Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Scallops wrapped in bacon and grilled with maple syrup on wood slab and wood chips with green salad

4.25 from 4 votes

Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Scallops are tender, buttery sea scallops wrapped in thin-cut bacon, kissed with cherry wood smoke, and brushed with maple syrup for a sweet-savory finish. The bacon gets smoky and sizzling while the scallops stay delicate, juicy, and just cooked through.

Serve them hot off the grill as an appetizer, seafood main, or special-occasion bite with a crisp salad or grilled vegetables on the side.

Prep Time20

Cook Time8

Total Time28

Course: Seafood

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon, bacon wrapped scallops, maple syrup, scallops, smoked, smoked bacon

Servings: servings

Author: Joshua Boquist

Ingredients

12 U10 dry sea scallops *see notes
6 strips bacon thin cut
2 tsp salt Kosher
1 tsp white pepper
4 ounces smoked maple syrup or regular maple syrup

Instructions

Begin by preparing the grill. If using a charcoal grill load the chimney starter with charcoal and ignite. Allow the charcoal to burn until all of the charcoal is covered with a layer of fine gray ash, about 20 minutes. Build a thin layer of fire by spreading the coals evenly over the bottom of the grill and allow the grill to heat up to 400°F.
Build a smoke pack using cherry wood chips. Take a small piece of aluminum foil and wrap 2 handfuls of wood chips into a bundle. Pierce the aluminum foil in a couple places and place on top of the charcoal.
If using a gas grill or pellet grill ignite it and allow it to heat up to 400°F.
For frozen scallops, remove them from the package and place them, in one layer, on a wire rack set over a plate or baking sheet, cover with a sheet of parchment paper and transfer to the refrigerator to thaw. When ready to cook, proceed as follows:
For fresh or thawed scallops, place scallops on a large plate that has been lined with a double layer of paper towels. Salt liberally and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Using more paper towels, pat the scallops on all sides as dry as possible. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Take the 6 strips of bacon and slice in half. Take each half strip of bacon and wrap the scallops. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon in place so it doesn’t unravel.
Brush the alder wood smoked maple syrup onto the scallops.
Place the scallops on the preheated grill and cook for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, flip the scallops and brush the other side with the alder wood smoked maple syrup and cook for the remaining 4 minutes.
To serve, remove the scallops from the grill and remove the toothpicks. Place on a plate and serve alongside a fresh garden salad.

Notes

Scallops that are sized U-10 means that fewer than 10 scallops add up to 1 pound. Each scallop will weigh about 2 ounces each.

If you are using smaller size scallops, adjust the cooking time to 2-3 minutes on each side.

Nutrition