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–+ servings
Three garlic butter lobster tails served in a pan with lemon slices and topped with fresh chopped herbs in a creamy sauce.

garlic butter lobster tail

A simple yet elegant garlic butter lobster tail recipe inspired by 15 years of cooking classes and restaurant experience. This dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home using only a handful of ingredients and techniques that guarantee tender, buttery lobster every time.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 2 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, French-inspired, Seafood
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

🦞 For the Lobster
  • 2 Lobster tails - 6-8 oz each fresh or frozen
  • Sea salt - To taste
  • Black pepper - To taste
🧈 Garlic Butter Base
  • 4 tablespoon Unsalted butter - Divided
  • 3 Garlic cloves - Minced
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon juice - Freshly squeezed
🌿 Optional Flavor Boosters
  • 1 sprig Fresh thyme - Or parsley
  • 2 tablespoon White wine - Dry optional
  • ½ teaspoon Paprika - For color and light spice

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed pan (Cast iron or stainless steel preferred)
  • 1 Kitchen shears (For cutting the lobster shells)
  • 1 Tongs (For flipping the lobster)
  • 1 Spoon (Long-handled, for basting)
  • 1 Instant-read thermometer (To check for doneness (140°F))

Method
 

  1. Cut the shell, lift the meat, and season lightly with salt and pepper.
    A hand using kitchen scissors to butterfly lobster tails on a wooden cutting board, with seasoned meat exposed.
  2. Heat butter in a heavy pan until it becomes foamy and golden brown.
    Melted butter with minced garlic sizzling in a golden pan on a marble surface, with butter cubes partially melted.
  3. Place the lobster flesh-side down and sear without moving for 3 minutes.
    Two lobster tails cooking in a skillet, coated in bubbling garlic butter and garnished with chopped herbs.
  4. Flip the tails, add garlic, and baste constantly with hot butter.
    Close-up of lobster tails in a skillet being basted with melted garlic butter using a spoon, with a lemon in the background.
  5. Whisk in cold butter, let rest, then serve with the pan sauce.
    Three garlic butter lobster tails served in a pan with lemon slices and topped with fresh chopped herbs in a creamy sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 170gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 28gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 540mgPotassium: 280mgVitamin A: 900IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 0.6mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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