Air Fryer Scallops with Vanilla Grapefruit Beurre Blanc

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These Air Fryer Scallops are tender and buttery with a simple salt and pepper seasoning and topped with a vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc! You’ll love this recipe as an appetizer or part of a main meal!

The air fryer is a great way to prepare sea scallops! It’s quick, easy and a little less messy than cooking them on the stovetop!

While I normally serve them as an appetizer for dinner parties, you can also serve them with risotto, pasta or salad, or even pair them with this sous vide filet mignon for a special date night!

And, can we talk about the vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc?! It’s a rich and flavorful sauce that adds an amazing buttery texture to the scallops. If you’re looking to take your scallops to the next level, this sauce is what you need!

Once you’ve tried these air fryer scallops, I also highly recommend these sous vide scallops with lemon butter sauce, these broiled scallops and this delicious scallop scampi!

And, if you want to try other air fryer recipes, here are a few of our favorites lately:

Check out the air fryer scallops story for a little fun!

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Why this recipe works

Scallops are an impressive appetizer for a dinner party and making them in the air fryer is super quick and easy!
The vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc is sweet, tangy and buttery! You’ll seriously want to serve this butter sauce with all of your seafood dishes!
This scallop recipe is restaurant quality but making it at home means it’s much less expensive!

Side view of air fried scallops on a plate.

What is beurre blanc?

Beurre blanc is an emulsified French butter sauce. It has a sweet and tangy flavor thanks to the addition of white wine and vinegar and a rich buttery taste. You’ll often see it served with seafood but it also goes well with chicken or vegetables.

What are sea scallops?

Sea scallops are large scallops that have been harvested from cold, deep waters. They differ from bay scallops which can be three times smaller, and normally found in shallow bays or estuaries.

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.

You’ll need 1 pound of sea scallops for this recipe. I usually go with fresh but you can also use frozen as long as you defrost them first and pat them dry.

You may also want to opt for dry scallops, which are natural scallops with no chemical additives. This differs from wet scallops, which have been treated with a phosphate solution.

The beurre blanc ingredients include grapefruit juice, white wine, champagne vinegar, vanilla bean, salt and butter.

For the grapefruit juice, I prefer freshly squeezed, but store-bought works too, just make sure it’s sugar-free.

For the white wine, you’ll want a dry, crisp white wine like a pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. Avoid wines marketed as cooking wines.

If you don’t have champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar will also work.

To add a hint of vanilla, you’ll need a 1-inch piece of vanilla bean. If you don’t have beans, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Butter is the key ingredient for this sauce. I prefer to use unsalted so I can control the amount of salt in the sauce. For the best sauce, you'll also want the butter to be cold.

Step by step instructions

Pat the scallops dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.

Place the scallops in the basket in a single layer and lightly spray with oil.

Cook at 400F degrees for 6 minutes, tossing halfway through to ensure they're not sticking.

Serve drizzled with the vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc (see below) and a few grapefruit segments (optional).

How to make vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc

Combine all the ingredients, except the butter, in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced to about 1 ½ tablespoons of liquid.

Turn down the heat to low and whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, until each tablespoon is melted.

Serve over top of scallops.

Expert tips

The scallops have a simple salt and pepper seasoning. While you can add more or different seasonings, be careful not to overdo it. You want the flavor of the beurre blanc to shine through!
Scallops won’t get golden brown in the air fryer like they do when they’re seared on the stovetop.
For even cooking, air fry the scallops in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this may require more than one batch.
To make sure the scallops don’t stick onto the air fryer basket, lightly spray the basket and scallops with oil.
When using oil, make sure you use a good quality spray oil (not PAM or equivalent) to avoid damaging the air fryer. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill it with my favorite oil.
I recommend removing the side muscle on your scallops before cooking as it can be tough. This is just a little flap of tissue that can easily be torn away.
If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should preheat it before adding the scallops.
Different air fryer brands and models will vary slightly, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
When making the sauce, make sure the butter is cold and you add it slowly. This will ensure stable emulsion for the sauce.
You’ll also want to remove the sauce from the heat as soon as it’s done. Overheating the sauce can break it (cause it to split or separate).

Overhead view of air fryer scallops on a plate.

Common questions

What’s the best temperature to air fry scallops?

Since scallops are usually cooked over high heat, 400F degrees works well to cook them in the air fryer.

How do you know when scallops are done?

Scallops will look opaque when they're done. The internal temperature should be 125-130F degrees.

Can you air fry scallops from frozen?

For the best results, defrost frozen scallops before air frying. Just defrost in the fridge overnight and pat dry to remove excess moisture.

How many scallops do you plan for per person?

It depends on their size and what they are being served with, but I usually allot 4-6 scallops per person.

How do you fix a broken beurre blanc sauce?

A beurre blanc is emulsified, so if the butter is added too quickly or the sauce is overheated, it may split or separate. To fix this, whisk in a few ice chips or a little cold water, and the sauce should re-form.

Storage and reheating

Leftover scallops can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat, warm them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 400F degrees. They overcook quickly so be careful not to reheat them for too long.

What to serve with scallops

To make it a meal, we love it with this Instant Pot wild rice or dirty rice.
They’re also perfect with black truffle risotto or to add to this creamy salmon pasta.
For side veggies, scallops are great with sous vide broccoli, air fryer carrots or Instant Pot Brussels sprouts.
If you want to pair it with another protein, try these Instant Pot beef short ribs.
For dessert, I highly recommend this sous vide creme brûlée!

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!