4.99 from 90 votes

Air Fryer Scallops

Tender, juicy air fryer scallops with lightly browned edges and a buttery finish. This quick seafood recipe cooks in just a few minutes with no breading needed.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 191kcal

Author: Davinah

Equipment

Ninja Foodi

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 click for my recipe
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp cajun seasoning click for my recipe

Instructions

Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
Prep the scallops: Pat the scallops very dry and remove the side muscle, if present.
Season: Add the scallops, olive oil, and Cajun seasoning to a bowl. Toss to coat.
Air fry: Add the scallops to the hot air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400°F for 3 minutes.
Flip: Turn the scallops over and cook for 1–2 minutes more, or until opaque and tender.
Finish: Plate the scallops with the most browned side facing up. Spoon the melted garlic butter over the top.

Notes

Preheat your air fryer: A very hot basket helps the scallops start browning right away, so you can get more color without extending the cook time.
Use dry scallops: Choose raw scallops without added salt solutions. Ideally, scallops should be the only ingredient listed on the package.
Pat them very dry: Removing surface moisture helps the scallops brown instead of steam.
Don’t overcook for color: Air fryer scallops won’t develop the same deep crust as pan-seared scallops. Remove them once they’re cooked through rather than leaving them in longer to brown.
Try another butter: The steak garlic butter is my default, but Cajun garlic butter or lemon garlic butter also work well.

Nutrition