Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (2024)

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By Karly Campbell on | Updated | 11 Comments

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These air fryer scallops are quick and delectable. They are coated in a simple lemon butter sauce that really takes the scallops over the top. In just 15 minutes you will be able to enjoy a scallop dinner to rival any restaurant!

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (1)

In my town, there is only one restaurant that I go to when I’m craving scallops. I have tried them at a few places, but only one local join gets them right.

So excited to have nailed scallops at home…using the air fryer, no less!

This recipe is simple, quick, and fool proof!

And that lemon butter sauce? Heaven!

I can even make more air fried seafood for those who may not love eating scallops with some chili lime shrimp or air fryer cod!

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (2)

Table of Contents

Ingredient Notes:

Scallops– Don’t be intimidated if this is your first time picking out scallops. It is super easy to choose fresh scallops. We like to buy the dry scallops because they are more affordable by weight. We also like medium sized scallops. You can see in our pictures they are about double the size of the head of a spoon. This will typically be called a bay scallop or a small seas scallop.

Seasoning– Start with butter and you will also use lemon juice, salt, pepper, chives, and garlic.

How to make scallops in the air fryer:

  • Rinse your scallops off then dry them thoroughly.
  • Season the scallops with salt and pepper on each side.
  • Spray a little bit of oil in your air fryer basket then place the scallops in the basket spread apart so air can get to all sides of the scallop.
  • Cook for 10 minutes total and flip them half way through the cooking. Check after 7 minutes to see if they are done. They will have an internal temp of 145 degrees F when they are fully cooked.
  • While the scallops are cooking in the air fryer, you can throw the garlic and butter in a microwave to melt it.
  • Then add lemon juice and chives (optional) and stir it all together.
  • Drizzle the lemon garlic sauce on the scallops after removing them from the air fryer
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (3)

Answer a question:

How do you choose the right scallops?

For this recipe you want to choose the dry scallops from your market. They should be firm and smell fresh. You can use frozen also if you thaw them first.

What do scallops taste like?

Scallops are a seafood that are a bit of delacacy similar to how crabs or lobster might be. They offer a sweet tender flavor and the scallops are good at taking in whatever you flavor them with as well. So for this recipe you will get a slightly sweet, buttery, garlic flavor with a hint of lemon. Sooooooo good!

How long will scallops last in the fridge?

Scallops are best within just 1 day of purchase, but you can push it two days if you must. If you are shopping more than two days before cooking, you will need to freeze them. Just thaw them out completely before cooking.

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (4)

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More recipes you might like:

  • These air fryer roasted potatoes are perfect for garlic butter lovers!
  • You can also add delicious garlic butter to air fried mushrooms!
  • These scotch eggs in the air fryer are another delectable treat you can make in your air fryer!
  • Perhaps for desert you could add air fryer pineapple!
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (7)

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (8)

Air Fryer Scallops

Created by: Karly Campbell


Course Main Dish

Cuisine Seafood

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

6 scallops

These scallops are really easy to make and season with garlic butter. They go from your fridge to your plate in just 15 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 6 fresh scallops
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives

Instructions

  • Rinse scallops and dry thoroughly.

  • Season the scallops with salt and pepper on both sides.

  • Prepare the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the scallops in the basket, evenly apart.

  • Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping them over halfway through cooking.

  • While the scallops are cooking, add garlic to the butter and melt in the microwave or stove top. Add the lemon juice and chives and stir together.

  • When the scallops are done cooking, place them on a plate and drizzle the lemon garlic butter over them. Serve immediately.

Notes

Be sure to get dry scallops for this recipe.

This is great served with a white rice and your favorite steamed vegetable. Keep it simple with scallops and let them steal the show!

This recipe makes 6 scallops, but you can double the entire recipe as needed to serve your family.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 927mg

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Nena says

    Pardon my ignorance lol. But what is a dry scallop?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      They’re scallops that are fresh and packed dry. Some scallops are soaked in a solution of water and phosphate to keep them white.

      Reply

  2. Fred says

    Looks delicious

    Reply

    • Chad Campbell says

      Thank you! I hope you try them, everyone loves them!

      Reply

  3. Capt. Jerry J. Batchelder says

    Preheat Air Fryer to 400 or not?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      We don’t often bother to preheat the air fryer. It’s not necessary in this recipe. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Terri Larimore says

    I’m wondering if I can substitute shrimp for the scallops. I am not a scallops fan.

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Hi Terri! We have a shrimp recipe here that might help. The cook time and temp is different, so you’d want to make those adjustments. https://airfried.com/maple-bourbon-glazed-shrimp/

      Reply

  5. Delmy Wilemon says

    Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (9)
    Lovely just what I was looking for.

    Reply

  6. Pip says

    Yum yum! I have a bag of scallops in my freezer. Could I use them? I’m thinking I could cook them from frozen. What do you think?

    Reply

    • Karly says

      Hi Pip! I would thaw them first. 🙂

      Reply

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Scallops Recipe | Airfried.com (2024)

FAQs

Are scallops good in the air fryer? ›

A quick and impressive dinner, scallops turn succulent and tender in the air fryer. The lemon-herb sauce drizzled on top is the perfect way to bring zest to each bite.

Why do you soak scallops in milk before cooking? ›

Scallops, like many other types of seafood, can have a mild fishy odor that some people find off-putting. Soaking scallops in milk before cooking can help alleviate this odor. Milk can neutralize or mask the fishy smell, resulting in a milder scent.

What is the best cooking method for scallops? ›

extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil is very hot and shimmering. Use tongs to gently place the scallops in the pan, leaving plenty of room around each scallop. Cook scallops, undisturbed (repeat: do not move them), until they are deeply golden-brown on the first side, 3–4 minutes.

Is it better to fry scallops in oil or butter? ›

Let that butter brown a bit. Then the scallops go in. Scallops are low-fat and high in protein with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioXidant. while I recommend cooking them in butter for the best Sear,you can cook them in vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil if prefeerd.

Should you rinse scallops before frying? ›

Give your scallops a quick rinse to remove any grit, then thoroughly pat dry with a few paper towels, as excess moisture will inhibit searing. For added insurance, you can dry your scallops in the fridge for an hour or two before cooking.

What happens if you don't rinse scallops? ›

A: You should always rinse scallops thoroughly to remove grit, but there shouldn't be so much grit that you have to soak them. In fact, soaking isn't recommended because the scallops can absorb water and get soggy, less flavorful and difficult to sear properly.

How long should I soak scallops in milk? ›

In a medium bowl, rinse scallops in water. Drain. Cover scallops with milk and let sit in refrigerator for 2 hours. When ready to prepare, drain the milk and place scallops on paper towels to dry completely.

Should you salt scallops before cooking? ›

Thankfully, we have you covered: Dry Your Scallops: We mentioned this before, but it bears repeating—be sure to dry your scallops before placing them on the pan. Season Them Before You Cook Them: You should sprinkle your salt and pepper onto your scallops before cooking, not during or after.

How many scallops per person to eat? ›

How many scallops should you serve? If you're serving scallops as a main course with sides, plan on around 6 ounces per person. That would be 4-6 large (U10) sea scallops and 8-10 medium sized.

Are scallops better grilled or fried? ›

While grilling scallops may sound crazy, it's actually the perfect way to cook them! Quick, high heat is ideal for a food that you want to be certain not to overcook, and a light, quick kiss of char and smoke brings these gorgeous shellfish to life.

Are scallops better grilled or sauteed? ›

Pan seared scallops are largely heralded as the best way to cook scallops. This method of cooking scallops features a skillet with some butter or oil over medium high heat. The scallops get seasoned with some salt and pepper before placing them on the skillet.

Should scallops be room temperature before cooking? ›

Place scallops on rimmed baking sheet lined with clean dish towel. Place second clean dish towel on top of scallops and press gently on towel to blot liquid. Let scallops sit at room temperature for 10 minutes while towels absorb moisture.

Do you season scallops before or after cooking? ›

Season your scallops on both sides with salt and pepper RIGHT before cooking. If you do it any sooner, the salt will draw out their moisture, making them wet again and preventing caramelization. A cast iron skillet is perfect for pan-searing scallops since the cast iron holds heat so well.

Are fried scallops unhealthy? ›

Scallops are rich in protein and nutrients that promote heart and brain health. Although they may accumulate certain heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium, they're overall considered safe.

Are scallops better grilled or pan seared? ›

Generally, the best way to cook scallops is searing them. Seared scallops are cooked on the stovetop, usually in a cast iron skillet to get an excellent sear, using butter or oil to get them nice and crispy. The result is a crisp, golden brown exterior with a delicate balance of savory, tender scallops inside.

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