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You’ll love these Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Scallops. They are made with just 4 ingredients and in less than 10 minutes! It’s the perfect seafood appetizer or snack.
Table of Contents
Quick and Easy Bacon Wrapped Scallops in Air Fryer
This simple recipe takes fresh scallops and cooks them in the best way. Bacon slices paired with the crispness from the air fryer create an easy recipe that everyone will love. Once you find out how simple it is to air fry scallops, you’ll never want them any other way.
When I say that this is a user-friendly recipe, I totally mean it. Not only is it fast and easy to make, but it’s perfect for an elegant appetizer as well. That crispy bacon wrapped around the large sea scallops is delicious every single time.
The best part about this scallops recipe is that it allows you some flexibility and versatility. You can drizzle a little bit of soy sauce on top if you’re like, or keep it simple and let the scallop recipe be simple and fresh.
Air fryer sea scallops are tender and juicy and pair perfectly with slices of bacon.
Don’t forget that you can pair up with a dipping sauce or two, but it may not be needed. Sometimes, I’ll sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top to give it an extra flavor kick. It’s up to you how you want to enjoy your scallops!
Ingredients to Make Bacon Wrapped Scallops:
- Sea Scallops: Large and freshly cleaned, make sure they’re patted dry.
- Bacon: Center cut works best as it’s the right thickness for wrapping.
- Old Bay Seasoning: Adds a nice hint of spice.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground for the best flavor.
- Olive Oil Spray: Helps to crisp up the bacon without the need for excess oil
Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe card with the exact measurements needed to create these delicious scallops wrapped in bacon!
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Scallops in the Air Fryer
STEP 1 – Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
STEP 2 – Partially cook the bacon in the air fryer for 3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove and let cool on a paper towel.
STEP 3 – Prepare the scallops by removing the side muscle and patting them dry. Wrap each scallop with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Lightly spray the scallops with olive oil and season with black pepper and Old Bay seasoning.
Step 4 – Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step 5 – Cook for 8 minutes, turning halfway, until the scallops are tender and opaque, and the bacon is crispy.
STEP 6 – Serve hot and enjoy the combination of juicy scallops with crispy bacon.
NOTE: This recipe uses a basket-style 5.8-qt Cosori air fryer. All air fryers cook differently, and you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature according to your specific air fryer brand.
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Scallops
- Secure with Toothpicks: This keeps the bacon wrapped around the scallops during cooking.
- Ensure Scallops are Dry: Pat the scallops dry before cooking to ensure they get a nice sear.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Cook in batches if necessary to make sure the air can circulate freely.
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Variations
- Add a glaze: Brush with maple syrup or balsamic reduction before the final few minutes of cooking for a sweet twist.
- Try different seasonings: Experiment with garlic powder, paprika, or your favorite spice blends.
FAQs
You can! If you want to add in 1-2 tablespoons sriracha sauce, that’s the perfect way to add some heat! You can also sprinkle on some chili powder or even some red pepper flakes on top as well. Just be sure to add this to your portion, so it doesn’t make the entire main course hot!
Yes, just make sure they are completely thawed and patted dry.
You can wrap the scallops in bacon and keep them refrigerated until ready to cook.
When looking for easy air fryer seafood recipes, you should consider bacon-wrapped scallops, which are so good! They’re fun to make and are loaded with such a fantastic flavor!
More Air Fryer Recipes:
Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Appetizers
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 16 sea scallops, large, freshly cleaned and peeled
- 8 slices bacon, center cut
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
- Partially cook the bacon in the air fryer for 3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove and let cool on a paper towel.
- Prepare the scallops by removing the side muscle and patting them dry. Wrap each scallop with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Lightly spray the scallops with olive oil and season with black pepper and Old Bay seasoning.
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 minutes, turning halfway, until the scallops are tender and opaque, and the bacon is crispy.
- Serve hot and enjoy the combination of juicy scallops with crispy bacon.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I always have to modify your instructions since I use a tray type air fryer, not a basket type and a good thing with my type is that you don’t have to turn the items over since they sit on an open tray in the middle of the over so heat surrounds them constantly. But for this recipe, instead of patting the scallops completely dry, I would leave them moist and sprinkle them with pepper and Old Bay before wrapping with the bacon. Seems a waste to have to spray oil on BACON to cook it. Putting the seasoning on the scallop first means it will stay on and not fall off if you don’t spray it. Just my thoughts, works for me.
Yes, so good of you to share. Every air fryer will cook a little differently, so even if you had a basket air fryer you might have to adjust a little. So glad you know how to adjust these recipes to work for you.