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This lobster tail recipe is a decadent dinner made with large lobster tails smothered with a buttery garlic herb sauce then broiled under high heat making these lobster tails tender and juicy. The ultimate indulgence!
Skip the restaurants and make your own fancy meal at home! Start off with Easiest Crab Cakes, add a side of Parmesan Herb Asparagus Fries with Creamy Greek Yogurt and Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes making this a complete meal.
The Best Lobster Tail Recipe
Butter Garlic Herb Broiled Lobster is a decadent dinner that comes together quickly and easily. Impress your sweetheart or family with this beautiful lobster tail recipe. I love how simple it is to prepare and broil. Staying home and enjoying this AMAZING dinner together is just what we want to do this year for Valentine’s Day. It is perfect for us and we still get to enjoy a delicious meal without paying the price and having to wait or make reservations in advance.
Lobster tail is one of my favorite meals when eating out. I knew I needed something special this Valentine’s Day. It is full of a buttery garlic herb dip that is slathered on each one. Once you taste the thick, tender, juicy lobster tail it will melt in your mouth. This seafood recipe is mouthwatering! Don’t let this recipe scare you. It is easier than you think!
How to Buy Lobster:
It all starts with a great lobster. This is important! Lobster can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. You will want to purchase the best without over paying. It is best to buy cold water lobster. You will want to avoid tails that are soaked in sodium tripolyphosphate. This will ensure that is doesn’t taste like ammonia. Make sure that it is not discolored on the meat. When cooking it will turn out mushy and sometimes flavorless. These are great things to look for when purchasing high end seafood.
What you need to Make Perfect Lobster Tail:
Everything is right in your pantry and ready to go. All you need to do is purchase your lobster! This recipe is simple to make and comes together so quickly. It takes less than 20 minutes from preparing to broiling them. I love how simple it is and yet it is decadent and beautiful on a plate. Enjoy this seafood recipe with your loved one or family this Valentine’s Day!
- Lobster Tails
- Salt and Pepper
- Butter
- Garlic Cloves
- Paprika
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Parsley
How to Cook Lobster:
I can’t stress enough on how simple this lobster tail recipe is. Lobster tails can be intimidating when starring at them in a case at a grocery store but I am here to tell you they are easy and make a holiday or dinner turn into an extra special night. Most ingredients you already have at home even!
After preparing your lobster tails, you will make a butter garlic herb that will be brushed over each of the meat sticking out. I can’t tell you how delicious this is! It is the best part and what makes this lobster meat turn to a golden yellow when baking. It truly just melts in your mouth leaving you speechless.
- Get Prepare: Preheat the oven to broil or 500 degrees. Start by preparing the lobster. Using kitchen shears butterfly the tail by cutting down the center. Loosen the meat and pull the lobster meat upward. Salt and pepper the meat and set on a baking sheet.
- Whisk together the garlic herb butter: In a small bowl whisk together the melted butter, garlic, paprika, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. Spread evenly on each one.
- Broil: Broil the lobster for about 8-10 minutes or until the meat is opaque and lightly brown on the top. Serve with melted butter if desired.
How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail:
This is a simple process that is only used with scissors. If you prefer not to butterfly your lobster tail that is great too. By butterflying your lobster tail it makes it easier to eat and also has a more elegant look when serving it.
- With sharp kitchen shears it is best to cut down the middle of the back towards the lobster tail. The shell side will be up and the lobster tail will be pointed away from you.
- Flip the tail over and carefully pull apart the middle of the cut shell and gently place your fingers underneath the lobster meat.
- Flip the lobster back over, slowly and carefully pull up the lobster meat in one piece. The meat should still be attached at the bottom of the tail.
- Once the lobster meat is on top of the shell take the shell and close it around the bottom of the meat.
- As the lobster is being broiled it will expand and have an elegant fan shape presentation similar to the restaurants.
How Long to Broil Lobster:
I love to broil lobster tails because it is quick and easy plus you still have that beautiful coloring over the meat. It is easy to over cook lobster tails so you will want to be paying close attention to them as they are being broiled. It is best to broil the lobster tails for about one minute per ounce and having the lobster tail about 4 to 5 inches from the heat on the top rack in the oven. The lobster will turn a beautiful opaque in color with a white center. It is best to use a meat thermometer to make sure it doesn’t overcook. The center of the lobster will reach 145*F for best results.
Broiling Times for Seafood:
Broiling times can vary depending on size and length of the lobster tails. For a smaller lobster tail it is best to cook them about 7 to 9 minutes. Anything over 6 ounces will takes about 7 to 10 minutes long broiling them. The one thing I always have near me when cooking any type of meat is my meat thermometer. I am very cautious on making sure I do not overcook my meat. If you are broiling a larger lobster tail you will want to adjust the oven rack down another inch so it can cook more evenly.
Different Ways of Cooking Lobster Tails:
There are several different variations when cooking lobster tails. I love how simple each of them are and how they all taste just about the same. It is all about preference and what is easiest for you in your kitchen. Lobster tails are cooked quickly and easily. In less than 10 minutes you will have a beautiful and decadent meal on your table anyway you cook them.
- Broiled: This is my go-to way. It is quick and easy and simple broiled on high heat and up close to top of the over. This makes a tender lobster tail ever time.
- Baked: Very similar to broiling except under average heat and extra time when cooking.
- Poached: This is more of a simmer in a layer of butter. It is also known as butter poaching.
- Boiled: For the easiest and simplest way of cooking lobster boiling it is the way to go. Boil water in a large pot and the lobster tails soak in and boil for minutes. Sometimes the lobster is not quite as tasty though and doesn’t have that rich buttery herb flavor attached to it compared to other ways of cooking.
- Grilled: If you love to grill, this is for you! Simply add the lobster tails to your grill and let the heat cook the tails evenly and quickly.
Tips for the BEST Cooked Lobster:
- Making it ahead: To help save time, butterfly your lobster tails the day of. Too early will discolor the lobster meat.
- Types of Lobster: Any type of lobster works well. If you prefer spiny lobster that is great too. Just be careful!
- Butterflying the lobster: If you cut through your meat, it will be okay. Sometimes this will help ensure it is cooked more evenly anyways. You will want to avoid cutting through the bottom shell though.
- Meat thermometer: Try your best not to overcook the lobster tails. This will help by using a meat thermometer.
- How long to broil your lobster tail: It is best to broil your lobster tail for about one minute per ounce of lobster tail.
- Oven settings: Move your oven rack down to the middle setting if you are cooking a large or oversized lobster tail.
- Female Lobster: It is fun to see a slightly pink lobster meat once it is cooked. This only tells you that it is a female lobster.
- Can you make lobster tails ahead of time? It is best to enjoy the lobster tail right when it is done broiling. Lobster meat becomes tougher when reheating it.
- Serving your lobster tail: Serve with lemon wedges and fresh parsley for garnishing the lobster tails.
Make a Complete Meal!
Make this a complete meal with all the right sides! It is the perfect date night in with these lobster tails. Even a fun and decadent family meal to spoil them all with this special dinner. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought this is the perfect dinner to surprise my family with and have them know how much I love them with this AMAZING meal. My family is going to be so surprised and love everything about it.
This is a simple meal that can start off with a side salad or soup, add a side of vegetables, potatoes and even some Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. End with a Death by Chocolate Cheesecake or a Red Velvet Cake Recipe for a delicious dessert. I am bringing home a restaurant style meal to our family dinner.
- Garlic Butter String Beans
- Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Creamy Grape Salad Recipe
- Parmesan Garlic Roasted Potatoes
More Yummy Seafood Recipes to Try:
- Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Mexican Shrimp Skillet
- Creamy Lemon Parmesan Scallops (Insanely Good!)
- Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
- Garlic Butter Herb Scallops
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The Best Lobster Tail Recipe Ever!
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon thyme minced
- 1 teaspoon rosemary minced
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to broil or 500 degrees. Start by preparing the lobster. Using kitchen shears butterfly the tail by cutting down the center. Loosen the meat and pull the lobster meat upward. Salt and pepper the meat and set on a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl whisk together the melted butter, garlic, paprika, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. Spread evenly on each lobster tail.
- Broil the lobster tails for about 8-10 minutes or until the meat is opaque and lightly brown on the top. Serve with melted butter if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These lobsters were amazing! Best way to make your tails. The sauce you use to baste the tails was so flavorful! With the extra sauce I had I fried some rice with it. Really complimented the lobster! Your amazing!🥰 Thank you!
This was great! Just give this a test drive – we‘ll def be making this for my mom and step-dad when they come stay with our dogs before we leave for Destin, FL next week! Soooo good, easy, and doesn’t stink up the house! Excellent!
Can we use dry herbs? Or do they need to be fresh?
Fresh is best but dry will work too. Just remember to use 1/2 the amount of fresh when converting it to dry. Dry seems to have more flavoring.
I made them tonight soooo goof thanks for the recipe
Now I know how to butterfly lobster tails! So easy. This recipe is so tasty.
OMG….these were awesome! Thank you for the recipe. I made these tonight, and my wife & sons absolutely loved them. We devoured the whole plate.
I am a terrible cook, but your recipe is full proof! This was sooo delicious! I bought the lobster tails at Whole Foods, followed your recipe and broiled it in my toaster oven for 9min. I used the left over butter spread as a dip after. Thanks for the great recipe… the description was so clear, thorough, and better tasting than in restaurants!
But personally, I always steam lobster. Always tender and so simple. Whether whole or tails I take a wood skewers and put right down the top to avoid curliing. I never serve with lemon, only butter as a good lobster doesn’t need it. JMO
I am wondering why you even bothered to look at this recipe if you already knew exactly how it should be done.
I agree, I guess I should have gone by the old saying, “If it’s not broken don’t try to fix it.” I am always open to trying new recipes but this one ruined my lobsters.
Awesome !!!
Amazing!! Cooked for 7 minutes due to a little smaller tail and used truffle butter instead of regular butter. It was a game changer!
Ok.. seriously.. do the lobster tail exactly as it says here… Maybe the best thing I’ve ever eaten!! Perfect!!
Do you defrost the tail? I read everything you said but what about defrost?
Yes, if it is frozen defrost the tail to help it cook more evenly.
I had always wanted to make my own lobster tails at home, but never came across such an easy recipe. I will definitely be surprising my family. Thank you!
Most lobster tails around here come frozen. What is the best way to defrost before broiling?
It is best to thaw frozen lobster in the refrigerator over night. If you need it quicker place the lobster tails in a ziplock bag and submerge into cold water changing the water every 30 minutes.
Defrost by leaving out covered after it defrosted cook as usual.
You keep cold running water over then for 20 to 30 minutes
very nice recipe and cooking tips, haven’t cooked them in so long I’ve forgotten any technique I ever had, so thank you
I have always wanted to make lobster for a special occasion bu never knew just how, you have made this so clear I am going to make this for my sweetheart for Valentine’s Day. Thanks so much for this receipt.