This grilled lobster tail recipe is super easy and results in a succulent smoky flavor that cooks within minutes! To prepare, you will simply butterfly your lobster tails, marinate them with a hickory butter marinade, and grill them to perfection for a juicy savory lobster tail that's sure to please!
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Published: May 21, 2024 | Updated: May 22, 2024
Yesterday I went to Fresh Market saw lobster tails on sale for $8.99 USD! This deal was too good to pass up, so I decided to grab 4 lobster tails for a quick dinner this evening! Grilled lobster tails are always a culinary delight, and super easy to make at home! Continue to reading to learn how I prepare my easy and savory grilled lobster tails in less than thirty minutes!
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How to Select the Right Lobster Tails
When shopping for lobster tails, take care to select wild caught lobster tails that are as fresh as possible. Here are a few high-level tips of what to look for while shopping:
- Color: Select lobster tails that are pretty consistent in color, without too much discoloration. The lobster meat inside the shell should not be gray or discolored.
- Smell: Avoid lobster that has a fishy smell. This means the lobster is not fresh.
- How they’re raised: If possible, try to buy lobster tails that are wild caught and not farm raised. Farm raised lobsters are introduced to antibiotics and do not have the best living conditions. The best lobsters are sourced from areas with cold weather such as Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or certain parts of Canada.
- The Shell: Prior to purchasing, be sure to inspect each lobster shell to ensure it is free of cracks or missing pieces. The shell protects the lobster, which will affect the overall meat quality.
How to Clean Lobster Tails
If you don’t clean your lobster tails, do not invite me over for dinner! Lobsters need to be properly cleaned before serving because they contain a digestive vein (which carries waste), roe, or sand/debris. Here are some tips to properly prepare and clean lobster for grilling:
- Thaw before seasoning: Always try to shop for fresh lobster. However, if this is not possible, be sure to always thaw out your lobster tails prior to cleaning and seasoning. You can do so by allowing the lobster tails to thaw in cold water.
- Rinse Under Cold Water: Lobsters can sometimes carry sand and debris. Prior to seasoning, be sure to rinse each lobster tail under cold water (not warm). Warm water will affect the meat texture, causing it to become stiff and not tender.
- Butterfly & Remove Vein: Take a sharp pair of kitchen scissors and cut down the middle of each lobster, down the tail. Take care to not cut the meat or the tail. You want the tip of the tail to still stay connected to the shell. Once the shell it cut open, and use a knife to remove the digestive vein, roe, or any other debris that does not look edible.
Lobster Tail Cooking Tutorial Video:
Seasoning & Grilling Prep Tips
- Marinade & Seasoning: This recipe is not the traditional garlic and butter mix. I feel that combination is good, but played out. Since we are lighting up the grill, this lobster tail recipe takes simple, hickory flavors to blend with the sweetness of the lobster tail. In the recipe below, be sure to use room temperature unsalted butter. Do not use salted since the McCormick Steak seasoning is savory enough. As all ingredients are combined, it should form a paste like texture.
- Marinade Application: Show your lobster tails some love and massage the steak butter marinade in this recipe on the top and bottom of the lobster tail meat. After applying the steak butter paste to each lobster tail, be sure to take these to the grill before the butter starts to melt.
- Grill Meat Up: Unlike other recipes, do not grill with the meat facing down. This burns the seasoning. Grill with the shell down, occasionally closing the grill lid to infuse a smoky taste in the lobster tails. By cooking meat side up, the butter steak seasoning will slowly start to melt and infuse into the sweet lobster meat throughout the cooking process.
Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe
This grilled lobster tail recipe is super easy and results in a succulent smoky flavor that cooks within minutes! To prepare, you will simply butterfly your lobster tails, marinate them with a hickory butter marinade, and grill them to perfection for a juicy savory lobster tail that's sure to please!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Lobster Tails Butterflied
- 2.5 tbsp Unsalted Butter Room temperature
- 1 tbsp McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning
- .25 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 Lemon
- 1/2 tbsp Italian Flat Parsley Optional
Instructions
- Take unfrozen lobster tails, clean and rinse under cold water to remove any debris. With a sharp pair of kitchen shears, butterfly/cut through the top shell down to the tail fan, careful to avoid cutting the meat. Gently spread the lobster shell apart and locate the dark vein running along the top of the meat. Be sure to remove this and other debris prior to cooking. Rest the lobster meat on top of the shell to prepare for seasoning.
- Take 2.5 tablespoons of unsalted room temperature butter, add this to a small mixing bowl. To the mixing bowl, add 1 tbsp of Montreal Steak Seasoning, and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Take a fork, mix these ingredients together to form a hickory paste. Be sure the butter is not fully melted, it should have a paste texture so it can be easily applied by hand to the lobster meat.
- Rub and apply steak butter marinade to each lobster tail. Show love and massage the top and bottom portion of each tail with the steak butter marinade. Rest each lobster tail meat on top of shell and head to the grill.
- Place lobster tails shell side down on the grill. Cook until opaque, or the internal meat temperature reaches 140F (60 C). Remove lobster tails from grill, take half a lemon, squeeze fresh lemon juice on top of each lobster tail, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve!
Nutrition
Calories: 115kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 11gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 274mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 290IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
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Side Dish Suggestions
This looks so good! We grill lobster every so often, and the coating is a nice touch. We’ve never done that before.
It sounds like an awesome idea as we head right into summer! Perfect for a backyard meal.
Your grilled lobster tail recipe looks mouthwatering and perfect for a summer barbecue! I love how easy you’ve made it to follow—definitely adding this to my must-try list!
Hoo, boy, those look good. I love the seasonings you used. I’ve never grilled lobster tails before, so I can’t wait to try this.
I can almost taste the savory flavors bursting from the grill. Grilling lobster tails at home seems intimidating, but your easy-to-follow steps make it approachable for anyone.
This looks yummy recipe. First time to know about this and my partner and I can try. We try to make new recipes each weekend. Great and easy-to-follow post of this recipe.
This sounds like a definite winner. I love grilled ahrim o. But grilled lobster would be the best!!!
This looks so scrumptious. It’s exactly what I hope to make for my husband’s birthday. I hope it comes out as great as yours. Wish me luck.