I love seafood, but when you drench it in a garlic butter sauce, I swear it takes it to a whole different level. Unless you live on the coast, though, often the best way to get your seafood is frozen. So, we’re going to make some air fryer frozen scallops because it’s so easy and tasty!
Scallops are one of those things that can be tricky to get just right. Overcook them, and you’ve got some rubbery seafood on your hands! Thanks to your air fryer, though, it’s actually much easier to get them perfect (and it’s ideal for those newer to cooking seafood).
While you can totally make this recipe with fresh scallops, most people don’t have ready access to them. Instead, we’ll start with frozen scallops, and they’re going to come out just as good!
I’m using bay scallops today, but if you want to use sea scallops or want to learn more about cooking from fresh or defrosted, check out my air fryer breaded scallops recipe. It features big sea scallops with panko and parmesan for a salty, crunchy crust.
What Ingredients You’ll Need
1 pound frozen bay scallops (50-60 count per pound)
3 Tbsp butter (salted)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic (about 4-5 cloves)
Additional seasoning if desired (optional)
Salt & pepper
Lemon wedges and parsley for garnish
Special Equipment Note: This recipe comes out best if you have a small oven safe casserole, cake pan, ramekin, au gratin pan, or similar dish that fits in your air fryer that you can cook the scallops in. If not, you’ll have to cook the scallops themselves first and add the sauce after.
Ingredient Substitutions and Tips
Scallops. You can also use sea scallops, and can use fresh instead of frozen if desired. I’ll include alternate cooking times down in recipe notes
Butter. Unsalted is also fine, but you’ll want to add a little more salt to the recipe for flavor
Garlic. You can use the jarred minced garlic, roasted garlic, or mince your own fresh. It’s all delicious!
Seasoning. If you want to add some more spice, feel free to add ½ to 1 tsp seasoning (depending on taste). I like Rub With Love seafood seasoning for scallops, but you can also use Old Bay, Cajun spice, or a similar alternative you like
For an au gratin variation, add about 1/8th cup of grated parmesan to the top in the last 1-2 minutes of cooking
How to Cook Air Fryer Frozen Scallops
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Place the frozen scallops in an oven-safe dish that fits in your air fryer, breaking them up a bit if possible
Season the scallops with salt and pepper (I recommend ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper as a starting point), and any other seasoning desired
Add the olive oil, butter, and garlic around the scallops
Place the dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook the frozen scallops on the air fry setting for 9-12 minutes at 400°F, pausing to stir and flip the scallops about every 3 minutes
Scallops are cooked when the internal temperature reaches 125°F (though you should be safe up to about 145°F before they get rubbery)
Garnish with a spritz of lemon and fresh parsley
What to Serve With Bay Scallops
Cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or other seafood sauces
Can You Cook Scallops From Frozen in an Air Fryer?
Yes, you can cook scallops from frozen in an air fryer, there is no need to defrost them. Cooking from frozen adds 3-5 minutes of cooking time, depending on the size of the scallops.
While you can cook from frozen, it’s not ideal if you plan to bread them, as the extra moisture tends to make breading fall off.
How Long Does It Take for Scallops to Cook in an Air Fryer?
From fresh, sea scallops take about 10 minutes to cook in an air fryer, whereas bay scallops take closer to 5 minutes.
When using frozen, bay scallops are around 10 minutes and sea scallops are about 15 minutes to cook in an air fryer.
What Temperature to Cook Scallops in the Air Fryer?
The best temperature to cook scallops in the air fryer is 400°F. This will achieve optimal browning and even cooking.
Cooking at a lower temperature is possible, but tends to dry out the scallops and isn’t as texturally good.
Recipe Pro Tips
If you are using fresh or thawed bay scallops, reduce cooking time to 5 minutes to start
For sea scallops instead of bay scallops, cook for 6-8 minutes for fresh, or 10-15 minutes for frozen (depending on size)
My frozen bay scallops took 10 minutes to be perfectly cooked in my Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. Other brands and models may vary slightly
The scallop edges sticking out of the garlic butter sauce will brown. For a browner crust, only stir them once during cooking
If you don’t have a dish you can use in the air fryer to contain the sauce, season the scallops and cook them on their own. While scallops are cooking, melt butter, olive oil, and garlic in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove. Once scallops are cooked, add them to the sauce and serve
These tasty bay scallops with garlic butter are so easy to cook from frozen in your air fryer. Take all the guesswork out and make an easy meal anytime (even on a weeknight)!
I love to serve mine with some fettuccine or rice and some steamed broccoli to soak up that extra garlic butter, but feel free to pair it with other sides you’ll enjoy as well! This scallop recipe is Keto friendly if you don’t add a bunch of carbs when serving!
If you love scallops, make sure to check out our compilation of the best air fryer scallop recipes for some other great ideas to try!
Place the dish into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook the frozen scallops on the air fry setting for 9-12 minutes at 400°F, pausing to stir and flip the scallops about every 3 minutes
Scallops are cooked when they are opaque and internal temperature reaches at least 125°F
Garnish with a squeeze of lemon and fresh parsley
Lemon wedges and parsley for garnish
Notes
You can also substitute sea scallops, and can use fresh instead of frozen of either if desired
If you are using fresh or thawed bay scallops, reduce cooking time to 5 minutes to start
For sea scallops instead of bay scallops, cook for 6-8 minutes for fresh, or 10-15 minutes for frozen (depending on size)
My frozen bay scallops took 10 minutes to be perfectly cooked in my Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer. Other brands and models may vary slightly
The scallop edges sticking out of the garlic butter sauce will brown. For a browner crust, only stir them once during cooking
If you don’t have a dish you can use in the air fryer to contain the sauce, season the scallops and cook them on their own. While scallops are cooking, melt butter, olive oil, and garlic in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove. Once scallops are cooked, add them to the sauce and serve
Unsalted butter also works, but you’ll want to add a little more salt to the recipe for flavor then
You can use the jarred minced garlic, roasted garlic, or mince your own fresh
If you want to add some more spice, feel free to add ½ to 1 tsp seasoning (depending on taste). I recommend Old Bay, Cajun spice, or a similar seafood seasoning you like
For an au gratin variation, add about 1/8th cup of grated parmesan to the top in the last 1-2 minutes of cooking
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, seasoning amounts, and total quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
