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This Air Fryer Scallops recipe includes all the tips you’ll need to make them successfully. Quick and easy like Pan Seared Scallops, all you need are four ingredients and less than 15 minutes.
Why Make Air-Fried Scallops
- Quick and easy: this easy air fryer recipe, which has very simple ingredients, is no-fuss. Simply preheat your air fryer, season the scallops, and air fry for an easy dish. Make this quick meal for a scallop dinner, a special occasion, or for whatever you prefer.
- Option for those in small spaces or times when you don’t want to cut on the stove: If you’ve ever tried to cook while moving or cook in a place with a small or limited kitchen, having air fryer recipes like this is a great option.
Ingredients Needed
- Jumbo or Large Scallops: this easy recipe works best with scallops that do not have added salt solutions. The ingredients are just scallops. I used regular, fresh sea scallops, not bay scallops. Also, for best results, use fresh scallops or dry-packed scallops (if possible).
- Garlic Butter: you can use melted garlic parmesan butter or top these scallops with my lemon butter garlic sauce or cajun garlic butter sauce.
- Olive Oil
- Cajun Seasoning: this is a homemade spice mix that goes well on my Cajun Shrimp Alfredo, Air Fryer Pork Chops, and Air Fryer Cajun Wings.
How to Cook Scallops in an Air Fryer
- Prepare your scallops & preheat the air fryer: Pat dry your wet scallops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. (Remember to remove any side muscle). Then, toss the scallops in seasoning and oil while you preheat the air fryer to help get a light sear.
- Put the scallops in the hot air fryer basket: Be sure to place the seasoned scallops in a single layer. I leave the scallops on one side longer than the other for appearance, but you can divide the time evenly on both sides.
- Turn the scallops over and continue to cook.
- Top the cooked scallops with lemon butter garlic sauce, melted garlic parmesan herb butter, or just melted butter (if that’s your preference).
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Top Cooking Tips & FAQs
- Preheat your air fryer: To get a nice sear and ensure that your scallops start cooking immediately, it is important to preheat your air fryer. Some air fryers have a preheat setting. Others, like the Ninja Foodi, do not. So, you’ll have to turn the air fryer on without food for about 5 minutes.
- Don’t overcook trying to get a super browned sear: Preheating the air fryer helps the scallops get some color. But, scallops don’t brown in the same way that they do in a pan. So, don’t keep the scallops in longer than recommended to brown them.
- Use raw dry scallops: this recipe works best with scallops that do not have added salt solutions. The ingredients are just scallops. The added solutions actually will prevent your scallops from browning in the air fryer or a pan.
- Optional: A great way to add extra flavor to these delicious scallops is to use fresh herbs like fresh parsley to top your air fryer sea scallops. You can also use fresh lemon for lemon zest and fresh lemon wedges to squeeze fresh lemon juice over them.
How to Store Easy Air Fryer Scallops
If you have any leftover scallops from this easy scallop recipe, the best way to store them is in an airtight container or a dish covered tightly in plastic wrap for next time (up to 5 days).
Yes. I personally prefer to sear them though as searing produces the best overall browning and taste.
It takes about 4-5 minutes of cooking time to air fry scallops.
No. I would not recommend cooking scallops from frozen. Similarly, you should not put frozen lobster tails in the air fryer. You can cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer though.
I rinse my scallops off before cooking to get rid of any surface dirt.
Recipes to Enjoy This With
After making these Ninja Air Fryer Scallops, you can turn them into a complete meal with these easy side dish recipes:
More Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Air Fryer Scallops Recipe
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb scallops, Sea Scallops, raw. This recipe works best with scallops that do not have added salt solutions. The ingredients are just scallops.
- 2 tbsp garlic butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer on 400 degrees for 5 minutes. The goal is to get the basket very hot to create a sear.
- Pat the scallops dry and remove the muscle if it’s there.
- Add the scallops, olive oil, and cajun seasoning to a bowl. Toss to coat.
- Put the scallops in the hot air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
- Turn the scallops over and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Plate the scallops (with the most seared side facing up). Top with melted garlic butter.
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Recipe Notes
- Preheat your air fryer: To get a nice sear on your scallops and ensure that your scallops start cooking immediately, it is important to preheat your air fryer. Some air fryers have a preheat setting. Others, like the Ninja Foodi, do not. So, you’ll have to turn the air fryer on without food for about 5 minutes.
- Don’t overcook trying to get a super browned sear: Preheating the air fryer helps the scallops get some color. But, scallops don’t brown in the same way that they do in a pan. So, don’t keep the scallops in longer than recommended to brown them.
- Use raw dry scallops: this recipe works best with scallops that do not have added salt solutions. The ingredients are just scallops.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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