Air Fryer Garlic Butter Lobster & Scallops

This Air Fryer Garlic Butter Lobster & Scallops is an elegant seafood dinner featuring tender lobster tails and perfectly cooked scallops coated in a rich garlic butter sauce. It’s ready in under 25 minutes and is perfect for date night or special occasions.

Ingredients

Seafood

2 lobster tails (5–6 oz / 140–170 g each)
12 large sea scallops, side muscle removed
1 tablespoon olive oil

Garlic Butter

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

For Serving

Lemon wedges
Fresh parsley
Melted butter (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 3–5 minutes.
Pat the lobster tails and scallops completely dry with paper towels.
Using kitchen shears, cut through the top shell of each lobster tail and gently pull the meat up so it rests on the shell.
In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, paprika, Old Bay (if using), salt, pepper, and parsley.
Brush the lobster tails and scallops with olive oil, then coat generously with the garlic butter mixture.
Arrange the lobster tails and scallops in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them.
Air fry at 380°F (193°C):
- Lobster tails: 8–10 minutes, until the meat is opaque and reaches 140–145°F (60–63°C).
- Sea scallops: 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until opaque and they reach 125–130°F (52–54°C).
Brush with any remaining garlic butter immediately after cooking.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Cooking Time

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8–10 minutes
Total Time: 23–25 minutes

Servings: 2–4

Tips

Dry the scallops thoroughly before cooking to help them brown better.
Choose similarly sized scallops so they cook evenly.
Avoid overcooking—both lobster and scallops can become tough if cooked too long.
Serve with garlic bread, roasted asparagus, steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh green salad.
For extra richness, drizzle with additional warm garlic butter just before serving.