Broiled Garlic Butter Lobster Tails

Written by on in Lobster

These broiled garlic butter lobster tails look like a restaurant splurge but take less than 25 minutes at home. The tails are butterflied so the meat sits on top of the shell, brushed with garlic, lemon and paprika butter, then broiled until sweet, tender and lightly golden. Serve them with extra melted butter for dipping.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 4 serves

Ingredients

  • ▢4 lobster tails (5–6 oz / 140–170 g each), thawed if frozen
  • ▢1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ▢4 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • ▢1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ▢1/2 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
  • ▢1/4 tsp salt
  • ▢1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ▢Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ▢1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • ▢Lemon wedges, to serve

Instructions

  1. Heat the broiler: Set an oven rack about 6 inches (15 cm) below the broiler and heat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Make the garlic butter: Stir together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne. Set aside about a third of it for serving.
  3. Butterfly the tails: Using kitchen shears, cut straight down the center of the top shell toward the tail fan, stopping before the fan. Gently spread the shell apart, run your fingers under the meat to loosen it from the bottom shell, then lift the meat up and rest it on top of the closed shell, leaving it attached at the tail end.
  4. Season: Place the tails on the baking sheet and brush the meat generously with the garlic butter.
  5. Broil: Broil for about 1 minute per ounce of tail (5–6 minutes for 5–6 oz tails), until the meat is opaque and white all the way through and reaches 140°F (60°C) in the thickest part. Brush with more butter halfway through.
  6. Serve: Sprinkle with parsley and serve right away with lemon wedges and the reserved garlic butter for dipping.

Tips

  • ▢Thaw frozen tails overnight in the fridge, or seal them in a bag and submerge in cold water for about 30 minutes.
  • ▢Watch them closely under the broiler. Lobster turns rubbery quickly once it is overcooked.
  • ▢For larger tails (8 oz or more), add a minute or two and check the temperature early.
  • ▢Great with roasted potatoes, a green salad, or alongside a steak for surf and turf.
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