Description
This Garlic Butter Lobster Tails recipe delivers tender, flavorful lobster meat infused with a rich garlic butter sauce, seasoned with paprika, Old Bay, and fresh herbs. Perfectly baked and finished under the broiler for a golden finish, it is an elegant yet simple seafood dish ideal for special occasions or a luxurious dinner at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Lobster Tails and Seasoning
- 4 lobster tails
- 1 1/4 teaspoon paprika, divided
- 1 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, divided
- 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- To serve - lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the lobster tails.
- Prepare Lobster Tails: Use kitchen scissors to cut down the back of each lobster shell until reaching the tail base, leaving it intact to keep the tail together. Gently pull the shell back and lift the meat onto the shell. Remove the black vein if present, and rinse the meat under cold water if necessary to clean.
- Season the Lobster: Place lobster tails on a baking sheet with a rack. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning evenly over the lobster tails.
- Bake the Lobster: Bake the seasoned lobster tails in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: While baking, melt the butter and combine it with chopped parsley, grated garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir thoroughly to blend flavors.
- Brush Lobster with Sauce: Remove 3 tablespoons of the garlic butter mixture for serving. Brush the remaining butter generously over the baked lobster tails.
- Broil for Finish: Turn the oven broiler on high and broil the lobster tails for 3 minutes to create a golden and slightly crispy top. Remove from oven.
- Serve: Top the lobster tails with the reserved garlic butter sauce and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- Use kitchen shears carefully to avoid cutting through the tail base so the lobster meat stays intact.
- If fresh lobster tails aren’t available, thaw frozen tails overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
- Remove the digestive vein carefully for a clean taste; if unsure, rinse with cold water.
- The garlic butter sauce can be prepared ahead and kept warm but brush and broil lobster just before serving.
- Serve with crusty bread or a side salad for a well-rounded meal.
- Adjust seasoning amounts to taste, especially if using salted butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lobster tail
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
