Place scallops on paper towel-lined plate and gently pat dry.
Preheat the air fryer to 400° F. When the the air fryer is hot, place bacon strips in a single layer and par cook for 3 minutes.
Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut the bacon strips in half. Wrap a cut bacon strip around each scallop and secure with a toothpick. Continue this process until all of the scallops are prepared.
Place the scallops on the air fryer tray. Cook the scallops for 4 minutes at 400° F. Flip them and cook for an additional 4 minutes.
To Make the Dipping Sauce
While the scallps are cooking, prepare the garlic butter sauce. Melt the butter in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Add the minced garlic and stir to combine. Chop some fresh parsley for garnish if desired.
Immediately remove the scallops from the air fryer and transfer them to a serving dish. Sprinkle them with fresh-ground black pepper and a pinch of salt. Garnish with chopped parsley and drizzle the sauce over them.
Notes
There is no need to grease the air fryer tray as the bacon has already greased it.
Place these on a pre-heated serving dish to keep them warmer, longer!
Smoking can occur when bacon is cooking. If you are making multiple batches of bacon I recommend draining the drip tray of the bacon grease before proceeding with the next batch. Be Careful when working with hot bacon grease.