Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Butter

Air fryer scallops with lemon butter are so succulent and tender! They turn out perfectly cooked, never dry or chewy, and are ready in just 10 minutes! They are topped with the perfect lemon butter sauce to give them the most incredible flavour that is as good as any five star restaurant. 

Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Butter

Why you will love these air fryer scallops with lemon butter: 

• The taste! They turn out so succulent and tender and the lemon butter sauce takes these scallops to the next level of tastiness
• They are so easy to make. They’re ready in under 10 minutes and you don’t have to worry about grease getting all over your counters and stove top like you do when frying them
• You only need a few simple ingredients to make these scallops and the lemon butter sauce. I bet you already have all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry!
• These scallops are healthy and naturally low in carbs. They are perfect for anyone but are also great if you are following a special diet like keto, paleo or Whole30!

Want an air fryer but aren’t sure which one to get? I use and love the Chefman 6.3 Quart Air Fryer!

Key Ingredients and Equipment for Making Scallops in an Air Fryer: 

• An air fryer –  I use and love the Chefman 6.3 Quart Air Fryer!
• Scallops – I used frozen scallops that I thawed but if you can find fresh scallops that’s even better!
• Butter – scallops are just so much better when topped with butter! 
• Lemon juice – to make the best lemon butter sauce – I used freshly squeezed lemon juice but you could also use bottled lemon juice 
• Dried thyme – to give the lemon butter sauce that extra special taste

Tips for making air fried scallops: 

• Every model of air fryer is different, so you may have to adjust the cooking time if you are using a different model than I do. 
• Depending on the size of your scallops you may have to adjust the cooking times – for larger scallops add a bit of time, for smaller scallops use less time
• If you are dairy free simply use melted coconut oil instead of butter 
• Feel free to add different herbs to the lemon butter sauce to give it a different flavour 
• Store these scallops in the fridge for up to 24 hours – they are best eaten when first cooked

How to make these scallops in a basket style air fryer: 

First rinse and dry the scallops and sprinkle both sides with a little salt and pepper. Then place the scallops in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are evenly spaced. Cook them at 400F for 10 minutes, flipping them half way through. Then transfer the scallops to a plate or bowl and top them with the lemon butter sauce. 

Frequently asked questions: 

What goes well with scallops? 

So many things! You could easily just eat these scallops on their own or you could serve them over a bed of rice, cauliflower rice, risotto, sweet potato rice or pasta. They could be served with a salad or your favourite coleslaw. Some other side dishes that pair really well with scallops are French fries, roasted potatoes, steak, cooked broccoli, green beans, or your favourite soup. 

Should scallops be soaked before cooking? 

That depends on the type of scallops you buy. If you buy “dry” scallops, or those without any chemical additives I simply give them a rinse first. However if you buy “wet” scallops, or those with added chemicals then it’s best to soak them in a solution of 1 quart cold water, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of table salt for ~30 minutes. 

Want an air fryer but aren’t sure which one to get? I use and love the Chefman 6.3 Quart Air Fryer!

OTHER AIR FRYER RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE: 

• Air Fryer Salmon Cakes
• Air Fryer Onion Rings
• Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
• Air Fryer Broccoli 
• Air Fryer French Fries 

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5 from 2 votes

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Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Butter

Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Butter are such a succulent dish that is always a crowd pleaser. They're so easy to make and the clean up is a breeze!

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Fish, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword carnivore, easy scallops, sea food

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 81 kcal

Ingredients

• 400 grams scallops
• salt (to taste)
• ground black pepper (to taste)

Lemon Butter Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

Scallop Instructions

1. Rinse and dry the scallops and sprinkle both sides with a little salt and pepper

   

2. Transfer the scallops to the tray of your air fryer and cook at 400F for 8-10 minutes

   

Lemon Butter Sauce

1. While the scallops are cooking you can make the lemon butter sauce by placing the butter in a microwave safe dish and heating in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Then stir in the lemon juice and thyme.

   

2. Once the scallops are done cooking,drizzle the lemon butter sauce over the scallops and enjoy

   

Recipe Notes

1. Depending on the size of the scallops you use you may have to adjust the cooking time
2. If food tends to stick to your air fryer, give it a spray with cooking oil before placing the scallops in it 

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon Butter

Amount Per Serving

Calories 81 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 26mg9%

Sodium 408mg18%

Potassium 235mg7%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 13g26%

Vitamin A 38IU1%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 28mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.