Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops
Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops bring a gentle sweetness from tender scallops balanced by smoky paprika, chili powder, and a touch of cayenne heat. The quick air-fry gives a lightly crisp exterior while keeping the centers succulent, perfect for weeknight dinners or topping tacos, salads, and lettuce wraps. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon or a cool crema for contrast.
- Prep5 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 55 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 3 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 45
- Heart Health
- 55
- Metabolic
- 11
- Digestive
- 29
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- 2
In a bowl, mix bay scallops, smoked paprika, chili powder, olive oil, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until evenly coated; then place them in the air fryer basket.
- 3
Air fry until the scallops are cooked through, about 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- Calories 118.36 kcal Moderate 6%
- Protein 20.61 g Good Source 41%
- Carbohydrate 3.8 g 1%
- Total Fat 3.66 g Low Source 5%
- Saturated Fat 0.59 g Low Source 3%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 40.93 mg Moderate 14%
- Sodium 178.86 mg Moderate 8%
- Dietary Fiber 0.06 g Low Source 0%
- Total Sugars 0.07 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 22.11 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 0.41 mg Low Source 2%
- Potassium 6.24 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 30.51 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 4.18 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Spicy Air Fried Bay Scallops is made with 7 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 15 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Garlic Powder. Each serving provides about 118.36 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Olive Oil. The full list of 7 is above.
- How long does it take to make Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops?
- About 15 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 118.36 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 7 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops healthy?
- Spicy Air-Fried Bay Scallops has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 118.36 calories and 20.61 g of protein, or 41% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 178.86 mg (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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