Fancy Baked Lobster Tails are served with a garlic butter sauce in the perfect dinner for special occasions. These restaurant-style lobster tails are juicy and delicious, but real EASY to make in under 20 minutes!.
Lobster is a delicious and luxurious seafood that can seem intimidating to cook at home. However, baking lobster in the oven is actually quite easy and accessible for home cooks. With just a few simple steps you can enjoy restaurant-quality lobster tails baked to tender juicy perfection right in your own kitchen.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to master oven-baked lobster, from picking the best lobster tails to prepping and cooking techniques You’ll also find my favorite easy baked lobster tail recipe at the end, featuring a garlic herb butter that takes the flavor over the top Let’s get started!
Choosing the Best Lobster for Baking
The first step is selecting high-quality lobster tails at the store. Here are a few tips:
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Go for frozen tails – Frozen tails are often fresher than “fresh” lobster. The freezing process preserves the quality Thaw in the fridge before cooking
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Choose tails labeled “Maine lobster” – This indicates cold water lobster, which has firmer, sweeter meat than warm water lobster.
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Pick smaller tails – They’ll be more tender and flavorful. Aim for 6-8 ounces each.
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Get raw, uncooked tails – Avoid pre-cooked ones, which will be overdone.
Once you’ve got great lobster tails, it’s time to prep them for the oven.
Preparing Lobster Tails for Baking
Proper prep ensures your lobster bakes evenly and absorbs all the flavors. Follow these steps:
Thaw
If using frozen tails, thaw them overnight in the fridge. Cold water thaw works too – just don’t thaw at room temp.
Butterfly the Tails
Butterflying opens up the meat so it cooks faster. Here’s how:
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Place the tail on a cutting board. Using kitchen shears, cut straight down along the center of the shell from the wide end towards the fins. Don’t cut all the way through the fins.
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Gently pry the shell apart and lift the meat out, keeping it attached to the fin end.
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Fold the empty shell halves under the meat so it rests atop the shell.
Season
Drizzle olive oil over the lobster meat and rub lightly to coat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and lemon juice.
Make Compound Butter
Mix softened butter with minced garlic, lemon juice, parsley and other seasonings of choice. Form into a log and chill until firm.
Now it’s time to bake!
How to Bake Lobster Tails to Perfection
Baking brings out lobster’s natural sweetness and tenderizes the meat. Follow these steps for perfect oven results:
Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place an oven rack in the center position.
Prepare Baking Sheet
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. This prevents sticking.
Bake Buttered Lobster
Arrange the seasoned, butterflied tails meat-side up on the baking sheet. Spread a layer of the compound butter over each tail.
Roast
Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the meat is opaque and feels firm when pressed. The shells will turn bright red.
Rest and Serve
Let the tails rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with lemon wedges and extra butter.
And that’s it – beautifully baked lobster tails, no boiling required! Let’s take a look at some helpful tips and tricks…
Tips for Baked Lobster Success
Follow these tips to get the most out of your baked lobster tails:
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Don’t overcrowd the pan – space tails apart so they cook evenly.
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Bake smaller tails closer to 10-12 minutes, larger tails around 15-18 minutes.
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Look for opaque, pearly meat and red shells to check doneness.
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Prevent overcooking and drying out by removing right when done.
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Serve with lemon wedges, clarified butter, parsley, or favorite sauces for dipping.
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Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 2 days. Reheat gently.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, here’s an easy recipe to put your skills into delicious action!
Baked Lobster Tails with Garlic Herb Butter
This is my go-to recipe for perfectly juicy, flavorful oven-baked lobster tails. The rich garlic herb butter does double duty, seasoning the meat and serving as a tasty dip.
Ingredients:
- 4 lobster tails, 6-8 oz each
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄4 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
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Thaw and butterfly lobster tails. Season with salt, pepper, paprika.
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Make garlic herb butter by mixing together butter, garlic, parsley, lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper.
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Place lobster tails meat-side up on parchment-lined baking sheet.
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Spread garlic herb butter over each tail. Bake 12-15 minutes until opaque.
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Serve garnished with lemon wedges and extra garlic herb butter for dipping.
And that’s all it takes to enjoy lobster in the comfort of your home oven. The key is quality ingredients, proper prep, and avoiding overcooking. Master these simple steps and baking lobster can become a new go-to recipe in your seafood repertoire.
So preheat that oven, grab some lobster tails, and get ready to impress your dinner guests (or just yourself!) with your newfound lobster baking skills. The delicious, restaurant-quality results are so worth the minimal effort. Once you’ve tasted tender oven-roasted lobster with flavored butter, you may never want to cook it any other way again. I know I’m hooked!
How To Tell When Your Lobster is Cooked Through
Lobster, somewhat like shrimp, is fully cooked when the meat has a bright or pearly white appearance. Undercooked lobster will be translucent in places and have a gelatinous feel. Once cooked, the shells will turn bright red.
A Buttery & Easy Lobster Tail Recipe
One of my favorite classy meals is broiled lobster tail. Lobster’s delicate, slightly sweet taste is both refreshing and rich, especially when served with lots of melted butter and lemon, which is what this easy recipe does.
I’m so excited to share this recipe because it makes serving lobster so easy! You don’t have to pick up a live lobster or heat up a big pot of water; you don’t have to wear bibs or crack the claws or do anything else like that (as fun as that can be!).
Instead, I’m using lobster tails, which are a snap to prepare and cooked with no special equipment other than a good pair of kitchen shears.
Trust me, you’re going to love this classic, easy recipe. It’s great for beginners and experienced cooks alike!
Buttery Baked Lobster Tails Recipe
How do you cook a lobster tail in the oven?
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Brush the garlic butter mixture generously over the lobster meat. Place the baking sheet with the lobster tail into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque and cooked through.
How long do you cook a lobster in the oven?
The cooking time for a lobster in the oven depends on its size. As a general rule, you can cook a 1-1.5 pound lobster for about 20-25 minutes. Increase the cooking time by 5-10 minutes for every additional pound. Should I cook the lobster with its shell on or off?
How do you cook cracked lobster claws in the oven?
Place the cracked lobster claws on a separate baking sheet. Brush the remaining garlic butter mixture over the cracked claws. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the claws. Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the meat is tender and fully cooked. Once the lobster tail and claws are cooked, remove them from the oven.
What temperature should lobster tails be cooked at?
The lobster tails should turn opaque and the meat should be tender, with an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C). Garnish and Serve: Once cooked, remove the lobster tails from the oven and let them rest for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top for an extra touch of freshness and presentation.