Cooking Lobster Tails From Frozen

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The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe - the easiest, most delicious way to make broiled lobster tails in your oven in just 10 minutes!

This is the absolute best recipe for a broiled lobster tail dinner - it is super simple, packed with flavor, and users love how it turns out. This is one romantic dinner you don't want to pass up!

Picture of two broiled lobster tails on a baking sheet with lemon wedges.

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10 Minute, Perfectly Broiled Lobster Tails
- What Readers Are Saying About This Lobster Tail Recipe
How To Make Perfectly Broiled Lobster Tails
- Shopping for Lobster Tails: Buying Tips
  - How Lobster is Weighed and Sized
- How Many Lobster Tails to Serve Per Person
- How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails
Broiling Instructions for Lobster Tails
- How Long To Broil Lobster Tail
- When Is Lobster Tail Cooked
How To Serve Lobster Tails
Other Easy Lobster Recipes You'll Love:
To Make Broiled Lobster Tails, You'll Need:
Recipe FAQ's
The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
Sweet Cs Favorite Recipes

Picture of two broiled lobster tails on a baking sheet.

10 Minute, Perfectly Broiled Lobster Tails

This super easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the absolute best way to cook lobster tails at home, ever!

We're giving these beautifully butterflied lobster tails a slightly smoky flavor with a touch of paprika, as well as a sweet and salty hit of butter to bring out that sweet, delicious clean seafood flavor.

If you want a never fail easy oven baked lobster tails recipe, this is it!

Serve with prime rib, pork tenderloin, bacon wrapped scallops, buttery soft rolls, French Vin Chaud, or some Easy Champagne Jello Shots for a memorable romantic dinner!

If you want to try an even easier version, be sure to check out our Instant Pot Lobster Tails recipe based off this very recipe!

While making lobster can be complicated, it really shouldn't be - so we're breaking down the steps in a way that is simple enough for even beginner cooks to understand and make a show stopping meal.

We're going to walk you through the steps to solve problems most people come across when making lobster tails:

what lobster tail to buy - we're going to show you what to buy and give you the confidence to pick the right lobster.
how to prep lobster tails - including how to cut them open, and how to get them ready to cook so you don't ruin your expensive ingredients!
how to cook lobster tails in the oven - using your broiler for the best taste and texture.
how to butterfly a lobster tail
how to cook lobster without any fishy cooking smell.
how to make your lobster look great - using a simple trick that also helps season lobster, too!
what to serve alongside lobster tails - and other recipes you can make with lobster meat - plus more lobster tail recipes!

What Readers Are Saying About This Lobster Tail Recipe

This recipe has been one of the top ranking posts on Sweet C's since 2012 - it is a huge hit every year for holidays, and has become a staple in many reader's homes.

We hope you love this recipe as much as we do.

"I've made lobster tails before, but never broiled. And now I don't think I'll do them any other way. This recipe gave me and my wife four perfect lobster tails. The Old Bay melted butter was a great suggestion, too." - John M.

"I prepared two beautiful tails following your recipe for last night Valentine's dinner. They were sooooo good he asked me to marry him! LOL now back to reality, I have tried several ways of preparing lobster, and I have to admit these were delicious. One bite and it was a wrap we loved it." - Linda Jennings

"Lobster tails were on sale at the grocer last week, so I had to indulge. I stumbled across this quick & easy recipe, as despite the sale price, I didn't want to ruin them. This recipe was so quick & easy. I swapped the paprika with Old Bay, because that was my preference. The tails were perfect! I called a girlfriend & told her about the seafood sale & passed on the recipe. She called me gushing over how yummy hers turned out! Thanks for the easy break down!"- Leslie

How To Make Perfectly Broiled Lobster Tails

This guide will help get you perfect broiled lobster tails, every time - from shopping, storing, prep, cooking - and serving!

Shopping for Lobster Tails: Buying Tips

When looking for a lobster tail at the store, it helps to have a bit of information to buy the best tails!

You want a high end lobster tail with no discoloration on the meat, no fishy smell (it should smell slightly sweet and have a neutral smell), and not look slimy.

Lobster tails should not be soaked or rinsed with sodium tripolyphosphate or other preservative chemicals - and should be fresh-frozen if not live or freshly caught.

How Lobster is Weighed and Sized

Despite being sold by the pound, a single 1-lb. lobster will weigh approximately 14 oz. when cooked.

Lobster will yield 3.5 to 4 oz. of meat when the shell is removed - and this holds true for tails too, as a decent amount of a Lobster tails weight is in the shell (don't worry you're wasting that great shell - you can use it in stocks or soups to get great lobster flavor to other dishes!)

Picture of broiled lobster tail with parsley and lemon wedges on a white painted wood board.

How Many Lobster Tails to Serve Per Person

If you're making lobster tails as the main dish, you'll want to pay attention to the lobster tail size and weight to be sure you have enough lobster to fill you up.

In general, you should plan for about 8-10 oz of cooked lobster tail meat per person if you're serving lobster tails as your main dish - meaning two lobster tails per person, unless they are jumbo lobster tails.

Most often frozen lobster tails that are readily available in grocery stores (not from specialty fishmongers, who will have larger Maine lobster tails more readily) are around 4-6 ounces, so plan on about two per person if making lobster tail your main dish.

Picture of two broiled lobster tails on a baking sheet with lemon slices.

How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tails

While fresh is always best, fresh-frozen lobster tails are delicious when thawed properly.

Always let frozen lobster tails thaw fully before cooking.
Place frozen Lobster tails in the fridge the day before you make these to thaw naturally. We like to let it sit on paper towels to soak up any ice melt.
Submerge frozen lobster tails under cold water for 20 minutes to 30 minutes to thaw rapidly if you can't let them thaw overnight.
You want frozen lobster tails to fully thaw before cooking so meat can cook evenly.
Don't rush the thawing process in the microwave. Defrosting lobster tails in the microwave will make the frozen lobster meat tough.

How to Butterfly Lobster Tails

A simple cut down the top of the shell is all you need to peel back your tail for a beautiful presentation - cut it down the middle for a butterflied tail.

Use sharp kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut the shell, and make a clean cut so you don't get any of the shell on the tail meat.
Cutting the shell open before cooking will speed up your cooking process and make it easier to judge when the lobster tail has fully cooked - as well as give a chance for the lobster tail meat to soak up tons of deliciously rich flavor from the butter.
You can also easily tell when the lobster meat is opaque but opening the tail up, so you don't overcook your lobster tails!
I also try to remove the lobster meat from the shell where they are connected underneath - both to put a lemon wedge down to prop up the meat as it cooks, but also to make it easier to eat when it is done.

Picture of a lobster tail on a white painted cutting board with lemon slices.

Broiling Instructions for Lobster Tails

Broil lobster tail by placing on a baking sheet in the middle rack of the oven, underneath a broiler. Do not place directly underneath the broiler or lobster will burn on top and be raw in the middle.

For best presentation, brush top of lobster tail with melted butter and sprinkle with paprika and white pepper before broiling, so the butter and paprika can cook into top of lobster creating a lovely golden red hue.

How Long To Broil Lobster Tail

This recipe calls for about 10 minutes of cook time - which will vary a bit based on the size of your lobster tail, your oven, and if you preheat the broiler fully before adding lobster tails to oven.

If you have a very large lobster tail it will take a bit longer - but smaller tails should be perfect at around 10 minutes, or about 2 minutes + a minute per ounce.

When Is Lobster Tail Cooked

You can tell a lobster tail has fully cooked when it turns opaque, white, and the shell turns bright red - and the meat has reduced slightly and become firmer.

How To Tell When Lobster Tail is Cooked:

To ensure your lobster tail is perfectly cooked, insert a digital meat thermometer into the fattest part of the lobster tail (take caution to keep the thermometer away from the shell.)
Fully cooked lobster will be 140-145 degrees internal temperature.
Your lobster shell will turn bright white and red when cooked, but look to the meat inside for the most reliable indication.
If your lobster still looks grey it's not cooked - if it is white and pink, it's done.

Do NOT overcook lobster - it will result in tough, gummy meat and a fishier flavor.

How To Serve Lobster Tails

Lobster tail can look a little wimpy on it's own sometimes, so if you're going for a romantic presentation of your lobster dinner for a special occasion and want to know how to wow guests, I have some great tips and tricks for you!

Placing lemon wedges to cook under lobster meat also helps make tails look larger and prettier for a better presentation.
Make sure to have plenty of lemon wedges on the side to squeeze on top for even more lemon juice if you'd like it!
Brush melted butter over the top of lobster as it cooks for a gorgeous golden red appearance.
Serve with melted butter, a butter mixture with old bay stirred in, or lemon juice sprinkled on top.

If you're looking for some delicious side dishes to serve with lobster tail, find our complete side dish recipe archive here, or find some of our favorites below:

The Best Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Perfect Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Keto Garlic Artichoke Rolls Recipe
Easy Roasted Beets and Sweets
The Best Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
The Best Corn Chowder Recipe
The Best Easy No Knead Bread
Easy Roasted Tomatoes Recipe

For keto side dishes that are bursting with flavor, click here.

And for even more seafood ideas that pair with this lobster tail dinner, see our seafood recipe archives here.

Other Easy Lobster Recipes You'll Love:

If you love these easy broiled lobster tails, be sure to check out these other amazingly delicious and super simple lobster recipes that are perfect for a decadent dinner, fast!

The Best Easy Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
Easy Lobster Pasta Recipe
The Best Easy Instant Pot Lobster Tails Recipe
Garlic Butter Naked Lobster Rolls Recipe
The Best Easy Lobster Risotto Recipe
The Best Lemon Garlic Butter Broiled Lobster Tails
Easy Garlic Butter Lobster Skillet Recipe
The Best Easy Lobster Bisque

You can check out my complete Lobster Recipes index here.

To Make Broiled Lobster Tails, You'll Need:

This easy broiled lobster tail dinner is one of my all time favorite meals because it doesn't require anything fancy or any new equipment - even beginner home cooks probably already have all of the tools you need on hand.

Everything is easily found at any grocery store, even lobster tails in most stores!

Baking Sheet
Lobster Tails
Kitchen Shears
Butter
Paprika
Lemon wedges (optional)
Rapid read digital thermometer

Recipe FAQ's

What Temperature Should I Cook Lobster At?

Set your oven's broiler on high - or between 400 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven, so lobster tails don't touch broiler or get so close they burn.

What Should I Season Lobster Tails With?

I use a little paprika, butter, salt, or Old Bay Seasoning to season lobsters.
Use just a pinch, but feel free to try other herbs and spices to your taste.

What temperature is lobster fully cooked?

Lobster is fully cooked at 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit.

What does fully cooked lobster tail look like?

Lobster meat will go from grey and translucent to bright pink and white and opaque when fully cooked.

How can I quickly defrost a frozen lobster tail?

Lobster tails thaw best over night in the refrigerator but can also be thawed in about an hour and a half by submerging in cold water.
Place lobster tails in a plastic bag and submerge in cold water, changing the water every 15 minutes, for about an hour and a half, until lobster tails have thawed.

The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe

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Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This 10 Minute Perfect Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the quickest, tastiest, and easiest way to cook lobster tails- get perfect oven broiled lobster tails every time! The best of the recipes to lobster tail in the oven for a restaurant style lobster tail dinner in under 10 minutes.

Ingredients

2 Lobster tails
1 ½ tablespoon butter, divided
pinch celtic sea salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon white pepper

Instructions

Preheat broiler to high.
Set lobster tails on a baking sheet or in an oven safe dish.
With sharp kitchen scissors or a knife, carefully cut the top of the lobster tail shell down to the tip of the tail, avoiding the meat. Devein and remove any grit if needed.
Carefully pull shell down, so meat looks like it is sitting on top of shell and open.
To make it look even better, slide a lemon wedge or two under the lobster meat in between the meat and the tail.
Mix spices in a small bowl.
Sprinkle with spices.
Add small pats of butter along the lobster tail.
Place in oven on an upper middle rack.
Let cook until meat is opaque and white, about 8-10 minutes.
Remove and serve immediately with drawn butter.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1 tail
Amount Per Serving Calories 208 Total Fat 10g Saturated Fat 6g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 99mg Sodium 554mg Carbohydrates 5g Fiber 1g Sugar 0g Protein 23g

Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.

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