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Scampi-Style Steak & Scallops with Roasted Asparagus

Published . Last updated by 63 Comments

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Scampi-Style Steak & Scallops with Roasted Asparagus is an impressive dish and takes only 30 minutes in the kitchen to prepare. 

Tenderloin steak seared in butter and finished with scallops in subtle accents of lemon zest, white wine, garlic, and fresh basil is surf-n-turf heaven.

Pan seared steak and scallops with a garnish of basil leaf and asparagus served on a white dinner plate.

You won’t believe how easy it is to skip crowded restaurants and enjoy a date night dinner at home.

The key is quality ingredients, so choose fresh lemon and herbs, large scallops, and tenderloin steaks—beef tenderloin (the wider end of the loin) or filet mignon (the small, forward end of the loin) is the ideal cut for its tenderness and ease of preparation.

Of course, this recipe works just as well with jumbo shrimp if sea scallops are not available.

Close-up of filet mignon and scallops with a basil leaf garnish with asparagus.

Make your Date Night Dinner for Two as stress-free as possible.

Have you ever gone out on Valentine’s Day for a romantic dinner only to be disappointed by the noise level of the restaurant, food that didn’t quite measure up, or felt rushed by the waitstaff to move along for the their next seating?

A romantic dinner for two at home is less hassle and a lot more intimacy.

  • Set the table and prep all the ingredients before you begin because the cooking process will take about 20 minutes.
  • While the asparagus roasts (recipe below), you will be busy at the stove with the scallops and steak, both should be done about the same time.
  • Slice a crusty loaf of bread with this special meal so you can soak up and savor every lemon-garlic-buttery bite.

Photo collage of beef steak in a skillet, turned and scallops added.

Print Recipe

Scampi-Style Steak & Scallops

Tenderloin steak and scallops seared in butter then finished in subtle accents of lemon zest, white wine, garlic, and fresh basil.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Beef, Main Dish, Seafood
Cuisine: Italian American
Servings: 2 people
Author: Judy Purcell

Ingredients

For the Steak & Scallops

  • 10 ounces beef tenderloin steaks 2 (5 ounce) steaks, 1 1/2-inch thick
  • 1 teaspoon Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 4 ounces sea scallops 6 large scallops, rinse and pat dry

For the Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup finely chopped green onions (about 4 scallions), white and light green part
  • 3 large garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil cut into thin strips
  • 1 tablespoon minced parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
  • Dash hot pepper sauce
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Season steaks with salt and pepper. In a 10 to 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat until hot and bubbly (more can be added, if needed). Add steaks to skillet and brown on one side for 4 to 5 minutes. (At this point, begin the sauce in another small, non-reactive skillet or wide sauce pan as described in step 2.)
  • Turn the steaks on end and rotate to brown the sides (this will take about 3 minutes), then turn over to brown the final side for 4 to 5 minutes.
    When turning the steak to brown the last side, add scallops to the skillet to brown at the same time, about 2 minutes on each side.
  • *If making the roasted asparagus, now is a good time to slide it under the broiler for 10 minutes.
  • To make the sauce in the separate skillet, sauté onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat 3-4 minutes, until fragrant. Add wine and lemon juice; simmer to reduce slightly, 1-2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons butter and stir until melted into the sauce. If the steak and scallops are not yet done, slide the scampi sauce off heat until they are ready.
  • Once the scallops are browned on each side, stir the fresh basil, parsley, lemon zest, and hot pepper sauce into the scampi sauce. Reduce heat to low, add the scallops, spooning the sauce over the scallops. Once the steaks reach an internal temperature of 125°F (the rare side of medium-rare), add to the pan with the scampi sauce and spoon sauce over the steaks.
  • Divide the steaks and scallops evenly between two plates and serve immediately, spooning more sauce over both the scallops and the steak.

Video Displays Here or In Post

Notes

  • You'll need two skillets for this recipe so the steak and scallops can cook at the same time as the sauce. I recommend a *cast iron skillet for searing the steak and scallops and *stainless steel (non-reactive) for the sauce. *These links are Amazon affiliate links. See our Disclosure policy here.
  • If you are not familiar with scallops, here is a helpful guide to selecting quality sea scallops at Sally's Place.

Nutrition

Serving: 1steak and 3 scallops | Calories: 709kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 56g
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Roasted asparagus in a cast iron pan.

Asparagus can be roasted on a cast iron pan on top of the stove or in the oven.

Use your blender to make this quick hollandaise sauce for the asparagus.

Raw asparagus ready to be roasted for a Steak and Scallop dinner side dish.
Print Recipe

Roasted Asparagus

Fresh asparagus roasted in the oven in less than 10 minutes for a simple and tasty side dish.
Prep Time2 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time12 mins
Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3
Author: Judy Purcell

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces asparagus -- ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Position top oven rack in the middle of the oven, approximately 12 inches under broiler and turn broiler on HI. Prepare asparagus by trimming fibrous ends. Arrange asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet so that each spear is touching the pan and separate. Drizzle with olive oil and roll asparagus to coat well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Set asparagus under the broiler for 10-12 minutes, checking and turning (rolling 1/4 turn) asparagus every few minutes until lightly browned in spots and crisp tender. Cook slightly longer if a softer texture is preferred.

Notes

To roast asparagus more quickly, position oven rack just 6 inches below broiler, roast for 5-6 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 5ounces | Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 3mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g
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Just-as-easy elegant dessert for two:

Try these bite-size Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents and pair the best wine with your romantic dinner recipe with these tips from Wine Folly.

Strawberry with cheesecake filling and white chocolate drizzled on top, on a platter with a green leaf beside it.

Another amazing date night dinner for two is our Amazing Crab Leg Dinner at Home.

More Side Dish Recipes for a Steak and Scallop Dinner:

Roasted Asparagus with Caramelized Onions & Blue Cheese
Grilled Cabbage with Classic Caesar Dressing
Tuscan Roasted Broccoli
Caesar Salad: A Tableside Classic
Vegetable Tian: Classic Gratin Comfort
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Garlic Aioli

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Comments

  1. Cami says

    5 stars
    Can’t thank you enough for this recipe! Celebrating a birthday during the quarantine has been hard… but my boyfriend making me this for dinner made it so special and delicious! We had red wine alongside and it was to die for! Thank you for the fantastic easy to follow recipe! Xo

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Cami, thank you for taking the time to stop by and let me know how much you enjoyed it—that makes my heart so happy! I understand exactly what you mean about trying to celebrate birthdays, our family has three this month and it’s been tough being apart. I am so glad this dinner helped make your day more special! Birthday blessings to you!

      Reply

  6. Kimberly says

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing and so simple/easy to follow instructions for even those who don’t cook often. 🙌🏼 We enjoyed this for Valentine’s Day. Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      You’re welcome, Kimberly! Thank YOU so much for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed the recipe. It makes my day to know it was part of your Valentine’s dinner too!

      Reply

  8. Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri says

    5 stars
    Oh wow! Now THIS is a super special meal! Scampi-style is the best and I LOVE that it’s served with asparagus on the side (my favorite!). Such a fun, romantic meal – totally something my husband would devour.

    Reply

  11. Ramona Nolan says

    Made this tonight for my hubby after two non-stop months. We worked every night and weekend getting our house ready to be put on the market and it sold in less than 48 hours, then the buyer wanted a two week closing, and then we made an emergency 1300+ mile trip back to Michigan for his dad’s passing. This is the first night we have been together alone and he loved the meal. I added Mojitos (his favorite) and Salted Caramel gelato, chocolate covered strawberry and a piece of toffee to finish it off. He said the meal was perfect. Thank you for sharing! Found this link on Pinterest! Will be following you now!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Ramona! Oh my, I know exactly what you mean about that moment you finally connect after going non-stop during a project … and I’m so sorry for your loss.
      Thank you for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed this recipe! It sounds like you finished it perfectly with stellar dessert. 🙂

      Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Brittney, that is a great question! For medium-well steaks, you will add 1-2 minutes per side, or at a finishing internal temperature between 142-145°F (measuring with an instant-read thermometer is ideal). And wait an extra minute to add the scallops. Once the steaks reach an internal temperature of 142°F (the medium side of med-well), add to the pan with the scampi sauce for another minute and spoon sauce over the steaks.
      Let me know if this helps! Enjoy!

      Reply

  14. Eve says

    OMGGGGGGG Made this for Christmas Dinner tonight– with a side of white cheddar potato gratin, and it was absolutely steak house heaven quality!! Hubby is over the moon!! (Did the sauce and asparagus a little ahead of time, which let me focus on the steaks and scallops at the time.

    Thanks for this delicious recipe– it was FAB!!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Oh Eve, thank you so much for taking the time to stop back by and let me know how much you liked it! I like your side dish idea of white cheddar gratin — yum! It makes my day to know one of my recipes brought people together. 🙂

      Reply

  15. James says

    Loved it! I cooked this to a T for my girls(wife and daughters) for date night… in remembrance of titanic (20years) PERFECT meal for a perfect occasion…. thank you

    James

    I have a photo to share if you want

    Reply

  16. Alexis says

    I’ve wanted to do a surf-and-turf dish for a while but have always been a little intimidated by shellfish. This didn’t take too, it was fairly straightforward. The sauce I thought was really good. My only critique and you can ignore it if you want because I eventually figured it out, and maybe if I read through a couple of times I’d have been fine, but going from step 2, to step 4. Moving from the sauce pan to the scallop pan was a little confusing to me. I’m not used to cooking with that much butter so I wasn’t sure if we were going to use the leftover stuff in the scallop pan at all, or not. So I was a little confused, and I don’t usually read well ahead, I just start cooking and read as I do it. So it could very well be all on my end.

    Overall really liked the recipe, thanks for giving us something simple and delicious.

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Alexis! Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully provide such detailed feedback — I would never ignore comments from my readers. I’m sorry you experienced confusion while preparing the recipe, I will give it my best effort to refine and make that part more clear. Again, thanks for letting me know and helping me make Savoring Today recipes better. 🙂
      I am so glad you enjoyed the dish!

      Reply

  18. Amelia says

    This was delicious and impressive. Lots of extra sauce to go on the veggies. Was easy to prepare after I got all of the ingredients ready and had them on the side. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Amelia, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and let me know about your experience! I am so glad you enjoyed it and above all I hope it helped make a memorable connection with someone you love. 🙂

      Reply

  20. Mandy says

    What a magnificent meal for any occasion. Pete and I always fit in a special meal when he is home. With him away so often, we make our own special occasions. 🙂
    Have a lovely day

    Reply

  22. Joyce Ann Staples says

    5 stars
    O M G!!! How delicious does that look. I am running to the super market as we speak…large scallops are on sale and so are the steaks…MMMMMMM…can’t wait to get home and cook.

    Reply

  23. Selena says

    When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each
    time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Selena, sorry for the multiple email thing, but I don’t think it’s coming from a subscription on this end as I don’t see any subscriptions to the comments on this post. You might try deleting the subscription in your ‘manage subscription’ area to resolve it. Sometimes WordPress can be glitchy with subscriptions, sorry that I don’t see it on my end.

      Reply

  29. Caroline says

    Holy cow, Judy, that plate of food looks amazing! But really, I can’t stop staring. Those scallops are stunning…and I agree with Greg, love how buttery they look! mmm mmm

    Reply

  31. sportsglutton says

    Hi Judy…I’m finally home and have the time to catch up with my friends in the blog-o-sphere.

    That is the perfect picture that shows off the beauty of this dish. Absolute perfection…in my gluttonous opinion. 😉

    Reply

  39. Linda says

    Absolutely perfect! I love this dinner and it is such a special, romantic meal. What’s even better is that you don’t need to be in the kitchen for hours!! I’m definitely planning to make this soon!

    Reply

  41. ChgoJohn says

    This is a great looking dish, Judy, and yo’re so right about using high quality ingredients. Anything less and the dish really suffers.

    I wanted to thank you for suggesting I go to Costco for bufala mozzarella. That place never ceases to amaze me. I bought some and tonight’s dinner of eggplant parmesan will be all the better because of it. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Judy says

      Hi John, I am so glad you found it! No doubt, dinner will be delicious at your house. They have a good quality prosciutto too, just made caprese bites wrapped in it for an appetizer last weekend for a party–so good! Look forward to seeing an eggplant Parmesan post …

      Reply

    • Judy says

      Thanks Heather, you’re so sweet! If you do make it, I’d love to know how you liked it … always editing and adjusting recipes over here. 🙂

      Reply

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