Though I enjoy cooking lobster tails in the air fryer and on the grill, my grilled lobster tail recipe is my favorite when it’s hot outside. It’s the perfect way to dress up your summer meals for a special event or just because you want to feel a little fancy. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be intimidated by grilling lobster — it’s actually super easy!.
Cooking lobster tail on the grill may seem intimidating but it’s actually quite easy once you know the tips and tricks. With the right techniques you can achieve tender, juicy, flavorful lobster off the grill in your own backyard. Grilled lobster tail makes for an elegant entree for a special occasion or an impressive dish to serve at your next cookout.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook lobster tails to perfection on the grill.
Benefits of Grilling Lobster Tails
There are several advantages to grilling lobster tails rather than boiling, steaming, or baking them:
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More flavor – The smoky char from the grill gives the lobster meat a delicious depth of flavor The shells will turn bright red and take on a slightly charred taste.
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Juicier meat – Grilling cooks the lobster quickly, sealing in the natural juices. The meat comes out tender and succulent.
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Easy to do – Grilling lobster is surprisingly simple. With just a few extra steps like butterflying, it’s no harder than throwing a steak on the grill.
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Fun presentation – Grilled lobster looks impressive served up at the table, especially when you crack open the shell yourself.
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Outdoor cooking – Grilling gives you a reason to fire up the grill and enjoy cooking outdoors.
Shopping for Lobster Tails
When buying lobster tails for grilling, here are a few things to look for:
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Size – Lobster tails are typically sold in a range of sizes from 4 oz to over 12 oz. An 8-10 oz tail is a nice individual portion. Get 4-5 oz tails if serving as an appetizer.
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Quality – Choose lobster tails that are from wild-caught lobsters for the best flavor. They should look clean, shiny, and fresh. Avoid any with discoloration or foul odors.
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Frozen vs. fresh – Both work well, but frozen tails need to be thawed completely before grilling.
I recommend purchasing lobster tails at your local fish market if possible, but high-quality frozen tails can also produce delicious results.
How to Prepare Lobster Tails for Grilling
Before you can grill lobster tails, there are a couple easy steps you need to take first:
Thaw
If using frozen lobster tails, make sure to thaw them completely before grilling. You can thaw overnight in the fridge or place in a plastic bag and submerge in cold water for 30 minutes.
Butterfly
Butterflying the lobster tails allows them to lie flat and cook evenly on the grill. Here’s how:
- Using kitchen shears, cut lengthwise through the top shell, starting from the wider end opposite the fin. Stop when you get to the fin.
- Use a knife to slice the meat down the center.
- Crack the shell open and pull the sides apart slightly to open it up.
- You can use a wooden skewer inserted through the meat lengthwise to prevent curling if desired.
Brush with Oil
Once butterflied, brush the lobster tails lightly with olive oil or melted butter. This helps keep the meat moist and prevents sticking.
Season
Sprinkle the lobster liberally with salt and pepper. I also like to add garlic powder, paprika, lemon pepper, or other seasonings.
That’s all the prep needed – now you’re ready to head outside and grill!
How to Grill Lobster Tails
Grilling the lobster tails takes just 5-10 minutes. Follow these simple steps:
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Heat your grill to medium heat, around 350°F. Oil the grates to prevent sticking.
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Place the lobster tails flesh-side down on the grill. Cook for 5-6 minutes without moving them until the shells begin to turn red.
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Flip and cook for another 2-4 minutes on the second side until the meat is opaque. Brush with melted butter after flipping.
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Check for doneness by confirming the internal temperature reaches 140°F with a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part.
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Serve immediately with lemon wedges. Enjoy with drawn butter for dipping if desired.
The key is grilling the first side longer to cook the meat through about 3/4 of the way, then flipping briefly to finish and add flavor. Resist the urge to flip too early or frequently.
Grilling Times for Lobster Tails
The exact grilling time will vary based on the size of your lobster tails. Use these general guidelines:
- 4-6 oz tails: 4-5 minutes per side
- 8-10 oz tails: 5-6 minutes per side
- 12+ oz tails: 6-8 minutes per side
A good rule of thumb is to grill for around 60-75 seconds per ounce total weight. An 8 oz tail will take 8-10 minutes total time, with 5-6 minutes on the first side.
Check for doneness with an instant-read thermometer to be sure. Undercooked lobster will be chewy and gummy, while overcooking makes it rubbery and dry.
Making Compound Butters
One of my favorite ways to add flavor to grilled lobster tails is brushing them with a savory compound butter after flipping. Here are some easy ideas:
Lemon garlic butter: Mix softened butter with minced garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper
Chili lime butter: Butter blended with lime zest and juice, chili powder, cilantro
Bacon and chive butter: Chopped cooked bacon and chives folded into butter
Sun-dried tomato pesto butter: Butter mixed with sun-dried tomato pesto and basil
Chipotle butter: Butter with pureed chipotles in adobo, cumin, oregano
Get creative and make your own signature lobster butter!
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my favorite sides to pair with grilled lobster tails:
- Grilled or sauteed vegetables like zucchini, asparagus, broccoli
- Fresh green salad or Caesar salad
- Baked potatoes, either wrapped in foil on the grill or started indoors
- Corn on the cob – grill it in the husks!
- Rice pilaf or risotto
- Crusty bread for dipping in the butter
A chilled white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect complement to grilled lobster. I like to keep the sides simple to let the star of the show shine.
Helpful Tips for Grilling Lobster Tails
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If the shell starts to char too much before the inside is cooked, move to a cooler part of the grill.
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Resist the urge to turn the lobster tails too often. Just flip once halfway through.
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Insert a meat thermometer at the thickest part without touching bone.
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Brush off any bits of shell that stick to the meat after grilling.
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Go for a grill basket if your grates are not ideal for holding the tails in place.
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Serve with drawn butter for dipping or lemon wedges to brighten the flavor.
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Leftovers make great lobster salad sandwiches the next day!
Get Ready for Perfectly Grilled Lobster Tails!
Cooking lobster on the grill may seem difficult, but follow this guide and you’ll see how quick and easy it can be. The key steps are thawing, butterflying, seasoning, grilling over medium heat, and resting before serving. In less than 30 minutes, you can have tender, juicy, smoky grilled lobster ready to enjoy with drawn butter and lemon.
Grilled Lobster Tail (Easy & Juicy)
This easy lobster tail recipe with lemon garlic butter is delicious and comes with a time chart and tips for getting the best results.
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- If the tails are frozen, let them thaw overnight in the fridge or for about 30 minutes on the counter in a bag of cold water.
- Over medium heat, heat the grill for 15 minutes or the grill pan for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the lobster tails. Using kitchen shears, cut the shell down the middle along its length, starting at the end that is opposite the tail fins and going all the way down to the tail without cutting it. Do not cut through the bottom shell. Instead, cut through the top shell. Cut the lobster meat through the ridge in the middle with a knife, but don’t cut through the bottom shell. Then, use your thumbs and fingers to spread the shell open. To keep the meat from curling, run a skewer through the middle of it lengthwise.
- Brush the lobster tails with olive oil. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
- Mix the garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl with a whisk. Set aside.
- Put the lobster tails on the hot grill with the meat side down. Leave the food to cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the inside is almost cooked through and starting to brown.
- Turn the lobster tails over and cover half of the meat with the melted garlic butter. Close the lid and grill the 8-ounce tails for an extra 2 to 4 minutes, or until they are opaque. Serve with remaining garlic butter. (If your tails are different sizes, a good rule of thumb for grilling lobster tails is about 60 to 75 seconds for every ounce of tail.) If your lobster tails weigh 8 ounces each, you’ll grill them for 480 to 600 seconds, or 8 to 10 minutes. Five to six minutes of that time would be spent with the meat side down, and the rest of the time would be spent after flipping. ) .
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Why You’ll Love My Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe
- No other way would I want my favorite seafood to be cooked than juicy, tender, and full of flavor! The garlic butter seasoning and the right amount of time on the grill make all the difference. Here is a handy time chart for grilling lobster tails, so you’ll never cook them too long again. ).
- Easy to make—I’ll show you how to do it all! This post will show you how to grill lobster tails the right way, from cutting them in half to seasoning them. It’s very simple once you know what to do.
- Fancy dinner done quickly—I like it when complicated meals are easy to make! My recipe takes about 20 minutes, including the prep time, and you’ll feel like you’re at a fancy restaurant… but better because you get to be outside!
Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe with Garlic Butter (2018)
How long do you cook lobster tails on a grill?
Cover the grill and cook until grill marks appear on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Grill the second side with the garlic butter. Flip the tails and divide the garlic butter onto the meat. Cover and grill until the lobster meat is just cooked through and the garlic butter is melted, 3 to 5 minutes more.
How do you cook a lobster tail?
4. Lobster is grilled over direct medium heat. Rub the flesh with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 5. Grill flesh side down for approximately 5-7 minutes, then flip. Figure another 4-5 minutes after you flip the tail. I am using 6-8 oz. tails here. Finish cooking flesh side up, still over direct heat. 6.
What to do with grilled lobster tails?
Hot Tip: Sprinkle the grilled lobster tail with a garnish of herbs. Fresh parsley and chives are great options and add such a nice pop of color. Lobster tails are best eaten fresh off the grill. However, you can store them for up to a day before they begin to turn.
How do you cook lobster on a grill?
Brush the lobster meat with 1 teaspoon vegetable or olive oil, then season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Place on the grill flesh-side down with the thicker end closer to the hotter parts of the grill. Cover the grill and cook until grill marks appear on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Grill the second side with the garlic butter.