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Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Garlic Butter

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Perfectly cooked dry-packed sea scallops in the air fryer, finished with a bright lemon garlic butter sauce. Ready in 18 minutes with minimal splatter or timing stress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the scallops:
  • 12 large dry-packed sea scallops (about 1 lb)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • For the lemon garlic butter sauce:
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Remove the side muscle from each scallop by pinching and peeling off the small rectangular strip of tougher tissue on the side.
  2. Pat every surface of each scallop completely dry with paper towels. Set on a wire rack and air-dry 5 minutes, then pat dry again.
  3. Drizzle scallops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss gently to coat.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
  5. Arrange scallops flat-side down in the basket with at least 1 inch between each. Air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes. Do not flip scallops under 1.5 oz; flip larger scallops once at the halfway point.
  6. While scallops cook, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Stir in lemon juice and zest and keep warm.
  7. Check scallops at 6 minutes — the center should be opaque white and the exterior golden-tinged. Plate immediately, spoon lemon garlic butter over top, garnish with parsley, and serve within 2 minutes.

Notes

Dry-packed scallops are non-negotiable — wet-packed scallops release steam and turn gray and rubbery regardless of cooking method.

The double-dry step (paper towel + 5-minute air-dry + second paper towel) is the single biggest factor in achieving exterior color.

For a closer restaurant-style sear: air fry first to set the interior, then finish 90 seconds per side in a very hot cast iron pan with butter just before serving.

High-quality IQF dry-packed frozen scallops thawed overnight in the refrigerator perform identically to fresh dry-packed.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-scallops/