Wondering what to serve with scallops for dinner? This handy guide covers all of the best sides for scallops – from fresh vegetables to risottos, and more!
I’m sharing 40+ of the most popular and best sides for scallops. Creamy risottos, tangy salads, and the most delicious veggies.
These side dishes pair with all your favorite scallop recipes. Whether you’re serving bay scallops, pan-seared scallops, or bacon-wrapped scallops, you’re guaranteed to find a perfect side dish here.
When choosing a side dish, I’ll usually pick one based on the type of scallops that I’m preparing.
For example:
- Scallop Ceviche + Baked Tortilla Chips
- Lemon Caper Scallops + Lemon Risotto
- Grilled Scallops + Vinegar Slaw
These simple side dishes served with your scallop dinner will guarantee an amazing, meal! Perfect for quick, weeknight cooking, but also amazing served at a dinner party.
PS – Check out these 15+ easy sauces for scallops too!
Tasty Scallop Side Dishes
Lemon Mascarpone Risotto
Indulge in this luxurious Lemon Risotto with Mascarpone. Rich, creamy, and tangy – Its bright flavor makes a perfect vegetarian entrée or a delicious side dish.
Lemon Risotto
Sauteed Zucchini and Squash
You can serve Sauteed Zucchini and Squash with practically anything! It’s a simple side dish that showcases sliced and seared summer squash and savory Italian flavors.
Sauteed Zucchini and Squash
Creamy Pesto Risotto
Make dinner extra special with Pesto Risotto, an impressive main dish featuring creamy Arborio rice, parmesan cheese, basil pesto, and toasted pine nuts. It’s a surprisingly easy 30-minute meal that’s perfect for weeknights or entertaining!
Pesto Risotto
Snap Pea Salad
This Snap Pea Salad is the best warm-weather side dish. Crunchy and sweet snap peas, fresh basil, and almonds are tossed in a tangy lemon and Dijon dressing, giving you a simple meal that’s incredibly refreshing and flavorful!
Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Easy Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed Cauliflower is a delicious, low carb & keto friendly side dish. With 5 flavor variations and instructions for making Stovetop Mashed Cauliflower or Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower.
Mashed Cauliflower
Greek Lemon Rice
This 30-minute Greek Lemon Rice is a simple side dish bursting with bright lemon flavors and garlicky goodness! You’ll love it next to your favorite grilled meats and Mediterranean mains.
Greek Lemon Rice
Scallop Risotto with Sweet Peas & Lemon
This Scallop Risotto with Sweet Peas & Lemon is the perfect romantic dinner to make at home to celebrate Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or other special occasion.
Sweet Pea, Lemon & Tarragon Risotto
Italian White Beans
These Italian White Beans are cooked low and slow with a bit of sage and garlic, resulting in plump, yet firm beans that are delicious dressed with a bit of olive oil or served on top of crostini.
Italian White Beans
Pesto Couscous
This Pesto Couscous Recipe combines fluffy and chewy Israeli couscous with basil pesto to give you an easy yet sophisticated side dish or light main course. You’ll love its addictive Italian flavors!
Pesto Couscous
Easy Lemon Pasta
This easy Lemon Pasta is deliciously tangy and creamy, plus it comes together in under 15 minutes!
Lemon Pasta
Grilled Bell Peppers
Learn how to make perfectly tender and blistered Grilled Bell Peppers at home! It’s one of the best and easiest side dishes you can add to burrito bowls, fajitas, or pair with grilled meats.
Grilled Bell Peppers
Sous Vide Asparagus
How to cook perfect asparagus sous vide. Bright green, perfectly cooked spears. With three options for flavoring – garlic, parmesan or lemon.
Sous Vide Asparagus
Parmesan Polenta
This Creamy Parmesan Polenta recipe makes a delicious side dish. Irresistibly delicious with parmesan cheese, but simple to make with just 5-ingredients: polenta, parmesan, milk, chicken broth and butter. Yum!
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
Spinach Rice
This quick and easy Spinach Rice recipe is a tasty way to sneak more greens onto your plate! A green spinach paste is stirred into fluffy and flavorful white rice, instantly upgrading this simple side dish with deliciously savory flavors.
Spinach Rice
Pea mint puree
This delicious pea mint puree makes a great side dish for scallops that looks so pretty on a plate.
Get the RECIPE from Everyday Delicious
Pearl Couscous with Tomatoes
Tomato Couscous is an amazing side dish full of flavor. Toasted pearl couscous is tossed with a burst tomato sauce and finished with a squeeze of lime for a delightful tang. Yum!
Israeli Couscous with Tomatoes
Instant Pot Rice
With these tips you’ll see it's simple to learn how to cook perfect rice using the Instant Pot rice setting. The result is fluffy & flavorful rice that’s easy to prepare with minimal measuring.
Instant Pot Rice
Mediterranean Tomato Cucumber Salad
This Tomato Cucumber Salad features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed in a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette, every bite is bursting with refreshing Mediterranean flavors!
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Traeger Grilled Asparagus
Learn how to smoke asparagus on a Traeger or pellet grill/smoker! This Traeger Asparagus recipe is foolproof and yields tender-crisp, delightfully smoky asparagus every time.
Traeger Asparagus
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon Tarragon Aioli are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Dip them in an easy-to-prepare creamy aioli flavored with tarragon and lemon.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto
This always rich and warming Butternut Squash Risotto is the perfect meal for fall. Roasted squash, creamy and tender rice, and fresh sage come together to form dreamy and heavenly flavors in every bite.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Mustard and Parmesan is tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette and makes a delicious, crunchy side dish.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
This copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad is bursting with flavor. Beautifully marinated cucumbers drizzled in chili oil is an outstanding vegetarian appetizer you can enjoy for any special occasion!
Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
Hawaiian Coleslaw
Hawaiian Coleslaw with pineapple, cabbage, carrots, sesame seeds and a ginger-soy lime vinaigrette brings a tropical taste to traditional slaw.
Hawaiian Coleslaw
Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons
This Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons is the perfect side dish. Sweet tomatoes combine with a tangy vinaigrette and delicious roasted lemons.
Cherry Tomato Salad
Fennel and Chickpea Salad
This Fennel and Chickpea Salad is tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette & topped with parmesan. It’s the perfect make-ahead salad for potlucks or lunches.
Fennel and Chickpea Salad
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic Recipe
Add a healthy boost of nutrients to your dinner with this easy Sauteed Spinach. Baby spinach is added to a skillet along with garlic and olive oil, then sauteed gently to create a simple side dish that pairs with any meal!
Sauteed Spinach
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and covered in a sweet and spicy kung pao sauce. Toss with roasted peanuts and red chilis for a crazy delicious spin on a classic roasted vegetable.
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Instant Pot Parmesan Risotto
Instant Pot Risotto is hands-down the best way to make risotto! It has the signature creamy, rich goodness you expect without all the stirring and fuss of making it on the stove. Plus there are 6 add-in options to make your risotto extra flavorful.
Instant Pot Risotto
Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad
This Kale Caesar Salad is topped with crispy homemade croutons and parmesan cheese. Massaging the creamy garlic dressing into the kale makes it extra tender and delicious.
Kale Caesar Salad
Italian Radicchio Salad
This delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese. And, a special tip ensures that your radicchio won't be bitter!
Italian Radicchio Salad
Red Cabbage Coleslaw (No Mayo)
Red Cabbage Slaw is a super simple side dish recipe made without mayo. It’s tangy, delicious and crunchy.
Red Cabbage Slaw
The BEST Arugula Salad Dressing
This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
Arugula Salad
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Learn how to make the BEST Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. This pressure cooker corn on the cob recipe uses a simple, secret ingredient to guarantee that your corn is sweet, tender and delicious!
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Mint Peas
Looking for a fresh, flavorful, and oh-so-simple side dish? Try this Mint Peas recipe! Sweet green peas are upgraded with butter, savory aromatics, fresh mint, and zesty lemon to give you a vibrant dish that pairs beautifully with any meal.
Minted Peas
Blistered Shishito Peppers Recipe
These Blistered Shishito Peppers are the perfect finger food. They’re so easy to make too. Lightly seasoned and slightly smoky, you’ll find that most are mild… one out of every ten might surprise you.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
Thai Cucumber Salad with Peanuts
This Thai Cucumber Salad with Peanuts is crunchy, sweet & tangy. It's a refreshing salad that can be made ahead of time and is perfect for the warm summer months.
Thai Cucumber Salad
Apple Celery Root Slaw
Apple Celery Root Slaw is an exciting twist on your basic coleslaw. Crisp apples and celery root combine with jalapeno, cilantro & pickled onions. It's sure to be a stand out side dish!
Apple Celery Root Slaw
Grilled Broccolini with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This grilled broccolini is topped with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette and marcona almonds for a delicious crunch. It’s a perfect side dish for autumnal menus or Thanksgiving.
Grilled Broccolini
Instant Pot Artichokes
Instant Pot Artichokes are quick and easy to make with the help of your electric pressure cooker. Plus, this recipe gives them SO much flavor!
Instant Pot Artichokes
Shaved Fennel Salad
This Fennel Celery Salad comes together quickly and has such a delicious light lemon-parmesan vinaigrette and wonderful crunch. It's the perfect side salad for rich and hearty dishes like pasta or braised short ribs.
Shaved Fennel Salad
Sauteed Snap Peas
Make your meals pop with a side of Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas! In this easy recipe, you’ll learn how to cook fresh snap peas to crisp-tender perfection in a sizzling hot skillet with just olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper.
Sauteed Snap Peas
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these scallop side dish recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Side Dish Recipes
Sauces for Scallops
- More → 15+ Sauces for Scallops
Wine Pairings for Scallops
- An un-oaked Chardonnay will be perfect. Its butteriness and hints of citrus will pair very nicely.
- Pinot Gris has a nice acidity will cut through the rich scallop dishes and help to brighten the citrus flavor even further.
- Sparkling wine is always a welcome choice. Here are some budget friendly sparkling wine options.
Did you Make Any of These Scallop Side Dishes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what to eat with scallops. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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PS – Be sure to check out these 15+ Sauces for Scallops too!
Full Recipe
What to Serve with Scallops: 40+ BEST Sides
Wondering what to serve with scallops for dinner? This handy guide covers all of the best sides for scallops – from fresh vegetables to risottos, and more! Try these Seared Scallops with Sweet Pea, Lemon & Tarragon Risotto!
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Serves 4 people
Ingredients
Risotto:
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 cups bone broth (or chicken stock)
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups chopped leek (about 2)
- 1/2 cup chopped shallot (about 1 )
- 1 cup Arborio rice (uncooked)
- 1/4 cup dry vermouth or white wine
- 1/2 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Seared Scallops:
- 12 large sea scallops
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring bone broth or chicken stock to a simmer in a small saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. Add leek and shallots to pan, cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Add rice and cook 1 minute, until it becomes translucent. Add vermouth and allow to evaporate, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 ladle of stock and cook until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining stock, 1 ladle at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of stock is absorbed before adding the next (about 25 minutes total). Stir in frozen peas and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, tarragon and butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat 1/2 cup of oil until shimmering. Pat the scallops dry and season with salt and pepper. Add the scallops to the skillet and cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Add the butter to the skillet. Turn the scallops over and cook just until white throughout, 2 minutes longer.
- To serve: Plate the risotto into four bowls, top each with three of the seared scallops. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 551mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1195IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 3.8mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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