Air Fryer Scallops with Vanilla Grapefruit Beurre Blanc

Air Fryer Scallops are tender and buttery with a simple salt and pepper seasoning and topped with a vanilla grapefruit beurre blanc!

Course Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine American, French

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 13

Total Time 28

Servings people

Calories 299kcal

Pat the scallops dry and sprinkle with the 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 and a few grapefruit segments (optional).

Combine all the ingredients, except the butter, in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
Simmer 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. (Make sure to add the butter slowly or you risk the sauce breaking).
Serve over top of scallops.

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 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).