After a delicious lobster dinner, you might be wondering what else goes well with lobster. This guide has all the answers. It includes the best sides, dips, and other foods that will make your lobster feast epic.
Lobster is decadent, tender, and delicious. When preparing a meal featuring this luxurious crustacean as the star of the show, you’ll want to pick complementary side dishes that enhance the sweet succulence of the lobster meat without overpowering it. The right sides should provide a balance of flavors and textures to create a well-rounded dining experience.
In this article, I’ll recommend 10 delicious side dish options to serve with lobster, including classic pairings as well as creative recipes. I’ll also offer tips on how to select and prepare sides that will allow the lobster flavor to shine
Complementary Flavors and Textures
Lobster has a sweet, briny seafood flavor and a tender, flaky texture when properly cooked. The best side dishes will complement these characteristics.
Flavors – Opt for sides with acidic herbal starchy, or buttery flavors. These balance and accentuate the natural sweetness of lobster meat without competing.
Textures – Crispy, crunchy, creamy, or chewy textures contrast nicely with lobster’s softness. Varying textures makes the meal more dynamic.
Colors – Vibrant colors like green, red, orange liven up the plate. Avoid sides that blend in visually.
Richness – Too much richness can overpower lobster. Include some lighter sides along with decadent ones.
Keeping these elements in mind, here are 10 stellar options for lobster side dishes:
10 Side Dishes to Serve with Lobster
1. Drawn Butter
Melted butter is the classic pairing, drizzled over lobster meat or used for dipping. For best flavor, use clarified butter.
2. Lemon Wedges
A squeeze of lemon brightens lobster’s brininess. Cut wedges and place on plates for individual seasoning.
3. Corn on the Cob
In season sweet corn complements lobster’s sweetness. Grill or roast for caramelization.
4. Coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw with tangy dressing is a perfect foil for rich lobster.
5. Potato Salad
Creamy potato salad provides comforting starchiness to balance the lobster.
6. Pasta Salad
Chilled pasta salad with vegetables tosses well with lobster chunks.
7. Green Salad
A light salad with vinaigrette dressing adds freshness. Top with lobster meat.
8. Macaroni and Cheese
For ultimate indulgence, nothing beats lobster baked into creamy, cheesy mac and cheese.
9. Clam Chowder
New England style chowder loaded with clams, potatoes, and cream makes a regional pairing.
10. Steamed Mussels or Clams
Match lobster with other steamed shellfish like mussels or clams with garlic broth.
Preparing the Perfect Sides
Pick 2-3 complementary sides and follow these tips for preparation:
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Make ahead – Prepare vegetable sides and salads early so flavors blend.
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Cook separately – Avoid cooking lobster and sides together so flavors stay distinct.
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Sauces on the side – Offer sauces separately so guests can control application.
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Watch oven space – If baking lobster and sides, ensure even cooking with oven rotation.
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Check seasoning – Taste test sides and adjust herbs, salt, pepper to enhance but not overwhelm lobster flavor.
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Eye appeal – Arrange sides attractively around lobster for a pretty platter presentation.
With the right balance of flavors, textures, colors and preparation, delicious side dishes can make your lobster feast complete. Stick to 2-3 options and focus on classic pairings or your personal favorites. Just be sure not to overpower the starring attraction – the lobster!
Lobster Tails and Sides
Lobster tails undoubtedly the most popular part of the lobster to serve and enjoy. Adding a steak and baked potato to lobster tail can be a simple way to make it taste like you’re at a steakhouse.
- If you want to try something new with your lobster, try a green bean salad instead of coleslaw. The richness of the seafood will go well with it.
- A great root vegetable to serve with lobsters is baby carrots that have been glazed with a little brown sugar.
- Cherry tomatoes drenched in olive oil, salt, pepper, and maybe a handful of torn basil leaves go well with fresh green beans that have been blanched.
- String beans and broccoli topped with butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese taste great. You can also mix green and white beans and top them with lemon juice and fresh herbs.
- Grilled or steamed asparagus is enjoyable with lobster. A simple dressing is made of lemon juice and olive oil. If you want to try something new, a sesame mayonnaise dip or sesame oil dressing will make your asparagus dish taste amazing.
- A simple tomato and cucumber salad is great with fresh seafood in the summer, especially when it’s hot outside.
- A light vinaigrette dressing goes well with penne pasta salad. It can be served on its own or with a traditional salad.
- A crisp Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce and Parmesan cheese is a better side dish, especially if you add lots of crunchy croutons on top.
Love Butter? Get ideas for butters for your lobster dinner.
There are a lot of different things that go well with lobster, from the classics like a baked potato topped with butter and sour cream to roasted potatoes. Want something a little different, how about creamy and sumptuous risotto? Here are a few ideas.
- Some people like to start or end a lobster dinner with baked potatoes topped with sour cream and butter. Boil some red bliss potatoes, cut them up, and add chopped chives and mayonnaise to make a simple potato salad. Instead, you could serve your lobster dish with baked little fingerling potatoes in olive oil.
- Macaroni and cheese is a family favorite with lobster. You can always mix them together and make Lobster Mac and Cheese.
- You can serve lobster with risotto, but rice pilaf is a better choice for a lighter meal. To make a rice pilaf that goes well with lobster, cook the rice in seafood broth (you can add a splash of dry white wine if you want) and season it with salt and pepper.
- Boston baked beans are a mainstay in New England and go well with a lobster bake in the backyard.
A simple choice is crusty bread, which is great for sopping up all those juices, especially from clams or mussels (see below).
Let’s celebrate lobster and all things seafood. Sometimes the best side dish with lobster is more seafood. For the ultimate lobster pair, what could be better than a seafood tower with steamed shrimp, shucked oysters, and lobster? A simple bowl of lobster bisque is all you need to serve lobster.
Of course, clam chowder is usually served with lobster. For a real taste of New England, make New England Clam Chowder with native clams, spices, and potatoes.
You could slowly cook steamer clams in water, dry white wine, bay leaf, and your favorite herbs for a lighter broth. You could also serve fresh dug steamer clams on the side. Their sweet flavor goes well with the lobster.
A classic seafood dish that is easy to make (only takes 5–6 minutes) is farm-raised mussels steamed with white wine, fresh garlic, and parsley. Serve steamed mussels as a starter or on a large platter with steamed lobsters.
Grilled or baked scallops make another ideal accompaniment to lobster. If you want to bake scallops, this recipe is simple. Cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce add a little heat to the seafood.
What Goes Best with Lobster?
Lobster dinners are an event unto themselves. When lobster is the star of the show, you might be wondering what to serve it with. This sweet and succulent sea treasure is delicious on its own, but it can also be used in a huge number of different ways.
There are so many things to do with lobster that the lobster side dishes are limitless. Here are some tasty side dishes that go well with lobster, from lobster eggs benedict to your favorite lobster thermidor recipe. Check them out!
The best side dishes for seafood
What salad goes with lobster tails?
Fresh and light, this Mango Coleslaw combines crisp vegetables and sweet, fresh fruit for a tasty side that goes perfectly with lobster tails. This Lemon Orzo Salad is flavorful, fresh, and healthy. It’s also loaded with asparagus and herbs to make it a perfect pasta salad side dish for any meal!
What is a good side dish for lobster?
Find crowd-pleasing side dishes for lobster such as corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, Caesar salad, clam chowder, and more. Get the lobster side dish ideas here.
What to serve with a lobster dinner party?
If you’re hosting a lobster dinner party, add a delicious side of watermelon caprese to your menu. This refreshing dish combines juicy watermelon squares with slices of mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze. It’s a sweet-salty delight perfect to serve with your favorite lobster dishes. 19. Red Potato Salad
What to eat with lobster tail?
This can include side dishes such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or macaroni and cheese. Balance: Lobster tails are rich in flavor and texture, so serving them with lighter sides helps to balance out the meal. For example, a light salad or steamed vegetables will help cut through the richness of the lobster tail without overpowering it.