Sea scallops are incredibly quick and easy to prepare in the air fryer. Perfectly cooked and succulent scallops are dusted with cajun seasoning and then served with garlic butter for a seafood dish that rivals any seafood restaurant. But at a fraction of the cost!
I love sea scallops, they are probably one of my top 5 favorite foods ever. Which makes it really frustrating to spend over $40 for a scallop entree at a restaurant and not have them cooked the way I like! Especially when they are so easy to make at home and can be on the table in less than 15 minutes.
Traditionally most people pan sear scallops, but this air fryer recipe makes cooking perfect scallops absolutely foolproof! I love serving this scallop dish with Asparagus Risotto on the side for a classy and upscale, but super easy meal.
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound of sea scallops
A pound of scallops will yield about 12-16 scallops, which means this recipe will yield about 2 to 3 servings of 5 or 6 scallops. If all that is available in your area is bay scallops, you can still make this recipe work. Just cook them half the time directed as they are much smaller.
- Cajun seasoning, adds so much flavor and just a touch of heat
- Paprika
- And lemon wedges to serve, if desired
For the garlic butter you’ll also need:
- A half stick of butter, melted
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- Parsley
Step by Step Instructions:
- If you’re working with frozen scallops, make sure they are completely thawed first. Frozen scallops do not work well in the air fryer.
On one side of the scallop you will find a little flap of crescent shaped muscle. This muscle is tough and chewy, so it’s best to remove it before cooking. Just gently pull it off to remove it.
2. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel.
3. Season the scallops on both sides with the cajun seasoning and paprika.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and spray with a non stick cooking spray. You’ll want to evenly space the scallops in the basket so the air can circulate freely.
4. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook another 3 minutes. If you’re unsure if your scallops are completely cooked, you can cut one in half. It should be opaque through the center. But you can also check the internal temperature. Scallops are done when they reach a temperature of 125 degrees.
5. Mix butter garlic sauce.
6. Toss with Garlic butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon to serve.
Tips on leftovers and reheating:
Scallops are really easy to overcook and when they have been overcooked they will have an unpleasant and rubbery texture. For this reason, it can be hard to reheat scallops. Some people will enjoy their leftover scallops cold, like in a salad. However, if this doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, you can reheat in the air fryer. Brush the tops with melted butter to keep them from drying out too much and heat for 1-3 minutes at 400 degrees or just until they have rewarmed.
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Air Fryer Scallops
Sea scallops are incredibly quick and easy to prepare in the air fryer. Perfectly cooked and succulent scallops are dusted with cajun seasoning and then served with garlic butter for a seafood dish that rivals any seafood restaurant. But at a fraction of the cost!
Ingredients
- 1 pound sea scallops
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
For the Garlic Butter:
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ½ tsp parsley
Optional:
- Fresh lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Pat the scallops dry using paper towels. Locate the crescent shaped muscle on the scallop and gently pull it to remove. Discard the muscle portion.
- Season the scallops on both sides with the Cajun seasoning and paprika. Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray and arrange the scallops inside so they are not touching. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook another 3 minutes.
- Mix together the garlic butter and then toss the cooked scallops in the butter before serving.
- Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Tips on leftovers and reheating:
Scallops are really easy to overcook and when they have been overcooked they will have an unpleasant and rubbery texture. For this reason, it can be hard to reheat scallops. Some people will enjoy their leftover scallops cold, like in a salad. However, if this doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, you can reheat in the air fryer. Brush the tops with melted butter to keep them from drying out too much and heat for 1-3 minutes at 400 degrees or just until they have rewarmed.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 1850mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 32g
