⭐ Introduction: A Restaurant-Quality Seafood Dinner Made Easy

There are some dishes that instantly make you feel like you’re dining in a 5-star restaurant. Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops is one of them. Tender lobster meat, perfectly seared scallops, and a rich garlic-infused butter sauce come together to create a luxurious meal that tastes indulgent but takes surprisingly little time to prepare.

What makes this dish so special is the simplicity of the ingredients paired with the elegance of the final result. You don’t need complicated steps or fancy equipment. In fact, with just a skillet and a few fresh ingredients, you can create a seafood masterpiece that looks—and tastes—like it came straight from a high-end steakhouse.

In this complete 1,500+ word guide, you’ll learn:

• How to prepare lobster and scallops perfectly
• Why garlic butter works so beautifully with seafood
• Step-by-step cooking instructions
• Common mistakes people make with scallops & lobster
• Pro chef tips for a golden sear
• Variations (creamy, spicy, lemony, Cajun, etc.)
• Serving ideas & side dishes
• Storage & reheating guide
• A printable-style recipe card

Let’s begin our seafood journey.

🦞 Why This Dish Works: Flavor, Texture & Simplicity

✔ The Magic of Garlic Butter

Garlic butter is one of the simplest yet most flavorful sauces ever created.
It enhances seafood because:

• Butter adds richness
• Garlic adds aroma
• Lemon adds brightness
• Herbs add freshness

It coats lobster and scallops beautifully without overpowering their natural sweetness.

✔ Lobster + Scallops = A Perfect Pair

Both are:

• tender
• sweet
• mild in flavor
• quick to cook
• luxurious

Together, they create a balanced seafood plate: lobster adds meatiness, while scallops bring a delicate melt-in-your-mouth feel.

✔ Fast Cooking + Big Flavor

This entire dish takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. Yet the results taste like hours of preparation.

🛒 Ingredients — What You Need & Why Each Matters

Below is the classic recipe for Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops.

🦞 Seafood

• 2 lobster tails (or 8–10 oz lobster meat)
• 8–10 large sea scallops (dry scallops preferred for best sear)

Important: Dry scallops sear better. Wet (preservative-treated) scallops release water and steam instead of browning.

🧈 Garlic Butter Sauce Ingredients

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Optional Flavor Add-Ons

• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (for spicy version)
• A splash of white wine
• Lemon zest for brightness
• Red pepper flakes
• Thyme or rosemary

🔪 Preparing the Seafood Properly

✔ How to Prepare Lobster Tails

1. Cut the shell open using kitchen shears.
2. Gently lift the meat above the shell (for easier cooking).
3. Rinse lightly and pat dry.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.

✔ How to Prepare Scallops

1. Pat scallops completely dry using paper towels.
2. Remove the small side muscle if attached.
3. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
4. Keep cold until ready to sear (cold scallops = better crust).

🍳 How to Make Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops (Step-by-Step)

🔹 STEP 1 — Melt the Garlic Butter

In a skillet, add:

• Butter
• Olive oil
• Garlic

Sauté gently (don’t brown the garlic).

Add lemon juice, paprika, and a pinch of pepper.
This becomes your flavor base.

🔹 STEP 2 — Cook the Lobster

Place lobster tails meat-side down in the skillet.
Cook 3–4 minutes until color deepens.

Flip, spoon the garlic butter over them, and cook another 3–5 minutes depending on size.

Lobster is cooked when:

• meat is opaque
• internal temp hits ~135°F
• flesh becomes firm but still tender

Transfer lobster aside but keep warm.

🔹 STEP 3 — Sear the Scallops (Golden Crust!)

To get a beautiful crust:

1. Heat skillet to medium-high.
2. Add a tablespoon of butter and oil.
3. When pan is hot, place scallops down without moving them.
4. Sear for 1½–2 minutes.
5. Flip and cook another 1 minute.

A perfect scallop has:

• caramelized top
• tender, slightly translucent center
• golden edges

Do NOT overcook scallops—they turn rubbery fast.

🔹 STEP 4 — Combine & Serve

Place lobster and scallops back into skillet.
Spoon more garlic butter over top.
Garnish with lemon or parsley.

Serve HOT immediately.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops pairs wonderfully with:

🥔 Starches

• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Buttered rice
• Lemon pasta
• Risotto

🥦 Vegetables

• Roasted asparagus
• Steamed broccoli
• Grilled zucchini
• Sautéed spinach

🍞 Breads

• Garlic bread
• Soft dinner rolls

🍋 Sauces

• More garlic butter
• Lemon cream sauce
• White wine reduction

This dish is rich, so light sides create a perfect balance.

🌈 Variations to Explore

🔥 1. Cajun Garlic Butter Version

Add Cajun seasoning to scallops & lobster.
Spicy, smoky, bold.

🍋 2. Lemon Butter Seafood

Add extra lemon juice + lemon zest.
Bright & refreshing.

🌿 3. Herb Garlic Butter

Add thyme, rosemary, basil, or tarragon.
Perfect for herb lovers.

🍷 4. White Wine Garlic Butter

Deglaze pan with ¼ cup white wine.
Creates a silky, restaurant-style sauce.

🥥 5. Creamy Garlic Butter Seafood

Add ½ cup cream to the butter sauce.
Rich and velvety.

🧠 Pro Tips for the Best Results

✔ Use dry scallops

Better sear. Greater flavor.

✔ Pat seafood dry before cooking

Water ruins browning.

✔ Don’t overcrowd the pan

Crowding = steaming, not searing.

✔ Keep heat medium-high

You want a crust, not pale seafood.

✔ Spoon butter over seafood as it cooks

Keeps everything moist & flavorful.

✔ Use high-quality butter

Makes a noticeable difference.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

🧊 Storage & Reheating Guide

✔ Storing

Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container for 1–2 days.

✔ Reheating

Seafood reheats poorly if overheated. Best methods:

• Warm gently in skillet with butter
• Heat at low power in microwave
• Avoid reheating scallops too long

✔ Freezing

Not recommended — scallops turn rubbery.

📜 Recipe Card: Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops

Ingredients:

• 2 lobster tails
• 8–10 sea scallops
• 6 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt & pepper
• Fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Melt butter + oil + garlic in skillet.
2. Add lemon juice + paprika.
3. Cook lobster tails 6–8 minutes total.
4. Remove lobster, increase heat.
5. Sear scallops 1–2 minutes per side.
6. Return lobster to skillet.
7. Spoon garlic butter over everything.
8. Garnish & serve hot.

🏁 Conclusion: A Seafood Dinner Worth Celebrating

Garlic Butter Lobster and Scallops is more than a recipe—it’s an experience. Rich, flavorful, luxurious, and incredibly easy to prepare, it transforms any evening into a special occasion.

Whether you’re cooking for your family, hosting guests, or treating yourself to something extraordinary, this dish promises melt-in-your-mouth goodness in every bite.

Enjoy the elegance, the simplicity, and the unforgettable flavor.