Learn how to grill lobster tail with this easy recipe. Grilled lobster tails are an easy yet impressive meal made with garlic butter in less than 20 minutes.
Fresh cooked lobster is one of our favorite things about summer! It reminds me of summers in New England where we try to eat as much lobster as possible during the season. Grilled lobster tails are one of our favorite things to grill because they are easy and ready in less than 20 minutes! We add a simple garlic butter sauce for even more flavor. Baste the butter over the lobster and reserve some for dipping. Fresh, flavorful and delicious!
How to grill lobster tails
Cooking lobster tails on the grill is easy. Using kitchen shears, cut the lobster shell down the middle, stopping at the tail. Use a sharp knife to cut the meat down the center without cutting all the way through. Insert a wooden skewer lengthwise. The wooden skewers help prevent the tail from curling while grilling. Brush the tails with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat a grill to medium heat. Grill the lobster, cut side down for 5 minutes, until the shells are bright pinkish-red. Flip the tails, baste with garlic butter and then grill for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until the lobster is opaque and the temperature reads 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Do not overcook or the lobster will become rubbery.
How do you grill frozen lobster tails?
Thaw the frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator. When you are ready to grill, preheat a grill to medium heat. Grill the lobster, cut side down for 5 minutes, until the shells are bright pinkish-red. Flip the tails and grill for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until the lobster is opaque and reads 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
Garlic butter sauce
Garlic butter sauce is the perfect flavor enhancer for lobster. The simple garlic butter is made with butter, garlic, chives, lemon juice and salt. Baste the lobster with it or use the extra sauce for dipping. The fresh ingredients combine to create the perfect flavor combination.
What goes with grilled lobster tails?
Serve this meal surf and turf style by serving the lobster with grilled steak. Or serve it with a few of our favorite grilled side dishes.
- Grilled corn
- Grilled asparagus
- Artichokes on the grill
- Grilled broccoli
- Tortellini pasta salad
- Grilled garlic potatoes
- Grilled sweet potatoes
- Cucumber and tomato salad
- Strawberry spinach salad
Go ahead, fire up your grill and make grilled lobster for dinner tonight! Serve it with your favorite grilled sides and a glass of strawberry sangria for the complete summer meal. If you love grilling, be sure to check out our other grilling recipes.
Grilled Lobster Tail
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons salted butter melted
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- pinch kosher salt plus more for seasoning
- 4 lobster tails (6-8 ounces each)
- extra virgin olive oil
- ground black pepper to taste
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together butter, garlic, chives, lemon juice, and
salt; set aside.Using kitchen shears, cut the lobster shell down the middle, stopping at the tail. Use a sharp knife to cut the meat down the center without cutting all the way through. Insert a skewer lengthwise through the tail to keep it from curling while cooking.
Brush the tails with olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat a grill over medium heat. Grill lobster, cut side down, for 5 minutes, until shells are bright pinkish-red. Flip the tails, baste with garlic butter, and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the lobster meat is an opaque white color and reads 135 degrees F.
Baste with more garlic butter, sprinkle with chives and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- You can cut back on the amount of the garlic butter, if desired. Or you can omit the garlic butter.
- Serve with your favorite grilled sides or surf and turf style with grilled steak.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 129, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 103mg, Sodium: 343mg, Potassium: 136mg, Carbohydrates: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Protein: 11g, Vitamin A: 330%, Vitamin C: 3.1%, Calcium: 60%, Iron: 0.2%*Nutritional information is an estimate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist for the most accurate nutritional info.
If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a review below or share a photo and tag @Spoonfulflavor on Instagram.
Restaurant quality meal in my own home! Thanks for this delicious dinner! So yummy.
I live on the east coast so I’m in lobster country and this is exactly my kind of meal! Love how the lobster comes out perfectly grilled and super tasty!
So simple and delicious! Can’t wait to try this one night this week.
This time of year we always seem to be coming home from vacation with live lobsters and finding new ways to cook them is a struggle. We had to give this recipe a try and it turned out great! Everyone loved their grilled lobster tail and we will definitely be making them this way again!