Description
This Garlic Butter Lobster Tails recipe offers a succulent, buttery seafood dish that’s quick and easy to prepare. Perfectly baked lobster tails are topped with a fragrant garlic butter sauce, enhanced by lemon and smoked paprika, and finished with fresh parsley for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails (about 5–6 oz each)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with foil to make cleanup easy.
- Prepare Lobster Tails: Using kitchen shears, carefully cut the top shell of each lobster tail down the center, stopping just before the tail fan to keep the shell intact. Gently pull the lobster meat upward so it rests on top of the shell without detaching it completely.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well to blend all the flavors.
- Apply Sauce: Spoon or brush the garlic butter mixture evenly over each lobster tail, ensuring the meat is well coated for maximum flavor.
- Bake Lobster Tails: Place the prepared lobster tails on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the lobster meat turns opaque and is slightly browned on top.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the lobster tails from the oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over them, and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for a bright, fresh touch.
Notes
- For added flavor and a golden crust, broil the lobster tails for the last 1–2 minutes of cooking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious garlic butter sauce.
- Make sure not to overcook the lobster tails to keep the meat tender and juicy.
- Using fresh garlic and fresh lemon zest significantly enhances the flavor of this recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lobster tail
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 115mg