Name: Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 pound sea scallops (cut in half if too big); 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 2 teaspoons dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon garlic paste (or 1/2 teaspoon powder); 12 slices bacon

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These marinated bacon wrapped scallops have an outstanding flavor and will make your guests feel special when you serve them. The marinade is a great balance between sweet and salty and a perfect combo for scallops. Now, imagine wrapping it all in bacon. Perfection.

A small rectangle plate with 5 scallops on it with a big plate in the background

Among my all time favorite things in this world are these bacon wrapped scallops. Seriously. I love me some scallops!

When I marinate those delectable scallops and then wrap them in bacon, bake them and then serve them, this incredible taste will flood your mouth. There is a party going on and everyone is invited.

The only thing in my mind that rivals my love for bacon wrapped scallops is my love for bacon wrapped chicken livers. A close runner-up is bacon wrapped shrimp.

How I discovered this delicious appetizer

I had been eating bacon wrapped chicken livers forever. It was such a delicacy for me. When I moved away to college, I brought along my toaster oven and yes folks, I made myself bacon wrapped chicken livers – in my dorm room! – more times than I’d like to admit. I always wondered what the other residents on the floor thought when I squirreled myself away in my room and chowed down on them.

A few years after I graduated, I attended a wedding. Before the meal, waitstaff were walking around with platters of bacon wrapped appetizers and I thought, ‘SCORE!’ But then I noticed something white in the middle of the bacon. Say what? Since when were chicken livers white?!

I tried one and exclaimed out loud, “yum”. I love scallops and I love bacon so it was a double score!

I’ve been making both of those bacon wrapped goodies ever since.

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Helpful Tips

Use sea scallops instead of bay scallops because you need hefty scallops and not small scallops.
Partially cook the bacon for 8 minutes. You want it to still be flexible so you can roll up the scallops.
Marinate the scallops in a glass bowl and place the container in the fridge. Stir after 15 minutes and continue marinating for 15 more minutes.
Bacon will shrink so it’s okay if it separates a little. You can re-wrap the scallops or not. No one will care because they are so delicious.

Ingredients and substitutions

Sea scallops – these are the bigger scallops, which you need so you can wrap them easily in the bacon.
Soy sauce – I don’t use low sodium but if you would like to, go for it.
Maple syrup – 100% pure. I wouldn’t substitute any other sweetener with maple syrup.
Dijon mustard – This gives it a little ‘punch’.
Garlic paste – or garlic powder.
Bacon – I use nitrate free.

How to make bacon wrapped scallops

Step one

Rinse sea scallops and pat them dry with a paper towel. If your scallops are huge like mine, cut some of the bigger ones in half.

Scallops rinsed and patted dry with marinade ingredients in the background

Step two

In a mixing bowl, add soy sauce, maple syrup, mustard and garlic paste (or powder) and whisk until combined.

Step three

Add scallops to mixing bowl and carefully toss the scallops until they are covered with the marinade.

Step four

Transfer scallops and the marinade to glass container.

Scallops marinating in a glass dish and bacon on a foil lined pan

Step five

While scallops are marinating, preheat oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step six

Line a jelly roll pan or sheet pan with foil and lay bacon on the pan and bake for 8 minutes.

Step seven

Lay bacon on some paper towels and blot to remove grease.

Bacon baked and on a paper towel with the scallops marinated in a container with a blue cover

Step eight

Replace the foil on the jellyroll pan.

Step nine

Cut the bacon strips in half and wrap the scallops in each half. Use a toothpick to secure the ends of the bacon together and arrange the wrapped scallops on the foil lined pan.

Step ten

Bake for 8 minutes then flip them and bake for another 7 minutes. (So, bake for a total of 15 minutes.)

Plate and serve

White plate with scallops wrapped in bacon

Doesn’t that look yummy? One of the things I love about marinating the scallops is that it flavors them so nicely.

What if the bacon doesn’t overlap?

Bacon shrinks somewhat when cooked thoroughly, so that is normal. Don’t worry, people aren’t going to be inspecting these babies before devouring them. It happens all the time. Sometimes I re-roll the bacon wrapped scallops once they are cooked, but usually, I just leave them as is.

Let’s look at the scallops from an overhead view.

Overhead view of bacon wrapped around scallops on a white plate

I plate a few and take a bite.

A hand holding a toothpick with the scallop appetizer with the plate in the background and under it

YUM!

I hope you enjoyed this bacon wrapped scallops recipe!

Other popular appetizer recipes

Please feel free to leave me a comment what is your favorite appetizer?

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

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