These marinated bacon wrapped scallops have an outstanding flavor and will make your guests feel special when you serve them. This marinade is a great balance between sweet and salty and a perfect combo for scallops. Now, imagine wrapping these scallops in bacon. Perfection.
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 round nuggets and then wrap them in bacon – yowza! 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 trusty 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 those bacon wrapped goodies.
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 snatched one off the waiter’s tray and popped it in my mouth. ‘SCALLOPS?!’ I screamed out in my head. 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.
How to make this scallop appetizer
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.
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 to glass container.
Step five
While scallops are marinating, preheat oven at 375.
Step six
Line a jelly roll pan with foil and lay bacon on the pan and bake for 8 minutes.
Lay bacon on some paper towels and blot to remove grease.
Step seven
Replace the foil on the jellyroll pan.
Step eight
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 nine
Bake for 8 minutes then flip them and bake for another 7 minutes. (So, bake for a total of 15 minutes.)
Plate and serve
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.
I asked Christopher to be my hand model.
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!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Ingredients
- 1 pound sea scallops cut in half if too big
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste or ½ teaspoon powder
- 12 slices bacon
Instructions
- Rinse and pat your scallops dry, place in a medium stainless steel mixing bowl
- Add soy sauce, maple syrup, mustard and garlic paste and mix together
- Place in a glass container with a lid and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, stirring once at 15 minutes
- Preheat oven to 375
- Line a jellyroll pan with foil, lay the bacon on the foil and bake for 8 minutes
- Remove bacon onto a paper towel and blot the grease off
- Re-line the jellyroll pan with foil
- Cut the bacon in half and wrap a scallop in each half. Secure with a toothpick and line the wrapped scallops on the pan. Bake for 8 minutes and turn scallops and continue to bake for 7 more minutes
- Place all the bacon wrapped scallops on a platter
- Plate
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in June, 2016.
Kathy lamb
When you put the bacon wrapped scallops on pan to bake are they bacon side down or scallop side down?
Elaine
Hi Kathy,
Bacon side down, so the scallops are at the sides. Hope this helps. They are delicious!
Joyce
I’m glad I found this recipe! I’m going to make these this weekend! Delicious!
Elaine
Thanks Joyce! Glad you found it. Let me know what you thought of it!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
Bacon-wrapped scallops are one of my favorite appetizers, and your recipe looks divine! Love all of your cooking/prep tips, too. So helpful!
Elaine
Thank you Marlynn! I’m with you on these babies being among my favorite!
Teri Stephens
So I’m still waiting on my invitation for drinks and these!! These look fantastic, I love scallops and the sweet flavor with the savory bacon is a keeper for sure. Great share!
Elaine
Thanks Teri! And hehe. You didn’t get my invite in the mail? 😉
Emily
Omg I so wish I just had a plate of these in front of me right now, so delicious!
Elaine
Thanks Emily! They are super tasty!
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog
I actually never cooked scallops, so your post is really helpful for me! And you can put bacon on on everything, it should taste delicious, haha!
Elaine
Hehe Alina! Indeed, bacon on anything makes it better! Thank you for your comment!
Sandi
This looks like a wonderful recipe to try…also need to check out your chicken livers recipe b/c we are needing to boost iron.
Elaine
Thanks Sandi!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C
I posted scallops today too! I love them. They sound great with bacon! I’m cracking up about you making the appetizers in your dorm room, Lol!
Elaine
Thanks!! Scallops rock Andrea! I was shameless! 🙂
Christopher
These bacon wrapped scallops are like candy! So tasty and satisfying.
Elaine
Thanks Christopher! 🙂
Elinor
Can these bacon wrapped scallops be cooked ahead of time and reheated?
Elaine
They can Elinor but they may be a little rubbery. But if you need to, I would highly recommend broiling them to heat them up and to NOT use a microwave. Hope this helps and enjoy!