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How to Make Grilled Lobster Tail

5 from 1 vote

It's easy to make Grilled Lobster Tail at home! Buttery, rich and succulent, lobster tail on the grill at a fraction of the cost when dining out.

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It’s easy to make delicious Grilled Lobster Tail at home!

 

A platter of grilled lobster tails being drizzled with melted butter

 

Buttery, rich and succulent, lobster tail on the grill is a real treat at a fraction of the cost you would pay when dining out.

Change it up this summer and treat your family to a special dinner that doesn’t require a second mortgage to pay for it. I’d never think about taking the whole family out for grilled lobster tail. However, I can pick up frozen lobster tails at my local grocery store for about $35.00 for a package of four.

That’s probably less that it would cost for one person to enjoy a great dinner in a good restaurant. I know … sometimes we like eat out, and sometimes we like to eat outside!

 

4 Lobster tails on a cutting board with a knife and scissors.

Watch your local grocery stores for a good deal on lobster tails.

Our local grocery store sells lobster tails in a two-pack for $20, or four tails for $35. We went with the four-pack with the idea what if there were leftovers, we’d make New England Style Lobster Rolls. Well that didn’t happen this time 🙂

 

How to make Grilled Lobster Tail:

  • Using kitchen shears, make a lengthwise cut through the shell down the back of each lobster tail, stopping when you reach the tail fin.
  • Turn the tails around and using the shears, cut the top tail fin to meet the other cuts.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut through only the lobster meat following the line you just made in the shells.
  • Don’t cut through the bottom shell portion, just the lobster meat.

 

lobster tails with the shells cut and opened

Turn the tails over and snip the horizontal spines down the middle of each lobster with the shears.

If there are little legs on the bottom, pull them off and discard. Gently pull each lobster tail apart, to open like a book. If there is still an intestinal track (like a vein down the back of a shrimp), remove and discard.

 

A collage of lobster tails on a grill being brushed with garlic, lemon butter

Brush the flesh of the lobster with the prepared lemon butter and place them meat side down on a preheated grill.

Close the lid and grill for 5 minutes or until lightly marked. Turn them over and baste generously with the remaining garlic, lemon butter. Close the lid on the grill again and cook for another 5 minutes or until the meat registers 145F on an instant-read thermometer. It’s that easy!

 

grilled lobster tails on a platter with melted butter and lemon wedges

Serve Grilled Lobster Tail with more melted butter (of course!) and plenty of fresh lemon wedges to squeeze.

Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and enjoy warm, room temperature or chilled in a lobster salad.

 

grilled lobster tails with lemon wedges and melted butter on a platter

Get ready for summer grilling!

We cleaned our gas grill and are summer-ready to grill everything from Sandwiches and Burgers, to Pork Tenderloin, vegetables, Chicken Skewers, all kinds of fish and seafood, and even Pizza! Hand me a cold beer – I’m ready 🙂

 

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Grilled Lobster Tails on a platter with melted butter and lemon wedges

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PRINT THE RECIPE!

Grilled Lobster Tails

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4
Course: Main Course
Author: Tricia
Pin RecipePrint RecipeRate Recipe
5 from 1 vote
Juicy, tender, buttery and delicious, lobster tail on the grill is a real treat at a fraction of the cost you would pay when dining out.

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-to-7 ounce) frozen lobster tails thawed
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature, plus more for serving
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • a few dashes of hot sauce optional
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Clean the grill grates then grease using vegetable oil, a folded paper towel and tongs. Dip the paper towel in the vegetable oil and rub on the grates holding the folded towel with the tongs. Be sure to cover the area where the lobster will be grilled.
  • Preheat gas grills to medium high, about 400°F to 450°F.
  • In a small saucepan melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 2-3 minutes or until fragrant and starting to brown. Remove from the heat, transfer to a small bowl and cool slightly. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
  • Using kitchen shears, make a lengthwise cut through the shell down the back of each lobster tail, stopping when you reach the tail fin. Turn the tails around and using the shears, cut the top tail fin to meet the other cuts. Using a sharp knife, cut through only the lobster meat following the line you just made in the shells. Don't cut through the bottom shell portion, just the lobster meat.
  • Turn the tails over and snip the horizontal spines down the middle of each lobster with the shears. If there are little legs on the bottom, pull them off and discard. Gently pull each lobster tail apart, to open like a book. If there is still an intestinal track (like a vein down the back of a shrimp), remove and discard. Brush the exposed lobster meat with some of the lemon garlic butter.
  • Place the lobster, meat side down on the prepared grate, close the lid, and grill for 5 minutes or until lightly marked. Turn the tails over and baste generously with the remaining butter mixture. Close the lid and grill until the lobster meat is firm, moist, and opaque, 2 to 3 minutes more. If using an instant-read thermometer, the meat will be done when it reaches 145°F.
  • Serve warm or room temperature with additional melted butter for dipping.

Recipe Notes

  • If you happen to have leftovers, you can make New England style Lobster Rolls! Discard the tails, chop the meat and combine with a little mayonnaise, chopped celery, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spoon the mixture into toasted buttered hot dog rolls and serve.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 415mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 0.05g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin A: 437IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Here’s a link to our favorite inexpensive instant-read thermometer used frequently in our kitchen. Click the photo for more information:

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Looking for a few more great lobster recipes? How about this easy 6 Minute Instant Pot Lobster Risotto from The View from Great Island – yum! For a great bowl of total comfort food, try this Lobster Mac and Cheese from A Family Feast. Finally, don’t miss this recipe for Savory Lobster Fusilli from Big Bear’s Wife – it looks perfectly delicious.

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36 Comments

  4. Marlene

    Thanks for sharing this, Tricia. I usually butterfly mine (split the shell, pull apart, lift tail meat through and press shell closed underneath) and broil in the oven. I”m not totally clear on your prep instructions, though. Mine come with a translucent shell/cartilage on the other side. Do you cut down the middle and pull apart? Or remove it entirely? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      Hi Marlene – sorry I wasn’t clear on the instructions. When you turn the lobster tail over, you will see the translucent shell underneath, as you mentioned. You don’t want to cut through the whole thing – just snip the center of each hard spine that go across the body like a ladder. When you turn it over and open the lobster like a book, you won’t have to break those spines to open the tail. To make it super easy, you can cut the whole tail in half and grill them as individual pieces – that will work fine too, with the same recipe and cooking times. Hope that helps! Thanks for asking that great question. I’ll try to update the printable recipe a little better.

      Reply

  5. Susan

    We haven’t made grilled lobster tails for so long and I love how delicious yours look, Tricia! I do think lobster has come down in price the past couple of years so no reason not to try these this spring or summer. I’m going to check local prices right now 🙂

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      A good steak is just as much as lobster, and we’re trying to eat less meat – haha. I never order lobster out so this is a good way to enjoy it at home. Thanks!

      Reply

  6. Liz

    Wow, it’s been way to long since I’ve had lobster! You’ve given me a massive craving with your gorgeous shots. I love the idea of using leftovers for lobster rolls 🙂

    Reply

  7. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    We can get lobster fresh here in Florida but it is very expensive. Perhaps it is just that I was spoiled from the prices of when we lived in New England. We could buy lobster for $4.95 a pound in summer when we were at our cottage in Maine. They were cheaper than ground beef. 😀

    Reply

  13. Larry

    Great shots of a delicious dish. My routine is go to bank and get loan, go to the store and buy lobsters, cook carefully and enjoy, fast for a week to pay back loan 🙂

    Reply