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Pan Seared Scallops are quick and easy, but can you make scallops in the air fryer? Yes and this Air Fryer Scallops recipe includes all the tips to make them successfully. All you need are four ingredients and less than 15 minutes.
Why Make These
- Quick and easy: this recipe is no-fuss. Simply preheat your air fryer, season the scallops, and air fry.
- 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 Scallops: this recipe works best with scallops that do not have added salt solutions. The ingredients are just scallops. I used regular sea scallops, not bay scallops
- Garlic Butter: you can use melted garlic parmesan butter or top these scallops with my lemon butter garlic 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 Make Air Fryer Scallops
- Prepare your scallops & preheat the air fryer: toss the scallops in seasoning and oil while you preheat the air fryer to help with getting a light sear.
- Put the scallops in the hot air fryer basket: 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 scallops with lemon butter garlic sauce or melted garlic parmesan herb butter.
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.
Yes. I personally prefer to sear them though as searing produces the best overall browning and taste.
It takes about 4-5 minutes to cook scallops in the air fryer.
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.
This depends on the cooking method. However, this recipe is 4g net carbs, making it keto-friendly.
Recipes to Enjoy This With
More Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
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Air Fryer Scallops Recipe
Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!
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.
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. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
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