Lobster Tail: the best recipe for a popular mouthwatering seafood dish

If you're looking for a simple yet elegant, flavorful meal you can make for special occasions, you'll love this phenomenal lobster tail recipe. It's an ideal dinner to serve up for anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, or over the holidays.

With its rich, buttery flavor these tender, juicy lobster tails are sure to be a hit. Serve your lobster tails as an appetizer, or enjoy them with a few tasty side dishes to transform them into a beautiful complete meal.

Lobster tail is incredibly easy to make, and there are several ways you can prepare and cook it. Whether you want to poach, grill, broil, or bake your lobster tails, we have you covered.

How to Buy the Perfect Lobster 

Coldwater lobster is the best. If you want to serve lobster, it's worth spending the extra money for high-quality, fresh lobster.

Don't buy lobster tails that have been soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate – otherwise, your lobsters may have a slight ammonia taste. Take care to not buy lobster with discolored flesh. It will turn to mush when cooked.

Lobster Tail Ingredients

Lobster tail is super easy to make and only needs a handful of ingredients. Remember, fresh is best when it comes to making lobster tail at home. Head to your fishmonger and pick up fresh lobster.

You'll also need fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley, plus melted butter, paprika, and minced garlic.

If you decide to use frozen lobster tail, let it thaw out overnight in the fridge before cooking it.

How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

You'd be surprised at how simple it is to butterfly a lobster tail. Grab your kitchen shears and cut the tails down the middle, making sure not to cut through the bottom of the shell. Pull the tail meat upwards slightly, then season it. That's it!

How to Broil Lobster Tail

Make sure to preheat your broiler so that your oven is good and hot before you cook the lobster. Cut and season the lobster tails to your liking, then broil them for 8 to 10 minutes.

How Long to Cook Lobster Tails

Lobster tails should be cooked for about one minute per ounce of meat. On average, this will be about 8 to 10 minutes. You'll know they've finished cooking when the meat is opaque. You can also use an instant-read meat thermometer. The lobster tails should reach an internal temperature of 140°F.

Lobster Tail Cooking Methods

There are several ways to cook lobster tails, and all of them are excellent. You can broil, grill, bake, or poach the lobster tails in butter. Each method will yield succulent, mouthwatering lobster tails, but if you want some char on your tails, be sure to broil or grill them.

Baked Lobster Tail

To bake lobster tail, preheat your oven to 450F. Bake the lobster tails for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the lobster reaches 140F.

Poached Lobster Tail

To poach your lobster tails, mix 1 cup of butter with a few tablespoons of water. Place the lobster tails in the butter and cook for several minutes. Serve immediately.

Broiled Lobster Tail

Broiling is the preferred way to make lobster tail at home. Let your broiler preheat, then cook the lobster for 8 to 10 minutes, or about 1 minute per ounce of lobster tail. The meat should be opaque and lightly browned on the top.

Grilled Lobster Tail

Making lobster tails is the perfect excuse to fire up your grill. It's ideal for getting that savory charred taste. Put the lobster tails on the grill and cook them for 8 to 10 minutes then serve them immediately.

Can You Make Lobster Tail Ahead of Time?

While you can make lobster tails ahead of time then reheat them, they won't taste anywhere near as good, and you'll wind up with rubbery lobster meat. Making lobster tails ahead isn't recommended.

What to Serve with Lobster Tail

Serve your lobster tail with melted butter and lemon wedges. To turn it into a meal, serve your lobster tail with a side salad, some roasted veggies, pasta or risotto, and some freshly baked bread.

Tips for the Best Lobster Tail

Use fresh lobster tail. Frozen lobster tails work in a pinch but aren't as flavorful.

You can butterfly the lobster tails up earlier during the day on the same day you plan on serving them. Don't do it too far in advance otherwise, the meat will become discolored.

Don't overcook the lobster. Keep an eye on it. Once it turns opaque, remove it from the heat.

How to Store Lobster Tail

Let the lobster cool, then place it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

How to Make Lobster Tail

Set your oven to broil and preheat it to 500F.

Cut the lobster tail down the middle using kitchen shears.

Gently pull the lobster meat upwards. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the lobster tails on a baking sheet.

Whisk melted butter, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and parsley in a small bowl.

Add in paprika and mix.

Pour the herbed butter over each lobster tail.

Cover all the lobster surface.

Broil the lobster for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the meat turns opaque and is lightly browned.

Serve with a side of melted butter and lemon wedges.