The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe - the easiest, most delicious way to make broiled lobster tails in your oven in just 10 minutes!
The best juicy, tender, and delicious recipe to broil lobster tail in the oven for a restaurant style lobster tail dinner in under 10 minutes - perfect to dip in melted butter or a butter sauce!
This super easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the absolute best way to cook lobster, ever!
We're giving this dish a slightly smoky flavor with a touch of paprika, as well as a sweet and salty hit of butter to bring out that sweet, delicious clean seafood flavor.
If you want a never fail easy oven baked lobster tails recipe, this is it!
I'm going to give you all the steps and information to be a master cooking lobster tails - so you can wow your friends and family with this elegant dish... nobody has to know how easy it is.
And want to try an even easier version? Check out the Instant Pot Lobster Tails recipe I just published, based off this very recipe!
Just take me to the best lobster tail recipe ever already!
I have readers from all skill level and experience in the kitchen on my site, and get a lot of recipe questions.
To better serve my loyal readers, I put a lot of information in posts.
If you'd rather skip this, click the "skip to recipe" button on the top left, or scroll to the bottom of the page.
Like most seafood, when overcooked, lobster and lobster tail is just a mess.
It is really a shame because it's so expensive- it ought to always taste fabulous!
This method to prepare lobster tails won't leave you with gummy, fishy flavor- and it's one of my favorite tricks I learned from working at a Country Club during the monthly lobster night.
It is the perfect easy romantic lobster dinner - and great for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthdays, and Anniversaries!
I've even been told my easy baked lobster recipe was made by one readers fiance as he proposed - this lobster tail dinner is perfect for a proposal dinner!
How To Cook Lobster Without A Fishy Smell
No gummy, dry, or fishy meat here - and this method won't stink up your whole house.
This is one of my favorite reasons to make oven baked lobster tails - no fishy smell!
This would be really fun for a romantic meal or dinner party- you can prep the tails and place in the refrigerator (I'd cover them to keep the lobster meat from absorbing fridge flavors) and pop them in the oven when it is time to eat.
By baking the lobster tail in the oven, you will avoid stinking up your house with a fishy smell.
Keeping a lemon wedge under the lobster tail also helps to cut down on any cooking smell.
How to Cook Lobster Tails In the Oven
It can sound tricky to learn how to cook lobster tails in the oven - but it actually couldn't be more simple, quick, and easy.
Baking or broiling lobster tails is a delicious, simple, mess-free way to make lobster tails every time.
The most important tips to remember when broiling lobster tails is to cut the shells well, exposing the lobster meat and making it easier to eat when cooked.
How to Cut Open Lobster Tails
A simple cut down the top of the shell is all you need to peel back your lobster tail for a beautiful presentation - cut it down the middle for a butterflied lobster tail.
Use sharp kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut the lobster tail and make a clean cut so you don’t get any of the shell on the tail meat.
Cutting the lobster tail open before cooking will speed up your cooking process and make it easier to judge when the lobster tail has fully cooked - as well as give a chance for the lobster tail meat to soak up tons of deliciously rich flavor from the butter.
You can also easily tell when the lobster meat is opaque but opening the tail up, so you don’t overcook your lobster tails!
I also try to remove the lobster tail from the shell where they are connected underneath - both to put a lemon wedge down to prop up the lobster as it cooks, but also to make it easier to eat when it is done.
How Long to Cook Lobster Tail in The Oven
This recipe calls for about 10 minutes of cook time - which will vary a bit based on the size of your lobster tail, your oven, and if you preheat the broiler fully before adding lobster tails to oven.
If you have a very large lobster tail it will take a bit longer - but smaller tails should be perfect at around 10 minutes.
Like most seafood, when overcooked, lobster and lobster tail is just a mess.
It is really a shame because it's so expensive- it ought to always taste fabulous!
These tips will keep your lobster tender, delicious, slightly sweet and not too fishy or gummy and tough.
How To Tell When Lobster is Cooked
You can tell a lobster tail has fully cooked when it turns opaque, white, and the shell turns bright red - and the meat has reduced slightly and become firmer.
- To ensure your lobster tail is perfectly cooked, insert a digital meat thermometer into the fattest part of the lobster tail (take caution to keep the thermometer away from the shell.)
- Fully cooked lobster will be 140-145 degrees internal temperature.
- Your lobster shell will turn bright white and red when cooked, but look to the meat inside for the most reliable indication. If your lobster still looks grey it's not cooked - if it is white and pink, it's done.
Do NOT overcook lobster - it will result in tough, gummy meat and a fishier flavor.
How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails
While fresh is always best, fresh-frozen lobster tails taste just as delicious as fresh lobster tails that were trucked across the country to get to you and sit on a store counter for a few days - so being in a landlocked state like Colorado, I don't feel bad at all about grabbing frozen lobster tails.
Hot tip: Whole Foods often has frozen lobster tail on sale - watch for sales and stock up or buy ahead of an upcoming special event to serve lobster tails on a budget!
How To Cook Frozen Lobster Tails
Let frozen lobster tails thaw fully before cooking.
-Pop frozen Lobster tails in the fridge the day before you make these.
-You want frozen lobster tails to fully thaw before cooking.
Don't rush the thawing process in the microwave.
-Defrosting lobster tails in the microwave will make the frozen lobster meat tough.
How To Serve Lobster Tail
Lobster tail can look a little wimpy on it's own sometimes, so if you're going for a romantic presentation of your lobster dinner and want to know how to wow guests, I have some great tips and tricks for you!
How to Make a Lobster Tail Look Bigger
If your lobster tail looks a bit small in the shell after cooking, you can make it look a bit bigger and fuller by propping a lemon wedge underneath it.
I actually like to cook lobster tails with a lemon wedge underneath because it helps to hold the lobster tail's shape and make it look more full in the cooked shell - plus it helps keep the shell from spreading open (you can tell, in my older pictures from this recipe I didn't use this trick and the lobster looks a little wimpier in those pictures.)
How Lobster is Weighed and Sized
Despite being sold by the pound, a single 1-lb. lobster will weigh approximately 14 oz. when cooked.
Lobster will yield 3.5 to 4 oz. of meat when the shell is removed - and this holds true for tails too, as a decent amount of a Lobster tails weight is in the shell (don't worry you're wasting that great shell - you can use it in stocks or soups to get great lobster flavor to other dishes!)
How Many Lobster Tails to Serve Per Person
If you're making lobster tails as the main dish, you'll want to pay attention to the lobster tail size and weight to be sure you have enough lobster to fill you up.
In general, you should plan for about 8-10 oz of cooked lobster tail meat per person if you're serving lobster tails as your main dish - meaning two lobster tails per person, unless they are jumbo lobster tails.
Most often frozen lobster tails that are readily available in grocery stores (not from specialty fishmongers, who will have larger Maine lobster tails more readily) are around 4-6 ounces, so plan on about two per person if making lobster tail your main dish.
Keto Lobster Tails Recipe
If you're keeping a low carb diet, and nee romantic keto dinner ideas, this lobster is aa perfect recipe!
Lobster works well in a variety of diets, including keto!
Since this recipe uses just a tiny bit of seasoning, butter, and lobster - you don't need to worry about the carbs in this dish.
You can also find my garlic butter lobster tails recipe for an easy garlicky twist - or this lobster skillet for an easy keto lobster dinner with frozen picked lobster meat.
Other Easy Lobster Recipes You'll Love:
If you love these easy broiled lobster tails, be sure to check out these other amazingly delicious and super simple lobster recipes that are perfect for a decadent dinner, fast!
You can check out my Lobster Recipes here, or click individual recipes below:
The Best Instant Pot Lobster Tails Recipe
The Best Easy Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
Garlic Butter Naked Lobster Rolls
Easy Keto Lobster Bisque Recipe
Easy Garlic Butter Lobster Skillet Recipe
To Make Broiled Lobster Tails, You'll Need:
This easy broiled lobster tail dinner is one of my all time favorite meals because it doesn't require anything fancy or any new equipment - even beginner home cooks probably already have all of the tools you need on hand.
Everything is easily found at any grocery store, even lobster tails in most stores!
- -Baking Sheet
- -Lobster Tails
- -Kitchen Shears
- -Butter
- -Paprika
- -Lemon wedges (optional)
Set your oven's broiler on high - or between 400 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven, so lobster tails don't touch broiler.
I use a little paprika, butter, salt, or Old Bay Seasoning to season lobsters. Use just a pinch, but feel free to try other herbs and spices to your taste.
Lobster meat will go from grey and translucent to bright pink and white and opaque when fully cooked.
The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
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The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
This 10 Minute Perfect Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the quickest, tastiest, and easiest way to cook lobster tails- get perfect oven broiled lobster tails every time! The best of the recipes to lobster tail in the oven for a restaurant style lobster tail dinner in under 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 Lobster tails
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter, divided
- celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Preheat broiler to high.
- Set lobster tails on a baking sheet or in an oven safe dish.
- With sharp kitchen scissors or a knife, carefully cut the top of the lobster tail shell down to the tip of the tail, avoiding the meat. Devein and remove any grit if needed.
- Carefully pull shell down, so meat looks like it is sitting on top of shell and open.
- To make it look even better, slide a lemon wedge or two under the lobster meat in between the meat and the tail.
- Mix spices in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle with spices.
- Add small pats of butter along the lobster tail.
- Place in oven on an upper middle rack.
- Let cook until meat is opaque and white, about 8-10 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately with drawn butter.
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1 tailAmount Per Serving Calories 208Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 99mgSodium 554mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 23g
Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.
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The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
This 10 Minute Perfect Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the quickest, tastiest, and easiest way to cook lobster tails- get perfect oven broiled lobster tails every time! The best of the recipes to lobster tail in the oven for a restaurant style lobster tail dinner in under 10 minutes.
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J.M.
If your seafood smells fishy, something is wrong with it,period
Ivory
I must say, we used this lobster tail recipe, it was amazing. we will be using it again. thank you so much for sharing. Happy V-Day, and stay warm
Floranet
One of the finest writing I have read so far!
Cara M
This recipe was delicious. I had never cooked lobster before tonight so I was incredibly leery. However, I soon learned there was no reason to worry with this recipe. The only change I made to the recipe was to add a little Old Bay seasoning. The lobster was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, without any fishy smell or taste. Even my husband, who is not a fan of lobster, devoured his and said it was the best lobster he'd ever eaten. I will definitely make this again.
Courtney ODell
So glad you loved it Cara! We made it tonight again too - its my favorite recipe!
Beth Moore
This is the most ridiculously long post ever..to fit in all the ads perhaps, not sure but I hope to find other post that gets to the point before I share a pin!!
Courtney ODell
Beth,
This recipe is long because I get a LOT of questions on posts about how to make a recipe. Not everyone is comfortable in the kitchen, and sharing more information to help make a recipe great only helps others. It takes hours to write up recipes this way (this website is my fulltime job, those ads literally feed my children) but I do it because it's brought a lot of others joy in their homes again.
I do understand there are a lot of ads and a lot of information I put into the post which some won't want to wade through - so I put a button at the top of the page to skip to the recipe.
Jal
Agree - by the time I got to the recipe, I forgot what I was cooking. Ridiculous.
Courtney ODell
There is a button that allows you to skip all the text in the top left corner.
Sabrina
This is such a delicious way to start the new year! Love how easy this is for such an elegant dinner!
Mr. Samuel Walton Owen
Where’s the recipe and directions?
Ally Beck
Unfortunately, you have to scroll through a bunch of word vomit just to get to the recipe. Just keep scrolling and you’ll find it...eventually.
Becky Hardin
These look so super easy to make and super delicious!
Toni
These are SO EASY and delicious!
Amy
This recipe looks amazing. Thanks for the great tips!
Cheryl Sousan
I love that I can now make one of my top favorite dishes at home!! I had no idea lobster tails were so easy to cook
John M
I've made lobster tails before, but never broiled. And now I don't think I'll do them any other way. This recipe gave me and my wife four perfect lobster tails. The Old Bay melted butter was a great suggestion, too.
Stephanie
Just tried this receipe and 1st time tails came out oerfect!! Yum!!
Crab Dynasty
I am a huge fan of using fresh garlic, and my lobster tails came out excellent. So simple, they are to die for they are so good. I even sprinkled Old Bay on them, as it is a popular seasoning here in Maryland. Give it a try!
Lobster Dynasty
Very easy recipe, and very tasty. I love the presentation of a butterflied lobster tail. I sprinkled Old Bay on them, and came out excellent.
Cassandra STURRUP
The lobster tails were soft, moist and delicious. I will share this recipe.
Lisa
These were amazing. And my fiance doesnt eat Seafood so I prepare two....eat them both....dont judge....lol and make him an amazing steak. For anyone that wants to kick it up a notch, follow this recipe exactly as listed, but instead of adding the paprika, sprinkle a little bit of Old bay seasoning in there. Its absolute Heaven!!!
Sandra
Tried tonight for Valentine’s Day dinner. Excellent! I only used about half the seasoning though, which was perfect for us.
Gabi
I made these for Christmas Eve and they were delicious; However, did you mean to say 1.2 teas of white pepper as in one tenth over a teaspoon? Or 1/2 teaspoon? I wiped off some seasoning before cooking because it was just too strong.
Sherry Barr
This was my first time cooking lobster tails and I used this recipe. They came out perfect! Can't wait to make them again. Thank you.
Quiana
I tried this recipe and loved the results. I have also boiled lobster tails ( not live) and they turned out bland and flavorless plus I didn't like the texture. With this recipe I was able to control the flavor ( a little or a lot) per tail. This is definitely my method of cooking lobster tails from here on. Thank you.
Linda Jennings
I prepared two beautiful tails following your recipe for last night Valentine's dinner. They were sooooo good he asked me to marry him! LOL now back to reality, I have tried several ways of preparing lobster, and I have to admit these were delicious. One bite and it was a wrap we loved it.
Courtney ODell
.... um hold up? An engagement?? CONGRATS!!!! Such an awesome memory for Valentines. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Arlene
Thank you so much for the wonderful lobster dish.....perfect surprise for my husband. 🙂
Barb
I tried this and it was great. Lobster was perfect. Not overcooked. Thanks for the tip. We are having again today
Vicki Cross
Look great Lobster thanks for the inspiration
Vicki Cross
Look great look I would like to cook
Cindy
What about the size? In grocery stores,they are normally 3-4-5 oz. that's small.im in SWFL, where I can easily get bigger ones,so what's the recommended times for different sizes,you think?
Thanks,Cindy
Courtney ODell
Cindy - I'm in Denver where we get very small fish. I'd check at 10 minutes, and increase cooktime by checking every 3 minutes or so thereafter if it is still a ways from being opaque.
Michelle
This is perfect for Valentine's Day
Wayne Hueske
Fantastic recipe !!
Schatzie Gibbons
I tried the baked lobster recipe. It is genius! The "baking" which turned out to be indirect broiling and the seasoning was superb. My husband and I thought it was the best lobster we'd ever had. The smoked paprika and garlic butter was a fabulous taste that didn't over power the lobster and was very easy to do. I want to try other of her recipes. I have cooked well for a long time and am very impressed!
Courtney ODell
I'm so glad you loved it!!!
Karla
What size of lobster tails should I buy!
Courtney ODell
Whichever size you like! This recipe is adaptable, so you can cook it a little longer if you can get your hands on some large, beautiful tails!
Giata Ferrara
Way to go. This is the simple and best way to do lobster. I commend you on a job well done.
Jason Edwards
Most ovens have a broiler option. When that option is used the method involves placing the meat/seafood either on the highest or 2nd highest rack -- never in the middle. The idea is to have the lobster 6 inches or so from the heat source. That's called "broiling".
Lafe Dutton
With kudos to the sailer, I agree with him about boiling them first. So, they are also divine broiled without boiling as this recipe instructs. I made it with the paprika and butter tabs, doused them with Meyer Lemon.... OMG.
Thanks. Simply perfect.
Leslie
Lobster tails were on sale at the grocer last week, so I had to indulge. I stumbled across this quick & easy recipe, as despite the sale price, I didn't want to ruin them. This recipe was so quick & easy. I swapped the paprika with Old Bay, because that was my preference. The tails were perfect! I called a girlfriend & told her about the seafood sale & passed on the recipe. She called me gushing over how yummy hers turned out! Thanks for the easy break down!
Courtney ODell
I am so happy to hear that Leslie! It is seriously the most simple, easy, and delicious way to make lobster - I was always afraid of making it because I've had some terrible home-made lobster tails in the past. I am really touched you sent my recipe to your friend! Thanks so much!!!
Luis
Sorry. It says broiled but you say to put in oven...do I put it in the broiler or the oven?
Courtney ODell
I put it under the oven broiler on high- some people have separate broilers.
John Eldredge
It's a good recipe, but I'm a sailor and went to school there and kinda know lobster. Lobster is not cooked. Live lobster is boiled for five minutes (or less). Once they get to room temp, tails and commercial things only need a bit of browning heat; not ever cooking heat, because the grill temp is good enough. A lobster should never be chewey. A typical creamy inside with a crispy outside is good.
Don't wreck the food because of an insistence on following blogs.
Jeanie
I will have to try this next time.. they were good but chewy broiled.
RJ
Thank you John E.! Even though I pulled these at a little past the half-way point cause they were obviously getting too done already, they were indeed rubbery! So I'm bewildered reading all these glowing reviews and wondering where I went wrong. I've only cooked lobster at home a couple times in my life -and those were few and far between- so I followed whatever info was found at the time- but they were always great. No rubber! I can only surmise that it's the cooking time that is to blame and we need to check progress after 3-5 minutes, and just keep a close eye on them from there. Just to clarify, my rack was set one up from middle, not the highest level, so I doubt that proximity to the heat source was an issue. But lobster should not be chewy... 🙂
Kathryn Griffin @TheDedicatedHouse
Oh, goodness! These look amazing! Mouth watering! Thanks for sharing! You are one of the features at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House! Yes, I'm finally back to blogging. Here is the link to this week's bash. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/04/make-it-pretty-monday-week-133.html Have a lovely week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
[email protected] Cooking on the Front Burner
These are perfect and mouth watering! I'll be featuring these at Best of the Weekend this Friday on my blog!
Lou Lou Girls
This looks amazing! You are so talented. Pinned and tweeted. Thanks for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Nicky Corbishley
Quick, delicious and sophisticated. Loving this!!
Thao @ In God Flavor
I would like two of these please! Lobster is on the my list of last request dinner must-haves. These tails look so succulent!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
It's been too long since I last had lobster. Thanks for the inspiration - I have to go out and get some.. these tails look divine!
Kay
Made dinner for 4 and prepared this in between stirring the risotto. It was perfectly broiled at 8 minutes for me. Quick and super easy!