This air fryer scallops recipe is sea scallops seasoned with lemon pepper seasoning and coated in butter. I love the flavor of shellfish but don’t love the smell of grease or the mess that comes with frying.
Make these delicious scallops for dinner and serve them with creamy coleslaw and tartar sauce!
I absolutely love easy seafood recipes and even more so if cooked in the air fryer. These scallops were super juicy, flavorful, and tender.
Why I Love These Air Fryer Scallops
- Cooks in under 10 minutes.
- High in protein and low in fat.
- Can be served as an appetizer, lunch, dinner, or snack.
Ingredient Notes
- Sea Scallops – If using bay scallops, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes instead of 6 minutes since bay scallops are a lot smaller.
- Salt-Free Lemon Pepper Seasoning – If you don’t have it on hand or aren’t a fan feel free to season the scallops with Cajun seasoning or chipotle seasoning instead. You can also simply season them with just salt and pepper.
- Paprika – Adds color.
How To Make Air Fryer Scallops
- Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Once it’s preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Season the scallops on both sides with salt, pepper, and salt-free lemon pepper seasoning. Place the scallops in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Flip after 3 minutes. Toss the scallops with some softened butter and enjoy!
Top Tips
- Make sure to pat dry the scallops with a paper towel before cooking.
- Discard the tough side muscle.
- Season generously!
Do I Need An Air Fryer To Make These?
No! You can cook these on the stovetop or in the oven. To cook these on the stovetop, heat some oil in a small skillet over medium high heat and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. To cook in the oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake for 15-16 minutes.
How Do You Know When The Scallops Are Cooked?
The scallops should look opaque all the way through and feel firm to the touch. The internal temperature should be at around 125-130 degrees F.
Storage
Store the leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Probably Enjoy
- Air Fryer Turkey Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Honey Sriracha Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!
Air Fryer Scallops
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb scallops
- 1 tsp salt-free lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp softened butter
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Once it's preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Season the scallops on both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and salt-free lemon pepper seasoning. Place the scallops in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Flip after 3 minutes. Toss the scallops with some softened butter and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to pat dry the scallops with a paper towel before cooking.
- Discard the tough side muscle.
- Season generously!
Tried scallops for the first time in an air fryer. I was very pleased with the results.
Thank you so much for this easy recipe. Anything that makes my life simpler is appreciated, these turned out perfectly!
I cook scallops a lot y many methods. Never did air fry until tonight. These were delicious and so easy to make! I can see making these a lot in the future.
Thank you!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment 🙂