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Simple and delicious Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta. This quick-cooking pasta is like summer in a bowl. Crisp pan-seared scallops tossed with a golden, browned butter cherry tomato pan sauce, with white wine, caramelized corn, and plenty of basil. Serve topped with creamy burrata cheese, fresh, basil, and lemon. This is the perfect summer dinner, all made using summery seafood and garden produce. Simple yet so delectable, and ready in under an hour. Most importantly…every twirl of pasta is mouth-wateringly delicious.

overhead photo of Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta with burrata

Here’s the deal, you can make tomato basil pasta just about any time of the year. But I always find it best this time of year, when the gardens are bursting with fresh basil and the tomatoes are just beginning to turn ripe enough to eat. Our local farmstand, Uncle John’s, has just started filling their delivery trucks full of sweet cherry tomatoes, homegrown in Colorado. They’re the best, sweetest little cherry tomatoes.

We love them.

And if you’ve been following along all summer, you know we are growing plenty of fresh herbs this year. Our basil and thyme are currently taking over the garden and I could not be happier about it. Basil is by far one of my very favorite herbs, probably my favorite. But I hate to choose solid favorites when it comes to food because my favorites really do change with the seasons.

Funny enough, this is a pasta I made many summers ago. But I love making it every year once the cherry tomatoes arrive towards the end of July. It’s the quickest pasta dinner to create. It would be amazing as a special Friday or Saturday night meal with your favorite glass of wine, yet it’s simple enough for any weeknight too.

It’s light and summery, but yet also a bit indulgent and very satisfying. An all-around completely delicious meal.

photo of raw cherry tomatoes

Here are the details for this summery scallop pasta.

Like a lot of my summer recipes, this pasta is simple. I used angel hair pasta because it’s what I had in my pantry. Well, wait, I have almost every kind of pasta in my pantry. Because you know I love a good pasta dinner and I love keeping the pantry well-stocked. But truth is, I love angel hair the most. My mom ingrained this into me at a very young age and I think it will always be my favorite. You can, of course, use any long cut pasta you love, but angel hair is my go-to.

The added bonus when it comes to using angle hair? It takes almost no time at all to cook up.

prep photo of sear scallops in skillet

Sear the scallops and finish things up.

Once you have the pasta boiling, get to work on the scallops. I pan-seared them simply with salt, pepper, and olive oil. The key to a good pan-seared scallop is making sure you’ve patted the scallops very dry before searing. This will ensure your scallops brown evenly on the outside, but stay soft and buttery toward the center.

Once the scallops are seared, get them out of the skillet and finish up this pasta.

To that same skillet, add those cherry tomatoes, some garlic, herbs, corn, and butter. Let the butter get a little brown and toasty, and then add a splash of wine. Yes, wine on a weekday, and it’s the best thing ever. Obviously.

Toss in the pasta, parmesan, basil, and seared scallops. And that’s it.

overhead prep photo of Burst Tomatoes in skillet

Well almost…the plating is very important and should go as follows:

Pasta, room temperature burrata, a sprinkle of lemon, and then lots of fresh basil.

Seems really fancy, right? But it’s actually so simple and is made entirely in one pan (ok, two including the pasta cooking pan). And all in under an hour.

This one is as close to perfect as a summer pasta can get.

overhead photo of Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta

Pour yourself a glass of wine, fix up a big plate of seafood pasta, and relax out on the patio or deck…the perfect summer night dinner! Sounds pretty darn good. Lovin’ the easy summer living.

And nothing’s better than buttery, herby, seafood pasta, sweet tomatoes and corn, cheese, and wine…all together in one dish. Happiest Thursday!

PS. I’ve decided that everything in the summer months is better with burrata and fresh basil…everything!

overhead close up photo of Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta with burrata

Looking for other summer seafood recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Cajun Pepper Shrimp with Creamed Corn Orzo

Garden Herb Shrimp Scampi Linguine

Lemon Parmesan Salmon with Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Lastly, if you make this Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 629 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

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Instructions

  • 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, until al dente. Just before draining, remove 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
    2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the scallops with salt and pepper. When the oil shimmers, add the scallops and sear on both sides until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the scallops from the skillet to a plate. 
    3. To the same skillet, add the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and a pinch each of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the tomatoes begin to pop, about 4-5 minutes. Add the butter and corn, cook until just browned, another 2-3 minutes. Pour in the wine and lemon juice, simmer 2-3 minutes. Add the pasta, parmesan, basil, and scallops, gently toss to combine. If needed, thin the sauce with a little of the pasta cooking water.
    5. Divide the pasta among plates and top with burrata cheese, basil, and lemon. Enjoy!
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overhead horizontal photo of Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Ok Tieghan, round two was FANTASTIC. Cooked this just now for my mom’s birthday and it was a hit. Not sure how exactly I shanked it last time, but your recipe was perfect this time. Thank you!

    Reply

  2. I should have given my skillet a quick wipe after searing the scallops. The fond ended up burning while cooking the tomatoes. The finished product was a sadly a murky brown and more bitter than anything else.

    Trying this again for sure. The flavor combos were there, I just messed up!

    Reply

  4. Oh. My. Gosh. Tieghan! This was so good. My timing wasn’t great on making it this first time, but it still came out really great. This is going into heavy rotation this summer. Truthfully from the first thing I made from you (monster Christmas cookies), every recipe has been outstanding. Thanks for so many great meals (and desserts) – Heidi

    Reply

    1. Hi Heidi,
      Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Thanks for your kind message! Happy 4th of July weekend! 🇺🇸🍓

      Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Amazing. So simple and so delicious! Made this last night and it was just the bright flavors needed on a dreary November day. Make this if you want your partner to propose to you…ha! 🙂 Thank you for another awesome recipe, Tieghan!

    Reply

    1. Hey Gretchen,
      Happy Friday!!🌻 I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it and sharing your review:) xT

      Reply

  6. 5 stars
    Excellent followed your instructions including the burrata cheese. The flavour and presentation was like fine dining. I served it the way it looks in your picture instead of blending it altogether. This is a keeper and so easy to make. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hey Chris,
      Amazing! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! Have a great Monday! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Jennifer,
      Happy Sunday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a go! xx

      Reply

  8. 5 stars
    This recipe is awesome! Despite it being the middle of January in cold and rainy England, I was craving a light and fresh pasta dish. I made this for myself and my husband and it couldn’t have been easier to pull together on a weeknight. I think he said at least 5 times as we were eating that I “nailed dinner” tonight! Gorgeous flavours and simple ingredients (many of which I already had on hand) – I’ll be adding this one to our regular rotation. Thank you!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Nancy,
      Fantastic!! I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try. Have the best week! xTieghan

      Reply

  10. Ok so we followed the recipe. I would recommend that the pasta is plated in bundles and the the last step is poured over as the pasta seems to absorb all the sauce. Adding everything looks nothing like the recipe. The tomatoes helped make an excellent sauce but when combining all the starchy things it was absorbed:/

    Reply

  11. 5 stars
    A wonderful combination of flavors from this relatively simple recipe, both rich and bright. HalfBaked Harvest has yet to disappoint, rather, these are some of the most consistently delicious meals my wife and I have made during the past year.

    Reply