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Air-Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

1 review
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

4 servings

Updated: Nov. 16, 2022
Bacon-wrapped scallops seem so decadent and fancy that often times I forget how easy they are to prepare. Paired with a pineapple quinoa, this elegant dinner can be easily prepared in under 30 minutes.—Laura Greenberg, Lake Balboa, California
Air-Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Air-Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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Ingredients

  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth
  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
  • 10 bacon strips
  • 16 sea scallops (about 2 pounds), side muscles removed
  • 1 cup drained canned pineapple tidbits

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat air fryer to 400°. Arrange 8 strips of bacon in a single layer on tray in air-fryer basket. Cook 3 minutes or until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove and set aside. Add remaining 2 bacon strips; cook until crisp, 5-6 minutes. Finely chop crisp bacon strips. Cut remaining partially-cooked bacon strips lengthwise in half.
  3. Wrap a halved bacon strip around each scallop; secure with a toothpick. Sprinkle with remaining pepper.
  4. Arrange scallops in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until scallops are firm and opaque, 8-10 minutes.
  5. Remove quinoa from heat; fluff with a fork. Stir in pineapple and chopped bacon. Serve with scallops.
Air-Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Tips

Can you use frozen scallops to make air-fryer bacon-wrapped scallops?

You can use frozen, but while frozen aren't as expensive as fresh, they also won’t be as tasty. When shopping, look for dry or natural scallops, or those that are unprocessed and have nothing added to them after harvest. We recommend using sea scallops for this recipe (rather than bay) so you get a nice-sized bite.

Do you need to flip the air-fryer bacon-wrapped scallops halfway through the cooking time?

You shouldn’t need to flip these bacon-wrapped scallops, but every air fryer is different. If you notice the bottoms seem to be browning more quickly than the tops, feel free to flip! Keep these air-fryer cooking tips in mind, too.

How can you tell when scallops are cooked?

Your scallops are done when they become firm and opaque. When in doubt, it's best to undercook them—you can always toss them in for another minute. Here's how to grill scallops to perfection.

—Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Associate Recipe Editor/Tester
Air Fryer Cook Times
In our testing, we find cook times vary dramatically between brands of air fryers. As a result, we give wider than normal ranges on suggested cook times. Begin checking at the first time listed and adjust as needed.

Nutrition Facts

4 scallops with 3/4 cup quinoa: 455 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 1717mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 41g protein.