Broiled Lobster Tails are a delicious elegant seafood recipe that are actually very easy to make at home.
Jump to:
Easy impressive lobster recipe
Lobster is usually thought of as a very elegant and impressive, fancy meal. Reserved for special occasions and dining out most people avoiding cooking lobster at home.
But lobster is really just a good protein, very similar in taste and texture to shrimp. And, like shrimp, lobster tails are actually very easy to cook at home!
Once you learn how to cook lobster tails in the oven with this easy recipe you’ll be making lobster dishes for all your special occasions – or maybe even just Friday night.
You can make steamed lobster, fried lobster and even lobster in the air fryer! You can also cook lobster in the oven making baked lobster or easy Broiled Lobster Tails.
Broiling lobster is a very quick and simple way to cook lobster tails. And the quick heat not only reduces your chances of drying out the lobster but it also adds extra flavor and color.
Broil lobster as-is. Or for the most impressive presentation butterfly the lobster tails by cutting down the tail and releasing meat from shell before broiling. This not only results in restaurant quality lobster at home it also makes it super easy to fully season it and see when the lobster is done cooking.
Ingredients
- Lobster tails- fresh or frozen. The meat should be firm and smooth and never mushy. Average size lobster tails can range from about 4-12 ounces. And a 6/7 ounce lobster tail is roughly equivalent to what you would find on a 1 ½ pound whole lobster. But buying and cooking lobster tails saves the hassle of dealing the whole lobster.
- Butter – Or make lobster tails without butter substituting a little olive oil, ghee or avocado oil. Or omit altogether and broil lobster tails dry.
- Garlic – to season the melted butter
- Fresh parsley – minced or other leafy herb.
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon – wedges, optional for serving if desired.
- Red pepper flakes – optional to add a little spicy heat if desired.
Step by step instructions
- Prepare lobster tails, defrosting frozen lobster if using. Rinse lobster tails with cool water and pat dry.
- Butterfly lobster. Cut down the back of the shell using kitchen shears, stopping about an inch up from the tail flap.
- Gently spread the shell apart and loosen the meat from the shell then pull up and out resting the lobster meat back down on the shell to rest. Then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Chop garlic and add to a small microwave safe bowl with butter and chopped parsley. Microwave just until butter is melted.
- Preheat broiler to high.
- Generously brush lobster tails with melted butter then season evenly with salt and pepper.
- Place baking sheet on top rack and broil lobster tails until evenly opaque throughout, 10-15 minutes. How long to bake lobster tails depends on the size of the lobster tails. Butterflying the broiled lobster tails helps make it easy to see if the lobster meat is opaque throughout. Or you can use an thermometer to know how long to cook lobster. It is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 degrees Celsius.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges. Or refrigerate or freeze for later.
- Enjoy!
Serving size
Wondering how many and what size lobster tail per person? When served as a main dish a small 6-7 ounce lobster tail makes a very light meal. Two lobster tails per person is more of a generous serving size and appropriate when lobster is served with only small sides or a salad.
How to use
Once broiled lobster tails can be used in all sorts of lobster dishes like lobster mac and cheese, lobster thermidor, lobster bisque, lobster linguine, lobster ravioli and so many other delicious recipes. Or include Broiled Lobster Tails as a part of a Seafood Platter.
How to store
Once broiled lobster tails can be cooled to room temperature then stored refrigerated for up to 3 days. Or store cooked lobster frozen for up 3 months.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium lobster tails about 6 ounces each, or 1.5 pounds total
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh or dried parsley minced
- salt and pepper
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Rinse lobster tails with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. To butterfly lobster cut down the back of the shell using kitchen shears, stopping about an inch up from the tail flap. Gently spread the shell apart and loosen the meat from the shell then pull up and out resting the lobster meat back down on the shell to make for a beautiful presentation.4 medium lobster tails
- Place on a parchment lined baking sheet lined.
- Make garlic butter. Chop garlic and add to a small microwave safe bowl with butter and chopped parsley. Microwave just until butter is melted. Generously brush lobster tails with melted butter then season evenly with salt and pepper.¼ cup butter, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon fresh or dried parsley, salt and pepper
- Preheat broiler to high.
- Place baking sheet on top rack and broil lobster tails until evenly opaque throughout, 10-15 minutes.
- Serve warm with lemon wedges.lemon wedges
Leave a Reply