My easy delicious baked Ultimate Lobster Tails recipe for perfectly tender, flavorful, and buttery lobster meat every time. Try it tonight!
If you’re a fan of Seafood Recipes, then this is sure to become a go-to meal for dinner parties and date nights. Try my Shrimp Scampi Pasta or Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce for more popular seafood dishes.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Ultimate Lobster Tails Recipe
This lobster recipe is the perfect dinner for a special occasion. Nothing seems more like the ultimate indulgence than a restaurant-style lobster tail. So, the next time you’re having a romantic dinner, or you want to impress someone, this beautiful Lobster Tail recipe is sure to do the trick. But, even though it’s a show-stopper, this amazing meal is shockingly easy to make. You can have this Baked Lobster Tail recipe prepped and in the oven in just a few minutes. It’s a simple 20-minute dinner that anyone can master.
Chef’s Note: Simple is Better
When it comes to fresh seafood, simple seasonings are always better. I like to use a mix of melted butter and spices. When you’re ready to serve the lobster, you can also serve it with compound butter, like garlic herb butter, as an easy way to add extra flavor. I also like to add a spritz of lemon juice which is great with the fresh seafood flavors.
Ingredients
- Lobster Tail: I’ve made this delicious recipe with two fresh lobster tails. It’s the perfect meal if you’re having dinner for two. However, if you want to serve more people, you can always get more lobster tails and double up on the other ingredients to flavor them.
- Butter: One key to making this simple recipe flavorful is butter. Brush melted butter over the lobster before baking. The meat will absorb the moisture and flavor as it cooks and turn out wonderfully succulent.
- Seasonings: I added garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika into the melted butter sauce for an ultimate Lobster Tail recipe. Simple, but effective.
- Garnishes: Finish this beautiful dinner off with a lemon wedge and fresh parsley for garnish.
How to Make Lobster Tails
Time needed: 20 minutes.
- Prep time
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, and get out a small baking dish that won’t shatter at that oven temperature.
- Prep lobster
Cut the fresh lobster tails from the top of the lobster shell down the middle, stopping just shy of the end. Do your best not to cut the lobster tail meat while you slice the shell. Use your knife or sharp kitchen scissors to cut into the lobster meat and push it to the sides.
- Butter sauce
In a small bowl, add melted butter, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika. Whisk the butter mixture well. Place the lobster tails on the baking sheet and brush the melted butter over them.
- Bake
Place the baking dish on the middle oven rack and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. A larger lobster tail may take a couple of extra minutes to cook.
- Serve
Take the cooked lobster from the oven. Transfer it to your serving dish, and enjoy Baked Lobster Tails with fresh parsley and lemon wedges for garnish. Before serving, you can squeeze fresh lemon juice over the tails.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
- 1 clove garlic , finely minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons parsley , minced
- 1 lemon , cut into wedges
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees, you'll be using a small baking sheet (careful not to use anything that will shatter at 450 degrees if you choose not to use a baking sheet).
- Cut the lobster tails in the middle of the shell from the top to the tail carefully, stopping just shy of the tail.
- Try to separate the tail meat from the shell while cutting to avoid cutting the lobster meat.
- Pull the meat away gently from the sides of the shell and lift it out and over the cut shell so the meat is outside the shell.
- Using a knife make a very shallow cut into the lobster meat and pull the meat to the sides (this will show about an inch of the white lobster meat of the tail and make it look more traditional).
- In a small bowl add the melted butter, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper and paprika and stir.
- Add the lobster tails to your baking sheet and brush the melted butter mixture over the lobster tails.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.
Nutrition
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Can this be made ahead of time?
Lobster tails should be baked and served immediately for the best flavor and texture. You can cook lobster tails in advance. After cooking, let them cool, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
Nutrition
Pairing Ideas
- Green Bean Almondine is the PERFECT side dish. It’s made with crunchy sauteed green beans topped with buttery toasted almonds and fresh lemon juice, and it’s ready in under 15 minutes!
- Milk Boiled Corn is an easy side dish boiled with water, milk, butter, and salt until it is sweet, tender, and buttery in less than 20 minutes!
- Parmesan Risotto is an Italian side dish perfect for a lobster dinner. Creamy rice with lemon juice, spring peas, and Parmesan cheese.
- Garlic Butter Roasted Potatoes are an amazing sheet pan potato recipe made with small Yukon potatoes tossed in oil, butter, and garlic.
- Quick and Easy Roasted Green Beans are an easy side dish your kids will love. They’re crisp-tender and a great alternative to being steamed!
How to Store
- Store: Don’t leave the cooked lobster at room temperature for more than 2 hours. In the unlikely event you have leftovers, put the lobster in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Avoid the microwave or it will get rubbery. Reheat the lobster tail in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Wrap it in tin foil and add a tablespoon of butter to help it stay moist. You can also steam it for 3-5 minutes to reheat it.
- Freeze: You can also store frozen Lobster Tails for up to 2 months. Wrap it in an airtight container to avoid freezer burn.
Frequent Questions
The flavor of lobster may vary slightly depending on the cooking method. However, good lobster always has a hint of salty and tangy flavor. It’s a little more sweet and rich than crab and other crustacean recipes. The rich meat tastes great with fresh flavors from lemon juice and spices, as well as warm and earthy flavor combos.
To prep fresh lobster tails for baking, start by cutting the lobster shell down the middle from the top. You can either use a sharp knife or sharp kitchen shears for this. Cut all the way down until you reach the base of the tail. Then pull the shell on either side to bring the meat out and butterfly lobster tails. This makes them easier to bake and eat. It also gives a nice presentation to the Baked Lobster Tails.
For tasty, tender meat, I recommend getting cold-water lobster instead of warm-water lobster. When buying the lobster, check for black spots, gray meat, or other discolorations. Also, be sure to buy frozen lobster tails that have not yet been thawed. You want to cook the delicious lobster right after defrosting.
Variations
- Seasonings: To season lobsters, you can easily mix different seasonings into the melted butter. Garlic powder, white pepper, cayenne, red pepper flakes, or Old Bay seasoning would all taste incredible.
- Smoked Lobster: There are plenty of ways to prepare your Lobster Tail recipe. Outside of this easy oven-baked version, smoking lobster is my go-to. The lobster meat turns out nice and tender, with a slightly smoky flavor. To make lobster in the smoker, start by preheating to 225 degrees. Then cut and baste the lobster as usual. Place the tails in the smoker, and cook for 30 minutes. Then brush the lobster with the melted butter mixture again and continue smoking for another 30 minutes.
- Steamed Lobster Tails: Steam until cooked through for a simple and succulent flavorful lobster. Brush with the melted butter and spice mix after cooking and the remaining butter mix dipping.
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