As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
These broiled lobster tails with garlic butter are tender, succulent, and perfectly cooked! Learn how to thaw, prepare, butterfly, and cook lobster tails in the oven until tender and juicy. Great on Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or any special occasion!
Broiled lobster tail is one of the best ways to serve lobster. It’s fast, easy, and results in perfectly cooked lobster every time. It’s great for Christmas, Valentine’s day, date night at home, birthdays, and anniversary dinners!
These lobster tails are butterflied, covered in a garlic butter sauce, broiled in the oven, and finished with freshly squeezed lemon juice. This method results in tender, juicy, succulent lobster tails that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
- Lobster tails – Choose ones with firm, uniformly colored flesh. Avoid ones that have a fishy smell or cracked shells. You can find lobster tails at most grocery stores or at Costco.
- Garlic butter sauce – Butter, garlic, parsley, red pepper flakes. This garlic butter sauce keeps the lobster moist and juicy while in the oven. Reserve some for dipping later.
How to Thaw Lobster Tails
Refrigerator (overnight method) – Set frozen lobster tails on a plate topped with paper towels and place it inside a resealable bag. The paper towels will absorb excess liquid. Allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge.
Faster method – Place frozen lobster tails inside a resealable bag and let out as much air as possible. Place the bag in a bowl of cold water and refresh the water every 15 to 20 minutes until the lobster is completely thawed.
How to Butterfly Lobster Tails
Taking sharp kitchen shears, cut down the top of the shell until right before you reach the tail fin.
Spread the shell open and remove the lobster meat. Push the shell together and gently place the meat on top. If needed, use a spoon to help detach the meat from the shell.
Brush with garlic butter sauce and prepare to cook in the oven.
How to Cook Lobster Tails (Broil, Bake, Steam)
Broil: Preheat oven to broil (500 degrees F) and place the rack 5 inches from the top heating element. Broil until fully cooked, about 7 to 10 minutes depending on size.
Bake: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven. Bake until fully cooked, about 12 to 15 minutes depending on size.
Steam: Place a steamer basket in a pot with 1 to 2 inches of boiling water. Steam until fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes for small to medium tails or 8 to 12 minutes for large tails.
You can boil lobster tails as well but I prefer not to as it loses a lot of flavor in the water.
More recipes:
Broiled Lobster Tail with Garlic Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails
- lemon wedges, for serving
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons melted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
- ⅓ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt, only if using unsalted butter
- ⅙ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to broil (500° F) and place the oven rack 5 inches from the top heating element.
- Butterfly lobster tails: Using sharp kitchen shears, cut down the length of the lobster tail just before reaching the tail fin. Pull out the meat and lay it on top of the shell. If needed, use a spoon to help detach the meat from the shell. See photos in post for details.
- Make garlic butter: Combine all ingredients for the garlic butter sauce and brush on top of lobster. Thoroughly cover the meat to keep it moist and prevent it from drying out in the oven. Make extra for serving if desired.3 Tablespoons melted butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1 Tablespoon parsley, ⅓ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, ⅛ teaspoon sea salt, ⅙ teaspoon black pepper
- Broil: Broil until the lobster is fully cooked. It should take about 7 to 10 minutes depending on size. The meat should be firm, opaque, and white in color with an internal temperature of 140° to 145° F. Serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
The lobster tail flesh should be firm to the touch and opaque white in color. The internal temperature should reach 140 to 145 degrees F at the thickest part of the meat.
Broiling or baking lobster tails results in the best flavor as I find it concentrates their flavor. Be sure to cover the lobster in butter before cooking as it prevents the meat from drying out.
If possible, avoid boiling lobster tails it loses a lot of flavor in the water.
I was always intimidated by the idea of cooking lobster, so I put it off for so long. I’m happy I came across your recipe. The steps with the pictures were helpful, and I was so proud that I was able to pull this dish off. It also tasted fantastic. I will be making this again for my husband’s birthday in a few months. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
Yay I’m glad you found the pictures helpful. Thanks for sharing Aya!
This was so easy and quick to make. The garlic seasoning was perfect.
Thank you Rika! I’m glad to hear that. 🙂
These lobster tails came out cooked to perfection. The garlic butter was so delicious, and we enjoyed dipping the lobster meat in it! We added little extra red pepper flakes for heat but otherwise followed the recipe as written. Thanks for your tips on the quick thawing method – it worked so well! Will be making again for Valentine’s Day.
I’m so glad to hear that Julie! These are great for Valentine’s Day!
awesome recipe with awesome ingredients. my brother made this for us and we enjoyed our dinner happily. He will make this again next weekend for his friends.
My daughter asked for a lobster recipe and I found yours! It turned out so delicious, she loved it! Thanks for the recipe, we’ll make it again!
I was making lobster tails for company and needed a tried and true recipe. Your directions were so spot on and we all loved the results!!
That’s so great to hear Liz! Thank you!
I made these AMAZING broiled Lobsters for our date night at home and it was amazing. The garlic butter was the perfect complement to the sweet lobster. No need to go out, this is better than a restaurant.
Cooking lobster has always been very intimidating to me! I made this recipe the other night and it was a breeze! Your photos helped tremendously! Will be making this again for sure!
These broiled lobster tails with garlic butter were off the chain delicious! I enjoyed every bite of them and wished I had made more. Have a great day
This is a great recipe for any special occasion! Your photos of splitting the tails open are very helpful.
Thank you Brittany, I’m glad you found it helpful!
Love this recipe! Your instructions were so easy to follow and these lobster tails came out perfectly! Can’t wait to make them again.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Wow, this lobster looks amazing. I love garlic butter! I’ll save this for our anniversary next week. Can’t wait to surprise my hubs with lobster for dinner. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing broiled lobster tail recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
These broiled lobster tails were amazing and I’d love to make them again for valentine’s day! Who knew these would be so easy to make! Thank you!
So delicious and easy! I picked up some good looking lobster tails on a whim and this post was super helpful. It was a great weekend treat and I’m thinking about making them again for Valentine’s Day.
Love lobster! I will also try this yummy garlic butter sauce on other dishes!
Oh my gosh! I’m drooling over here. I usually boil my lobster but from now on I’m broiling them. So tasty!!
Delicious and looks like a festive dish for sure. I am drooling with the flavors and presentation.
I always thought they were complicated to cook but you make it look so easy. I can’t wait to make these broiled lobster tails!
These lobster tails look absolutely fantastic! Such amazing flavors with that garlic butter too. Yum!