an Asian twist. 

Aside from the sweetness, it also has garlic, ginger, and a little heat.

Try it on your scallops and it will inspire you to use it for more yummy things. 

Noodles, buddha bowls, white rice, and proteins are all better with this sauce.

10. Orange Ginger Sauce

A spoonful of this zippy sauce is all you need to accentuate your scallops.

You can use it as a glaze, dip, or even a marinade. 

The orange juice and zest will give your scallops a bright punch. The soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sugar balances it all out.

11. Dijon Mustard Sauce with Herbs

From chicken to salads, this sauce has got some range. It also has that extra little something your scallops need.

The sharp bite of Dijon with lemon juice and apple cider will cut through the richness of the scallops.

To keep the acidity in check, add maple syrup and fresh herbs.

Tangy, sweet, and fresh, this Dijon sauce is a quick scallop-enhancing solution.

12. Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

Was sauce for your scallops an afterthought? That’s not a problem at all with this sauce. 

In less than 10 minutes, you can throw together this easy scallop sauce. 

Citrusy, garlicky, and buttery, it’s a decadent delight with a fresh hint of parsley. Drizzle it over your scallops for an immaculate pairing. 

Not only does it have just the right notes for your scallops, but it works with other seafood, too.

It’s also good with pasta or as a dipping sauce.

13. White Wine Sauce

Are you making an elegant scallop dinner for date night? I have just the sauce for you.

You’ll want to bathe in this luxurious creation.

It’s very buttery, noticeably garlicky, decently cheesy, and perfectly acidic thanks to the white wine. 

All that, and it pairs swimmingly with succulent scallops. 

So go on and impress that special someone.

They’ll never guess how easy your seafood dinner was to throw together.