Here is everything you need to know to make and serve the best Maine Lobster Rolls! Warm, sweet lobster meat tossed in a cold, creamy, sour mayonnaise mix, and served on toasted, buttery New England hot dog buns!
With plenty of options on side dishes and drinks that pair well with this Maine lobster roll recipe. Also check out my comprehensive post on how to cook lobster for all the tips and instructions.
After going into great detail about how to make soft, tasty New England hot dog buns and how to cook lobster just right, today’s post is the best of my lobster series: the glorious Maine Lobster Roll!
It was love at first bite when I tried a lobster roll for the first time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the upper Midwest. Lobster mixed with mayonnaise, celery, and onions, then squished into a buttery, top-split bun. Served with coleslaw and French fries on the side. Absolute buttery scrumptiousness, and I knew I was hooked.
Lobster rolls are a quintessential summer delicacy that originated in New England. These indulgent sandwiches are made with sweet, tender chunks of lobster meat tucked into a buttered and toasted split-top bun. With its creamy, luxurious filling many find themselves wondering—what should I serve alongside my lobster rolls?
This is an excellent question, as the right side dishes can elevate your lobster roll experience. The key is finding accompaniments that complement and balance out the sandwich’s rich flavors. After thorough research and testing, I’ve compiled the ultimate guide on pairing sides with lobster rolls.
How to Choose Sides for Lobster Rolls
When selecting complementary dishes for lobster rolls there are a few strategies I follow
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Go light or go rich Lobster rolls can be quite heavy due to the mayonnaise-based filling. You can either opt for lighter sides like salads and veggies to prevent overindulgence Or, lean into the decadence with comfort foods like mac and cheese
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Add crunch: The soft, buttery bun and creamy lobster filling means textures are mostly smooth. Bring in some crunch with crispy fries, slaws, or pickle chips.
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Introduce acid: Bright, tangy flavors from acidic ingredients like lemon, vinegar, and tomatoes help cut through the sandwich’s richness.
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Complement the flavors: Ingredients like garlic, chives, tarragon, and Old Bay seasoning mirror the tastes in the lobster salad.
39 Delicious Ways to Serve Lobster Rolls
Based on the pairing strategies above, here are 39 sensational sides to consider with your lobster rolls:
Crisp, Crunchy Sides
- Shoestring fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Tater tots
- Potato chips
- Fried pickle chips
- Coleslaw
- Broccoli slaw
- Kale slaw with lemon dressing
- Cucumber salad
- Radish salad
- Pickled vegetables like carrots, okra, green beans
Leafy Green Salads
- Mixed greens salad with vinaigrette
- Romaine lettuce salad with creamy dressing
- Endive salad with blue cheese crumbles
- Watercress and fennel salad
- Arugula and shaved parmesan salad
- Butter lettuce with herbs
Veggie Sides
- Roasted cauliflower florets
- Sauteed green beans with lemon and garlic
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Steamed asparagus spears
- Roasted brussels sprouts
- Sauteed zucchini ribbons
Hearty Potato Dishes
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Scalloped potatoes au gratin
- Roasted new potatoes
- Salt-crusted baked potatoes
- Hasselback potatoes
- Potato salad with mustard dressing
Fresh Vegetable Salads
- Caprese salad with tomato, basil, and mozzarella
- Greek salad with feta, olives, onion, cucumber
- Roasted beet salad with goat cheese
- Tomato and peach salad
- Watermelon and feta salad
- Corn and avocado salad
Pasta and Grain Salads
- Bowtie pasta salad
- Orzo salad with peppers
- Quinoa tabbouleh
- Farro and kale salad
- Italian pasta salad
- Couscous salad with currants and pine nuts
Hearty Soups and Chowders
- Lobster bisque
- New England clam chowder
- Seafood gumbo
- Crab and corn chowder
- Potato leek soup
- Roasted tomato basil soup
Macaroni and Cheese
- Classic mac and cheese
- Lobster mac and cheese
- Three cheese baked macaroni
- Mac and cheese with bacon
- Jalapeno popper mac and cheese
- Mac and cheese balls
More Indulgent Favorites
- Garlic bread or rolls
- Baked beans
- Collard greens with bacon
- Creamed spinach
- Creamy scalloped potatoes
- Fried green tomatoes
- Hushpuppies
My Top 10 Recommended Sides
If I had to narrow down a list of my personal favorite pairings, here are the top 10 sides I would serve with lobster rolls:
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Coleslaw – The crunchy cabbage and carrots cut through the sandwich’s richness.
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Shoestring fries – You can’t go wrong with crispy, salty fries alongside a lobster roll.
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Greek salad – Briny feta, olives, and tomatoes complement the seafood.
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Lobster mac and cheese – Over-the-top decadence!
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Roasted cauliflower – Nutty cauliflower soaks up all the buttery flavors.
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Potato chips – Salty, crispy chips act as an edible napkin for any fallen fillings.
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Pickles – Tart, crunchy pickles cut through the fat.
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Corn on the cob – Sweet corn paired with sweet lobster is a match made in heaven.
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Tomato and mozzarella salad – Fresh caprese salad balances the richness.
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New England clam chowder – Double up on quintessential New England flavors.
Putting It All Together
Lobster rolls deserve accompaniments as considered as the sandwich itself. Whether you prefer lighter sides or want to indulge, this guide provides endless options for spectacular pairings. For the perfect lobster roll experience, be sure to include a variety of textures and flavors that enhance the components already within the sandwich. With so many possibilities, get creative and have fun finding your favorite lobster roll sides!
How to cook lobster for this lobster roll recipe
There are several ways in which you can cook lobster for these lobster rolls. The easiest is to boil or steam. You can find full instructions in my post on how to cook lobster for lobster rolls. I prefer steaming lobster, because it makes the meat taste sweeter and less diluted.
The minerals in lobster shell taste like sea water, but boiling it can make this flavor less strong. So always steam the lobster meat if you can. This will help the flavors stay in the meat longer. This is the classic way of preparing lobster meat for this lobster roll recipe.
There are more ways to make it taste great. You can poach the lobster meat in butter or grill it to give it a nice smokey char flavor. These methods aren’t classic, but they do add another fantastic layer of flavor.
Usually lobster rolls are made with 1. 25 – 1. 5 pounds of lobster meat, and a good lobster roll usually has meat from one whole lobster, which can weigh between 4 and 5 ounces. Which means, each lobster roll should have at least 4 oz of lobster meat.
It’s usually a mix of claw, knuckle, and tail meat, but some high-end lobster rolls may only have claw meat. Claw and knuckle meat are usually more succulent and flavorful than tail meat.
How to make lobster rolls
Mix all the ingredients that you’ll be using with the mayonnaise. If you want to make a true Maine lobster roll, you can just put mayo, lemon juice, and salt on top of the lobster meat. Or use any of the following options to adapt the flavor to your liking.
- Mayonnaise (essential)
- Lemon juice (essential)
- Salt (essential)
- Celery
- Or celery salt, instead of salt and celery
- Green onions or shallots
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
Chop any onions or celery very finely, and mix with the mayo and other ingredients. I personally prefer a mix of mayo, celery salt, green onions and lemon juice.
Make the mayonnaise mix and mix in the lobster meat. Set it aside until you’re ready to make the Maine lobster rolls.
When I make these lobster rolls, I like to line the New England hot dog buns with lettuce. This keeps the buns from getting soggy from the filling. That’s optional too.
