Air-Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 30 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
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

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.

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.

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
Recipe Creator

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