Description
This Garlic Butter Lobster Tails recipe offers a succulent seafood treat with a flavorful, garlicky butter sauce enhanced by paprika, Old Bay seasoning, and fresh lemon zest. Perfectly baked and broiled for a tender, juicy result topped with a rich, aromatic sauce, it's an elegant dish ideal for special occasions or a luxurious dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Lobster Tails
- 4 lobster tails
Seasonings
- 1 ¼ teaspoon paprika, divided
- 1 ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, divided
- 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
To Serve
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat 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 you reach the tail, leaving the base intact to hold the tail together. Gently pull the shell back slightly and use your fingers to separate the meat from the shell, pulling the meat upwards to rest on top of the shell. Remove the black vein if present and rinse with cold water if needed.
- Season Lobster: Place the prepared lobster tails on a baking sheet with a rack. In a small bowl, combine ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning mixture evenly over the lobster tails.
- Bake Lobster: Bake the lobster tails in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to start cooking the meat.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: While the lobster bakes, melt the butter and add chopped parsley, grated garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir well until the mixture is combined.
- Brush Lobster with Butter: Remove 3 tablespoons of the garlic butter mixture and set it aside. Brush the remaining butter sauce generously over the lobster tails.
- Broil Lobster: Turn the oven broiler on high and broil the lobster tails for 3 minutes to give them a golden, slightly crisp finish. Remove from the oven and top with the reserved garlic butter sauce.
- Serve: Serve the lobster tails immediately with lemon wedges on the side to squeeze over the meat for added freshness.
Notes
- Use kitchen shears to safely cut lobster shells; gloves can provide extra grip and protect your hands.
- If black veins are difficult to find, gently inspect using a knife or fork; this vein is the digestive tract and should be removed.
- Fresh lobster tails yield the best flavor, but frozen is acceptable; thaw completely before cooking.
- The garlic butter sauce can be made ahead and gently reheated before use.
- To prevent drying, avoid overcooking; watch carefully during broiling to achieve a perfect golden finish.
- Serve with crusty bread or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lobster tail
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 0.6 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
