While I have many lobster recipes here on Wholesome Yum — including air fryer lobster, grilled lobster, and more below — I still keep coming back to this broiled lobster tail as my go-to method. It’s ready in just 20 minutes, including time to butterfly them, and doesn’t require any special appliances.
Lobster Tails – This recipe works with both warm water and cold water lobster, but I highly recommend the latter if you can get it. It has a whiter, firmer meat and tastes better. You can buy lobster tails at most grocery stores or at the seafood market (the freshest option), but I often prefer warehouse clubs because they have larger ones for a better price. Salted Butter – Adds flavor, locks in moisture, and helps with browning. I usually use salted butter, so I don’t need additional salt. You could also use unsalted butter and add salt separately (you’ll need 1/8 teaspoon of salt, or more to taste). Feel free to add some black pepper if you like, too. Garlic – Use 2 fresh, crushed garlic cloves. Minced garlic is more likely to burn (and won’t mix with the other ingredients as well), so I don’t recommend it for broiled lobster tail. You can also substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder if that’s what you have on hand, but I think fresh tastes best. Lemon Juice – Not only does it pair perfectly with seafood, fresh lemon juice also makes the lobster meat more tender. I also save some lemon wedges for serving. Smoked Paprika – I love the smoky flavor it adds, but sweet paprika also works. Cayenne Pepper – I used just a pinch, so my broiled lobster recipe did not come out spicy, but you can add more if you like a kick.
When broiling, the general rule of thumb is about 1 minute per ounce of individual tail. For example, broil 10-ounce lobster tails for about 10 minutes total, and 5-ounce tails will take about 5 minutes. (It doesn’t matter how many you have, only their individual size.) This really helps if you don’t have a thermometer!
Veggies – Try my sauteed broccoli or roasted asparagus as easy, light sides to this broiled lobster tail recipe. Want more hearty veggie options? Fried brussels sprouts with balsamic or my quick creamed spinach are perfect. Potatoes – Such as mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or you can even use my method for a fluffy air fryer baked potato. For lighter alternatives, I often make mashed cauliflower or roasted rutabaga. Surf And Turf – If you want to get fancy, lobster tail recipes like this one become even more impressive next to a quality steak, for a special-occasion surf and turf. Some of my most popular ones are a simple sirloin steak, juicy ribeye, or my favorite filet mignon. Salads – For a lighter meal, try my fresh zucchini salad or arugula salad. For special occasions, I like to make a colorful pomegranate salad or burrata salad.
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