Buttery Baked Lobster Tail Recipe
Feb 08, 2021, Updated Jun 26, 2023
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This garlic butter lobster tail recipe is perfect for date night or any special occasion. The lobster comes out tender, juicy, and full of flavor, plus it’s surprisingly EASY to make in under 20 minutes.
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.
How to Buy Lobster
It’s sometimes intimidating to buy seafood, like a fresh whole branzino fish, or especially shellfish! With lobster tails, look for:
- Tails that are not grayish or otherwise discolored. If the shell is speckled, that can be okay—it means that the lobster was a warm-weather lobster, from Florida or maybe the Caribbean, or somewhere similar.
- Cold-water lobster (ideally). Warm-water lobster is typically considered poorer quality than cold-water lobster like that from Maine, but it can still be tasty and is usually more affordable. Cold-water lobster is a better choice, if it’s available. The meat is firmer and cleaner-tasting, while warm-water lobster sometimes has a softer texture and ammonia overtones.
I always go for the lobsters from Maine and have never been disappointed.
Can I Use Frozen Lobster Tails?
- Yes, I actually recommend using frozen lobster tails for this recipe. Next to live lobster, the surest way to make sure your lobster is fresh is to stick to frozen. Cook it just after thawing.
Katerina’s Recipe Tips
What else should you know about making lobster tails? Well, they’re a very easy type of seafood to cook, but I do have some extra tips for you:
- Bigger Isn’t Better: It might be tempting to cook up a big jumbo lobster tail, but the most tender and tasty lobster meat tends to come from younger, smaller lobsters.
- Flavor Lightly: Lobster has a wonderful, sweet, delicate flavor, so I don’t recommend pulling out all the stops with spices here. Too many or too much of any seasoning will overpower the lobster.
- Serving Size: Keep in mind that lobster, even with this rich butter sauce, is a light entree and plan accordingly. Try to get a lobster tail that is about 6-ounces, which will have about 3-ounces of meat. In general, one large tail is a good serving size for two people, so stick to the smaller guys for individual portions.
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!
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Baked Lobster Tail Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 fresh lobster tails, each should weigh about 6 to 8 ounces
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prep. Thaw the lobster tails if they are frozen. Set the oven rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place the lobster tails on the baking sheet.
- Prepare the lobster tails. Using kitchen shears, cut straight along the middle of the top of the lobster shell towards the fins of the tail; do not cut through the fin. With your fingers, gently open up the shell and pull up the meat from inside the shell; do not detach it. You can also use a spoon to separate the meat from the two sides of the shell. Close the empty shells together and rest the meat on top of the seam. Set aside.
- Make the garlic butter sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and parsley; whisk to combine. Brush the tops of the lobster tails with the butter mixture.(Optional: Make more sauce for dipping)
- Cook. Broil the tails for about 6 to 8 minutes, or 1 minute per 1 ounce of lobster, and until the lobster meat is opaque and sturdy.
- Finish and serve. Remove from oven. Serve with lemon wedges and more butter sauce, if you like.
Video
Notes
- Place 1 to 2 lobster tails in the basket of your Air Fryer.
- Cook at 380˚F for about 5 to 7 minutes, until lobster meat is opaque.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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!
Air Fried the lobster tails, and they were delicious! Thank you for the quick and easy recipe and “how to” butterfly a lobster tail video.
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
At what temperature and for how long?
wow! Such a fancy and delicious dinner idea! Looks amazing!
Thank YOU! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Best lobster I ever made for the family !
Thanks 🙂
That’s great! I’m very happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I had no idea lobster was so simple! It was perfect.
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Love lobster tail and those look amazing.
Thank YOU! 🙂
This looks delicious and making my mouth water! I can’t wait to show my daughter this recipe! So excited to give this a try!
This is my favorite!!!! Love lobster tails!!!
These Baked Lobster Tails are sound delicious! Dangerously good…
These baked lobster tails are just heavenly!
This recipe is by far the best for lobster tails! They come out perfectly every single time and we are obsessed!
Perfect for Valentine’s Day! SO delish!