Air fryer bay scallops is an easy yet elegant recipe that makes any night feel special! The bite-size bay scallops are bathed in a delicious sauce made with melted butter, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning, and cook in a quick 10 minutes. Pair buttery air fried scallops with pasta, risotto, or any favorite carb-y side dishes for a dinner that is as refined or rustic as you like!
Also try my old bay salmon in air fryer recipe, its delicious and cooked to perfection.
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You often find scallops on the menus of high-end restaurants and served at special occasions. They are considered a luxurious ingredients that can be a bit tricky to cook perfectly golden and fork-tender... However, with this air fryer bay scallops recipe it is easy to make beautifully cooked scallops at home, any time and every time.
Cooking scallops in your own kitchen is convenient, and lets you control the flavors and portions. (Not to mention, home cooking is much more budget-friendly!) You need only a handful of ingredients, and are mostly pantry staples like melted butter, lemon, and a few key spices.
We combine these to create a simple but incredibly flavorful sauce to pour over the scallops as they air fry. But honestly, you'll want to pour this irresistible sauce over all sorts of savory foods!
Prep takes barely any time, and the bay scallops are air fried lightly crisp and buttery in only 10 minutes. So while they will be very impressive to guests, you'll love how practically effortless the scallops are to cook and serve with any number of side dishes. If you like any type of seafood dishes like i do, you need to try this snow crab salad. Ready in 10 minutes!
Recipe ingredients
Bay scallops. These are smaller than sea scallops. One pound is about 60-80 bay scallops, so they are more like one-bite popcorn shrimp-size.
Butter. Coating the scallops in melted butter makes them incredibly succulent. Use unsalted butter so you have complete control over the saltiness of the dish.
Lemon juice. Bright and tangy fresh lemon juice balances the saltiness of the scallops and richness of the butter. It also lightly tenderizes the meat so that each bite melts in your mouth.
Italian seasoning. The combination of dried spices like oregano, basil, and garlic adds a delicious earthy and savory flavor to the scallops.
Salt and pepper. Use just a pinch to taste when first seasoning the scallops. You really want the seafood to shine, so go easy on the spices.
How to cook air fryer bay scallops
To prepare this delicious dish, start by gathering your ingredients: one pound of bay scallops, a tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper according to your preference.
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Begin by warming up your air fryer to a toasty 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While that's heating up, take a moment to season your scallops with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then, give them a nice toss with some melted butter to ensure they're well-coated and ready for cooking.
Once your air fryer is preheated, place the scallops inside and let them cook for about five minutes. While they're getting crispy and golden, mix up some additional melted butter with a splash of lemon juice, a bit of garlic, and the Italian seasoning for a burst of flavor. This mixture will be drizzled over the scallops later for an extra zing.
After the initial five minutes of cooking, it's time to add that zesty butter mixture you just prepared. Pour it all over the scallops, making sure they're evenly coated. Then, pop them back into the air fryer for another round of cooking. This time, you'll want to leave them until they turn perfectly opaque, which should take about five more minutes.
Following these simple steps will result in a mouth-watering dish of bay scallops, seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. Enjoy your culinary creation!
Leftovers and reheating
If you have any air fryer bay scallops leftovers, just place them in the air tight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Seafood is best when eaten freshly cooked though.
For reheating use air fryer or microwave. Just you need to remember that scallops can get dry easy so do not overheat when reheating.
Side dishes
I like to enjoy scallops as a light appetizer. But it can totally be a main dish if you add some steamed rice or mashed potatoes. Scallops are also delicious in a light vegetable salad drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. Scallop are used in lots of pasta dishes as well.
Expert tips
- If cooking bay scallops from frozen, first place them in air fryer and heat to 4 minutes at 400 degrees. After, drain water form the air fryer. Add butter lemon garlic mixture and stir. Air fryer for additional 5 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Do not overcook your bay scallops. They will become dry and hard to chew. If not sure, use an instant meat thermometer. Cooked seafood should be at 125 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part.
Frequently asked questions
Properly cooked scallops are lightly golden brown on the outside. The meat is opaque, meaning that it isn't clear-raw nor solid white. To be sure, you can use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. Air fried scallops should reach an internal temperature of 125 degrees.
Yes, it is a good idea to clean scallops first to get rid of any little bits of sand and grit. Rinse them under cool, gentle running water... You don't want high-pressure water to destroy the delicate scallop meat!
Yes, you can make this air fryer bay scallops recipe with frozen scallops!
If using frozen scallops, do not thaw first... Thawing will release a lot of moisture and could potentially make the bay scallops mushy. Simply prep like you would fresh scallops, then increase the cook time by about 1-2 minutes per side. More on this in the recipe notes.
Yes, flip the scallops one time halfway through cooking. This helps them to cook perfectly even on all sides. It is also a great opportunity to check on the doneness of the scallops, so you can adjust the remaining cook time if needed. Instead of flipping you can simply shake the basket.
Butter is the better option, in my opinion. The richness is delicious with the mild sweet flavor of bay scallops. Melted butter also creates that beautiful lightly browned color on the outside of the scallops when air fried.
More seafood recipes
- Turkey bacon wrapped scallops
- Broiled walleye, quickly broiled to perfection.
- Halibut cheeks
- Hamachi kama, broiled and caramelized
- Corvina ceviche, make it with only freshest fish.
- Baked salmon belly, great quick recipe for salmon belly with teriyaki sauce.
Hope you will like this air fryer bay scallops recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Air Fryer Bay Scallops
Ingredients
- 1 lb bay scallops
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Season the scallops with salt, pepper, and mix with some melted butter.
- Cook in the air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Mix additional melted butter with lemon juice, garlic, and Italian seasoning, then pour over scallops.
- Finish cooking until scallops are opaque, about 5 more minutes.
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