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.
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.