Tiffany Haney
Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops are an easy, delicious, and elegant dish that can be whipped up in less than 20 minutes. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can create a juicy, tender, and flavourful appetizer that is perfect for any gathering or weeknight meal. The key to success is in the preparation: ensuring the scallops are dry, the bacon is partially cooked, and the combination is secured with toothpicks before air frying to crispy, golden perfection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Scallops, Bacon, Olive Oil, Toothpicks, Pepper, Paprika, Maple Syrup, Balsamic Reduction, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Chili Powder, Sriracha Sauce |
| Preparation | Preheat air fryer to 350-400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Partially cook bacon in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove and let cool on a paper towel. Prepare 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 or brush the scallops with olive oil and season with pepper, paprika, and other seasonings. |
| Cooking | Place scallops in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-13 minutes, turning halfway, until the scallops are tender, opaque, and slightly firm to the touch, and the bacon is crispy and cooked through. |
| Serving | Scallops can be served hot or warm with a squeeze of lemon. They can be enjoyed on their own or paired with creamy pasta, rice, or salad. |
| Storage | Store leftover scallops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer and prepare the basket
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer, prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. If you are using a tray-style air fryer, you can skip this step.
Place the bacon in the air fryer and partially cook it for 2-4 minutes. Flip the bacon halfway through so it cooks evenly. The bacon should be soft and pliable, not crispy. Remove the bacon from the air fryer and place it on a paper towel to cool. If your air fryer has a lot of grease in the bottom, you may want to wipe it out.
While the bacon is cooling, prepare the scallops. Remove any side muscles from the scallops and pat them dry with paper towels. If you are using frozen scallops, ensure they are completely defrosted before cooking. Choose scallops that are evenly sized, firm, and fresh-smelling.
Now you are ready to assemble the scallops and bacon! Cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and then lengthwise to make 12 strips. Wrap one bacon strip around each scallop, overlapping the ends slightly. Secure the bacon in place with a toothpick or skewer, pushing the pick through the opposite side of the scallop.
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Partially cook the bacon
Partially cooking the bacon is an important step in this recipe as it allows the bacon to crisp up without overcooking the scallops. To do this, place the bacon in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 2-4 minutes, turning halfway through. The bacon should be slightly cooked but still pliable so that it can be wrapped around the scallops. It is important to note that the bacon should not be crispy at this stage.
After partially cooking the bacon, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a paper towel to cool. It is important to ensure that the bacon is cooled completely before wrapping the scallops, especially if you are making this dish ahead of time and refrigerating it.
The number of slices of bacon you will need depends on the size of your scallops. If your scallops are large, you may need one slice of bacon per scallop. If they are smaller, you may only need half a slice of bacon per scallop. Cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and then lengthwise to make strips.
Once the bacon is partially cooked and cooled, you can start wrapping it around the scallops. Remove any side muscles from the scallops and pat them dry with paper towels to remove any moisture. Wrap each scallop with a slice of bacon, overlapping the ends slightly, and secure it with a toothpick. You can also thread the scallops and bacon onto short skewers.
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Prepare the scallops
Preparing the scallops is a crucial step in this recipe to ensure the best results. Firstly, pat the scallops dry with paper towels. This step is important as it ensures that the scallops get a nice sear and brown up nicely in the air fryer. Next, remove the side muscle from the scallops. This step improves the overall texture and presentation of the dish.
Now, you can season the scallops. You can brush each scallop with olive oil and then season with black pepper, paprika, and salt to taste. Alternatively, you can sprinkle them with pepper and Old Bay seasoning before wrapping them in bacon. This ensures that the seasoning sticks to the scallops and doesn't fall off.
Finally, wrap each scallop with a slice of bacon. If your scallops are large, you may need a whole slice of bacon per scallop. For smaller scallops, half a slice of bacon should be enough. Overlap the ends of the bacon slightly and secure the bacon in place with a toothpick or skewer. You can also try different seasonings like garlic powder, chilli powder, or your favourite spice blends.
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Wrap the scallops in bacon and season
Wrapping the scallops in bacon is a simple process. First, cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and then lengthwise to make four strips from each rasher. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and season with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. You can also add other seasonings like Old Bay, paprika, or garlic powder. Wrap each scallop with a strip of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. If you're using frozen scallops, make sure they're completely defrosted before cooking. You can also brush the wrapped scallops with maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.
If you want to get ahead, you can prepare the bacon-wrapped scallops up to this stage and keep them refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking. This can be a real time-saver if you're planning a dinner party or want to prepare a tasty snack to enjoy later in the week. When you're ready to cook, simply follow the remaining steps to air-fry your bacon-wrapped scallops to perfection.
When wrapping the scallops, it's important to ensure that the bacon is secure and won't unravel during cooking. Using toothpicks or short skewers to hold the bacon in place is a simple and effective solution. Insert one or two toothpicks into each wrapped scallop, depending on its size and the security of the bacon. This will ensure that your scallops stay neatly wrapped and cook evenly in the air fryer.
For an extra touch of flavour and to ensure the bacon crisps up nicely, you can spritz or brush the scallops with olive oil before seasoning. This will also help the scallops to brown and develop a delicious crust during cooking. Be sure to season lightly, as you don't want to overpower the delicate flavour of the scallops. A little salt and pepper can go a long way!
Finally, if you're feeling adventurous, you can experiment with different glazes and seasonings to create unique flavour profiles. A drizzle of maple syrup or a brush of balsamic reduction in the final few minutes of cooking can add a sweet and tangy twist. Alternatively, try sprinkling on some chilli powder or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative and find your favourite combinations.
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Cook the scallops in the air fryer
First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. You can also preheat to 350°F or 375°F, depending on your air fryer and personal preference. Prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
Partially cook the bacon in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. The bacon should be soft and pliable, not crispy. Remove and let cool on a paper towel.
Prepare the scallops by removing the side muscle and patting them dry with a paper towel. Wrap each scallop with half a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick or skewer. You can also brush the scallops with olive oil and season with black pepper, paprika, Old Bay seasoning, or salt to taste.
Place the scallops in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway, until the scallops are tender and opaque, and the bacon is crispy. The scallops are cooked when they are slightly firm to the touch.
You can also finish the scallops with a drizzle of maple syrup, a squeeze of fresh lemon, or a balsamic reduction.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 10 minutes to cook scallops wrapped in bacon in an air fryer. However, you will also need to partially cook the bacon in the air fryer for around 3 minutes before wrapping it around the scallops.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. If you are using frozen scallops, ensure they are completely defrosted before cooking.
First, pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and/or Old Bay seasoning. Cut the bacon slices in half crosswise and then lengthwise, wrap a strip of bacon around each scallop, overlapping the ends slightly, and secure with a toothpick.
Store leftover scallops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can also place the bacon-wrapped scallops in a freezer-safe container and keep them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
