Buttery Baked Lobster Tail Recipe

Cooking lobster doesn’t have to be complicated, and this baked lobster tail recipe proves it. I make a lot of lobster around here, from air fryer lobster to grilled lobster, and this one is hands-down the least fussy while still bringing all that buttery flavor. You get all the elegance of tender, slightly sweet lobster meat brushed with garlic butter and finished with a squeeze of lemon, without the hassle of boiling pots or cracking claws. Save all that work for my seafood boil recipe.

Using just the tails keeps things simple, and with a good pair of kitchen shears, they’re easy to prep and quick to cook. Whether it’s your first time making lobster or you’ve done it before, this method delivers that classic, buttery flavor with none of the stress.

What Makes This Lobster Tail Recipe So Good

• All the luxury, none of the stress. Lobster tails give you that rich, buttery restaurant-style flavor without the mess of whole lobsters or boiling water.
• Quick and easy to prep. With just a few snips and a brush of garlic butter, these are in the oven and on your plate in under 20 minutes.
• Perfectly tender, every time. Baking keeps the lobster moist and delicate.
• Feels fancy, but totally doable. Whether it’s date night, a holiday, or just Tuesday, this recipe delivers something special with minimal effort.
• Beginner-friendly. No special tools, no complicated steps! If you’ve got kitchen shears and an oven, you’ve got this.

Recipe Ingredients

This is a classic and simple way to cook lobster, using very basic, very delicious ingredients! Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need:

• Lobster Tails: For this recipe, you’ll need four fresh lobster tails, each weighing 6 to 8 ounces.
• Butter: Melt 4 tablespoons of butter.
• Garlic: I use fresh garlic here; about three cloves, minced or pressed.
• Paprika: This tasty spice adds a great taste and color to the dish. You’ll need about a teaspoon.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Lemon Juice: It’s seafood’s favorite friend! I use a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice because it brightens everything, from lobster tails to fritto misto.
• Parsley: Chop up a tablespoon of fresh parsley.
• For serving: Lemon wedges and cheddar bay biscuits.

Serving Suggestions

• Steak: Surf ‘n’ Turf, anyone? I say a definite yes, especially when the steak is this super-delicious grilled flank steak with bleu cheese butter or this easy oven grilled steak.
• Salad: Coleslaw, a garden salad, or even my yummy Hawaiian macaroni salad are all great, fresh choices to complement the delicate flavor of lobster.
• Baked Beans: That’s right, the New England classic is a favorite with grilled or broiled lobster. My maple bacon baked beans are an easy, delicious alternative to the canned version!

How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

If you’d like a visual presentation of the butterflying process, this video is very helpful!

• Cut the shell: Using a sturdy pair of kitchen shears, cut through the center of the shell, from the wide end all the way to the fin. Don’t cut the fin.
• Loosen the meat: Pull the shell halves apart somewhat and use a spoon or your fingers to loosen the meat away from the shell halves. I always use a spoon.
• Pull out the meat: Pull the shell halves apart a bit more and pull the meat out completely EXCEPT for the end attached to the fin; leave that part attached!
• Rest the meat on top of the shell: Close the shell halves back together underneath the meat, and then arrange the meat neatly on top.

How to Cook Lobster Tail in the Oven

Broiling lobster is really great. Don’t use your broiler much? You should! It’s high heat mimics the effect of a grill with all the ease of your oven. The broiler function is one of the things that makes this lobster tail recipe so easy:

• Prep: First, thaw the lobster tails, if frozen. When they’re fully thawed, preheat your broiler and set the oven rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, butterfly the tails, and place them on the baking sheet.
• Make the butter sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley; whisk to combine.
• Brush & broil the lobsters: Brush the tops of the tails with the butter mixture. Place in the oven, and broil for 6 minutes, or 1 minute for every 1 ounce of lobster.  Cooked through meat will be opaque and sturdy. Remove from the oven.
• Serve: Serve the lobster tails with garlic butter dip and enjoy!

Air Fryer Method

• Place 1 to 2 lobster tails in the basket of your Air Fryer.
• Cook at 380˚F for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque.

How To Tell When Your Lobster is Cooked

Lobster, somewhat like shrimp, is fully cooked when the meat has a bright or pearly white appearance. Undercooked lobster will be translucent in places and have a gelatinous feel. Once cooked, the shells will turn bright red.

How To Store Cooked Lobster

• Store in the fridge: Refrigerate the lobster meat in airtight containers, or wrap in plastic wrap and foil. Refrigerated cooked lobster will last up to 3 days and you can use up those leftovers to make lobster bisque or my lobster roll recipe. Also, cooked lobster in the shell can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just make sure it is placed in a tightly covered container.
• Can I freeze it? Yes, you can! Remove the cooked meat from the shells and place in freezer bags or airtight containers. Freeze lobster for up to 4 months.

More Seafood Recipes to Try

Need some more succulent seafood recipes? Try these dishes next time!

• Flourless Salmon Piccata in Foil
• San Francisco Cioppino
• Garlic Butter Scallops
• Baked Sockeye Salmon
• Grilled Swordfish