Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris crossed twice while Ian Humphreys contributed 14 points with the boot against a Scarlets side missing several of frontline players to international call-ups.
McLaughlin though knows his side can play better and was particularly disappointed in the manner in which Ulster took their foot off the gas allowing the Scarlets to earn a bonus point.
"We are happy to win," said McLaughlin. "In the first half we gifted them ten points which was exceptionally disappointing, but all credit to the guys they came back against the wind to make it a two-point match before the break.
"And we continued to play well into the second half which saw us deservedly into a 24-10 lead.
"We got points in the second half and it was probably a little bit closer in the end than what we would have liked, with us having to make player substitutions as a result of the Irish management programme and rest some people ahead of next week's game, we probably became a little bit disjointed.
"Probably the area we will look at over the week will be our defence. We have been rock solid in that department this season and we were a little bit lazy at times and we will have to look at that."
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