Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (2024)

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (1)

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This is the only Lobster tails recipe you’ll ever need and it’s surprisingly easy! The broiled lobster meat iscrazy tender, juicy and each bite is tantalizingly flavorful, especially after dipping into the warm garlic lemon butter. Dunk it in, take it for a swim, watch the excess drip off your fork and enjoy.

I honestlythink this is the best thing I’ve ever cooked. THIS is the way you should eat lobster.

Make broiled lobster tails at home for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion and you’ll pay less than half of whatyou’d drop in a nice restaurant and GET THIS: it totally tastes gourmet!The garlic and dijon saucewas inspired by my wildly popular baked salmonand everyone who tries it loves it.

P.S. I also included step-by-step photo instructions on how to prepare and butterfly lobster tails so you can make the most impressive posh-looking lobster tails like a boss:).

Watch How to Butterfly and Make Broiled Lobster Tails:


This lobster tails recipe is such a treat. Easy and excellent in flavor and presentation. I hope you fall in love with this recipe as we have.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (2)

Ingredients for Lobster Tails Recipe:

4 lobster tails (5 to 6 oz each)
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, very finely chopped, plus more for garnish
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (3)

Lobster tails tend to go on sale before holiday’s like Valentines day. I found these 5 oz Lobster tails at Fred Meyer on sale for $6 each. Not bad! You can serve 4 people at $6 each or splurge on 2 people for $12 each which is still amazing for LOBSTER!!

How to Prepare/ButterflyLobster Tails:

1. Use kitchen scissors to cut through the top shell of the lobster tail, stopping at the base of the tail and snipping through the top portion of the meat as you go.

2. Flip the tail over to the back see-through side of the tail and crack the ribs in the center. This will help open the shell.

3. Open the shell using your thumbs and fingers and loosen the meat from the shell(remove vein if present). Work carefully – shells can be sharp!Lift the meat from the shell, keeping it attached at the base. Press the shell together and set the lobster meat over the top. The bulk of the lobster meat should be sitting over the top of the shell.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (4)

How to Make Broiled Lobster Tails:

1.Place rack in center of oven so when you bake, the meaty tops of your lobster tails will be at least 6 inches from the top heating elements. Preheat oven to broil on high heat.

2. In a small bowl, add the marinade ingredients: 1 Tbsp parsley, 2 pressed garlic cloves,1 tsp dijon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper, 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice. Stir to combine.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (5)

3.Place butterflied Lobster Tailsinto a 9×13 or 8×12 roasting pan. Divide the marinade evenly over the tops of each lobster tail and dot each tail all over with 1/2 Tbsp of butter cut into smaller pieces.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (6)

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (7)

4. Broil lobster tails on high 10-11 minutes (or according to the lobster tail size – see chart below). When done, lobster meat should be opaque and white in the center and register 145˚F on an instant read thermometer. Transfer lobster tails to a serving platterand garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (8)

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (9)

5. To make the Garlic Lemon Butter: drain drippings from the roasting pan into a small saucepan and combine with remaining 2 Tbsp butter, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Pour over lobster tails or divide intosmall ramekinsand use as dipping sauce.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (10)

Broiling Times for Lobster Tails:

Smaller (3 to 4 oz) lobsters 6 to 8 minutes
Medium (5 to 6 oz) lobsters 10-11 minutes
Larger (7 to 9 oz) lobsters 12-15 minutes (with rack in middle of oven)
Broillobster meat until opaque and white in the center, or 145˚F.

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (11)

⬇️ Print Friendly Lobster Tails Recipe:

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter

4.97 from 128 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (13)

This is the only Lobster tails recipe you'll ever need and it's surprisingly easy! The broiled lobster meat is crazy tender, juicy and each bite is tantalizingly flavorful, especially after dipping into the warm garlic lemon butter.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 4 lobster tails

  • 4 lobster tails, 5 to 6 oz each
  • 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, very finely chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

Instructions

How to Prepare/Butterfly Lobster Tails:

  • Use kitchen scissors to cut through the top shell of the lobster tail, stopping at the base of the tail and snipping through the top portion of the meat as you go.

  • Flip the tail over to the back see-through side and crack the ribs in the center. This will help open the shell.

  • Open the shell carefully using thumbs and fingers and loosen meat from the shell (remove vein if present). Lift the meat from the shell, keeping it attached at the base. Press the shell together and set the lobster meat over the top. Most of the lobster meat should be sitting on top of the shell.

How to Make Broiled Lobster Tails:

  • Place rack in center of oven so the meaty tops of your lobster tails will be at least 6 inches from the top heating element. Preheat oven to broil on high heat.

  • In a small bowl, stir together marinade ingredients: 1 Tbsp parsley, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp dijon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper, 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice.

  • Place butterflied Lobster Tails into a 9x13 or 8x12 roasting pan. Divide marinade evenly over the tops of each lobster tail and dot each tail all over with 1/2 Tbsp of butter cut into smaller pieces.

  • Broil lobster tails on high heat 10-11 min (or according to the lobster tail size - see chart). When done, lobster meat should be opaque and white in the center and register 145˚F on an instant read thermometer. Transfer to serving platter and garnish with parsley if desired.

  • To make the Garlic Lemon Butter: drain drippings from the roasting pan into a small saucepan and combine with remaining 2 Tbsp butter, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Pour over lobster tails or divide into ramekins and use as dipping sauce.

Notes

!Broiling Times for Lobster Tails:
Smaller (3 to 4 oz) lobster tail 6 to 8 minutes
Medium (5 to 6 oz) lobster tail 10-11 minutes
Larger (7 to 9 oz) lobsters tail 12-15 minutes (with rack in middle of oven)
Broil lobster meat until opaque and white in center, or 145˚F.

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Lobster Tails

Skill Level: Easy/Medium

Cost to Make: $$$

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Lobster tails pair perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. So good!!

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (14)

Enjoy this incredible lobster tails recipe, my friends and let me know if you try it. I can’t tell you enough how good this is! You’ll just have to find out for yourself! 😉 Thank you so much for pinning and sharing this on Facebook with your lobster loving friends. This recipe is so worth discovering! 🙂

Natasha Kravchuk

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (15)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Lobster Tails Recipe with Garlic Lemon Butter (2024)

FAQs

What kind of butter do restaurants use for lobster? ›

If you're indulging in a fresh seafood meal that includes those shellfish, clarified butter - also known as drawn butter - is a must. Clarified butter is known as a "clean" butter in that certain solids are removed to leave only the pure butterfat.

Do you rinse lobster tail before cooking? ›

Cleaning a lobster doesn't just mean rinsing it off, though. Before cooking things like lobster tails, if you aren't planning to boil them, require some rinsing under that exoskeleton.

Do you split lobster tails before boiling? ›

Additionally, it is recommended to butterfly the lobster tails before cooking them. This will help make sure that they cook evenly and thoroughly. If you want to butterfly a lobster tail, use kitchen shears or scissors to cut along the top of the tail until you reach just before the end of the shell.

Which cooking method is best for lobster? ›

Steaming lobsters is the preferred way to cook whole, live lobsters for a few reasons: you're less likely to overcook lobsters when steaming, the entire cook time is shorter and the process of cooking and removing the lobsters from the pot is a lot easier. Get a pot large enough to hold your lobsters.

What is lobster butter sauce made of? ›

This Creamy Lobster Butter Sauce is made simmered in lobster shells, and lobster meat for extra flavor, butter, cream, parmesan cheese and a few simple seasonings. What is this? Lobster Butter Sauce is creamy and serves well over just about any type of pasta.

Why do you put butter on lobster? ›

Butter poaching is the gourmet chef's choice preparation for lobster, and it ensures that the lobster meat is perfectly tender and full of flavor.

How long to boil lobster tails? ›

How to Boil Lobster Tails
  1. Stick a skewer through each thawed lobster tail. ...
  2. Drop the tails one at a time into a large pot of salted boiling water.
  3. Cook a 5- to 6-ounce lobster tail for about 5 minutes. ...
  4. Transfer the cooked lobsters to a bowl of ice water.
  5. Serve them with lemon halves and butter.
Mar 21, 2022

Should lobster tails be at room temperature before cooking? ›

It will take between 12 and 24 hours for them to thaw completely, and once thawed you will want to take them out of the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour before cooking. This will allow your lobster tails to reach room temperature, perfect for cooking.

How long do you cook a 4 oz lobster tail? ›

Lobster Tail Preparation: Boiling
Number of TailsTail SizeCooking Time
1-12 Tails3-4 oz.2-4 Minutes
2-6 Tails4-6 oz3-4 Minutes
2-6 Tails6-7 oz4 Minutes
2-6 Tails8-12 oz5-6 Minutes
4 more rows

What is the black stuff inside lobster tail? ›

Black Stuff - This is some uncooked or undercooked lobster eggs, also known as roe or lobster caviar. Prior to cooking, these eggs will appear thick, shiny and black, and are found throughout the tail.

What is the most flavorful way to cook lobster tails? ›

Before cooking, you can even season them with a simple mixture of butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Then finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. These flavors let the natural sweetness of the lobster tail shine. The key is cooking them at a high temperature (450 degrees F) for around 10-12 minutes.

How do you cook lobster tails without them getting tough? ›

**Steaming**: Steaming lobster meat is one of the best methods to keep it moist and tender. Simply place the lobster tails or whole lobsters in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes per pound until the meat is opaque and firm but still juicy.

How to know when a lobster tail is done? ›

Determining the perfect doneness of your lobster tails is an essential skill. The two things you should look for are the color of the meat as well as the texture. The lobster meat should become opaque and turn a pearly white color when cooked. Additionally, it should feel firm and springy to the touch.

Is it better to boil or grill lobster tails? ›

Boiling lobster tails is a great choice because if stored and thawed your lobster tails properly, this is the cooking technique we recommend to minimize your tails sticking to the shell! Boiling is always a safe bet and if you are a first-timer or old-timer, this is the technique you can count on.

Is it better to steam or broil lobster tails? ›

Overall, I did feel that the steamed lobster had better texture and flavor, which makes me want to compare the preparations: The broiling method is just as easy and just as fast (helpful for those, like myself, who don't own a steamer pot).

What is the most tender way to cook lobster? ›

Simply place lobster tails into simmering water and poach for about 5-7 minutes until the meat is opaque and firm. This cooking method rewards a very tender and savory lobster tail. We bet you're craving some sweet, succulent lobster right about now.

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