• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Kelly
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Contact

The Anthony Kitchen logo

  • Recipe Index
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Dessert
  • Entertaining
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stay in touch...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home · Recipes · Seafood · Baked Lobster Tail

    November 11, 2022

    Baked Lobster Tail

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If the thought of cooking lobster intimidates you, this is far and away the recipe to start with. Meet our simple, no-fuss route to perfectly Baked Lobster Tails in just 25 minutes. The meat comes out perfectly cooked, juicy, sweet, and delicate thanks to our butter garlic sauce that practically makes itself in the oven. No extra work here!

    A pan of Baked Lobster Tails in melted butter with parsley sprinkled on top.

    You won't have to worry about all that shell-intact fuss, and you're welcome. Lobster meat is fancy enough all on its own, even without the bright red shell presentation. So, unless you've come equipped with some serious lobster tail removal skills and you're dying to use them, this recipe will be a breath of fresh air for you!

    An overhead shot of a plate of Baked Lobster Tails with a ramekin of melted butter on the side.

    Like our Salmon with Dill Sauce or Cast Iron Filet Mignon, this is definitely a dish to impress! Whether it's date night, a gourmet treat for your family (sans the fuss!), or something special for your next dinner party, you've got everything you need right here and we have full faith in you!

    WHICH LOBSTER TO BUY?

    Cold-water lobster is preferred over warm-water lobster, as it has an extra tender and more buttery texture. Cold water lobster might be identified at your grocery store as Maine, Atlantic, Canadian, or North American lobster.

    Four uncooked lobster tails laying underside up in a row.

    For this Baked Lobster Tail recipe, you can use previously frozen or fresh lobster. However, if you are using frozen lobster, you will want to be sure it is fully thawed before cooking.

    You can thaw frozen lobster tails by placing them in the refrigerator about 24 hours before it is time to cook, or allowing cold water to run over the lobster tails until thawed.

    HOW TO REMOVE LOBSTER TAILS FROM THE SHELL

    The trickiest part about making Baked Lobster Tails is getting to the lobster tail! But don't let that stop you. After your first tail is conquered, you'll pretty much be a pro.

    Four uncooked lobster tails laying shell up in a row. They are dark colored with some orange on the ends of the tails.

    For this task, you will most definitely want to have a pair of kitchen shears on hand. Use the kitchen shears to cut lengthwise through the top of the shell.

    Kitchen shears being used to cut a line down the back of a lobster tail.

    Once you have cut all the way down to the tip of the tail, grasp each side of the tail with your hands and gently pull outward to crack the outer shell.

    A hand holding a lobster tail with the shell pulled away, revealing the meat inside.

    From there, you will gently wiggle to loosen the lobster meat from the shell and remove it completely.

    HOW TO MAKE BAKED LOBSTER TAIL

    To kick off your Baked Lobster Tail recipe, preheat your oven to 425°F and place the lobster tails in a small buttered au gratin dish or an 8 x 8" baking dish.

    Four lobster tails with the shells removed laying in a row in a baking dish.

    Next, we're going to whip up our garlic lemon butter mixture! For this mix, you will need room temperature, unsalted butter, fresh garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and lemon zest. You will combine all of these ingredients in a small bowl, using a fork to mix until everything looks evenly distributed.

    Butter, garlic, and seasoning being mashed together with a fork.

    Drop scant tablespoon-sized mounds of the butter all across the tops of the lobster tails.

    A hand pushing scoops of the garlic butter mixture from a fork onto the lobster tails in the baking dish.

    Transfer the lobster tails to bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the lobster is fully cooked, the meat is opaque and the internal temperature registers at 140°F.

    Baked Lobster Tails fresh out of the oven. They are opaque and sitting in standing melted butter in the dish.

    Baste the lobster tails with the melted butter from the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with a garnish of either fresh parsley or tarragon.

    Tarragon is a traditional flavor that pairs very well with lobster, but if you are not keen on the flavor of licorice, you might find parsley is better suited for your pallet.

    It is officially time to make that butter concoction from earlier go to work for you! Remove your lobster from the baking dish, transfer it to either a serving platter or plates, and add a squeeze of lemon juice over the top, if desired. Then, place the fine mesh sieve over a small bowl and strain the melted butter and garlic from the baking dish over the sieve.

    Next time you're in the mood for seafood, try our Baked Fish.

    The butter garlic sauce being poured through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.

    Place the butter alongside your lobster tails and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

    A close up of baked lobster tails, the tops are almost white and the undersides are a bright salmon pink color.

     

    6 MORE IMPRESSIVE DINNERS TO TRY

    • Shrimp Spaghetti
    • Roasted Shrimp
    • Salmon Pasta
    • Stuffed Shrimp
    • Grilled Porterhouse Steak
    • Stuffed Chicken Breasts

    • a big bowl of shrimp spaghetti. noodles, tomatoes, basil, shrimp

      Shrimp Spaghetti

    • An overhead view of roasted shrimp on a plate with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges

      Roasted Shrimp

    • A close up shot of a fillet of salmon on top of pasta.

      Quick and Easy Salmon Pasta Recipe

    • A close-up shot of stuffed shrimp on a white platter.

      Stuffed Shrimp

    • Florentine steak surrounded by parsley and lemon.

      Grilled Porterhouse Steak

    • Stuffed Chicken Breasts

    3.72 from 7 votes
    A close up of baked lobster tails, the tops are almost white and the undersides are a bright salmon pink color.
    Print
    Baked Lobster Tails
    Prep Time
    15 mins
    Cook Time
    10 mins
    Total Time
    25 mins
     

    Baked Lobster Tail can sound like an intimidating dish, but with this easy step-by-step guide you'll be serving it up in no time!

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Baked Lobster, Baked Lobster Tail
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 210 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • ½ cup room temperature unsalted butter
    • 4 (4-5 ounce) lobster tails (thawed if previously frozen)
    • 2 cloves minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • Zest of a lemon, plus lemon wedges for serving
    • 2 teaspoons fresh chopped tarragon or parsley
    Instructions
    1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and have ready a buttered, small au gratin dish or an 8x8" baking dish.

    2. Using kitchen shears, cut lengthwise through the top of the shell. Delicately pull the shell away from the meat and remove the tail. Transfer the lobster tails to the prepared baking dish and set aside.

    3. Add the butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon zest to a small bowl and use a fork to mix well until combined.

    4. Drop scant tablespoon-sized mounds of the butter across the lobster tails and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the lobster registers 140°F.

    5. Remove the lobster from the oven and baste the tails with the melted butter. Sprinkle with chopped tarragon or parsley over the tops of the tails.

    6. If you'd like to serve dipping butter alongside your lobster, plate the lobster tails, and place a small sieve over a bowl. Pour the butter from the baking dish over the sieve and discard the sieve contents. Serve the strained butter alongside your lobster tails and enjoy.

    Nutrition Facts
    Baked Lobster Tails
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 210 Calories from Fat 207
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 23g35%
    Saturated Fat 15g94%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 6g
    Cholesterol 62mg21%
    Sodium 590mg26%
    Potassium 47mg1%
    Carbohydrates 1g0%
    Fiber 0.1g0%
    Sugar 0.03g0%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 752IU15%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 23mg2%
    Iron 0.4mg2%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

     

    Image for PInterest

    Source | Americas Test Kitchen, LobsterAnywhere.com

    « Steak and Eggs
    Mashed Sweet Potatoes »
    590 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    Looking for more recipes?

    Be sure to check out the recipe index where you can browse recipes by meal type and category!

    Check Out the Recipe Index

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

    Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

    Trending recipes

    • A close up of two Beef Ribs, stacked. The outer layer is blackened but the middle is a little pink.
      Beef Ribs Recipe
    • A close up of a wooden spoon scooping some Homemade Baked Beans out of the pot. The beans are in a thick, brown sauce.
      Homemade Baked Beans
    • A big, glass mixing bowl full of Italian Pasta Salad sits on a white work surface. It is vibrant and full of color.
      Italian Pasta Salad
    • An overhead view of Smoked Pork Chops on a sheet pan. They are crispy around the edges.
      Smoked Pork Chops
    • An overhead shot of the chicken salad that has been mixed in a clear glass bowl being held by two hands.
      Chicken Salad with Grapes
    • A close up shot of a clear glass bowl filled with spaghetti salad.
      Spaghetti Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for weekly recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Contact

    • Work with me
    • Contact