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Grilled Lobster Tails

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These excellent grilled lobster tails are a succulent meal! Grilling lobster is a great way to cook it - it's easy and brings out the sweet flavor of the lobster.

You'll top the lobster with a lightly spicy Cajun butter sauce and grill it till it's tender but still juicy.

This lobster tail recipe is the best way to enjoy lobster and makes a great lobster dinner. The tails are perfect for a family gathering or a date night. I'll show you how to prep the tails and walk you through the process so you can make a delicious lobster dinner. 

Grilled lobster tails on a white plate.
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If you enjoy lobster, you've got to try these super flavorful grilled lobster tails!

Whether making a special dinner for yourself, your family, or entertaining guests, this simple yet impressive recipe will be a hit! It's tender, moist, and full of flavor. Grilling gives the lobster tails the perfect texture, and cajun seasoning paired with lemon and butter will have everyone wanting more lobster. 

Lobster tails have the most flavor and are where most of the meat of the lobster is, which is why I love cooking the tails. 

Ingredients

Ingredients for grilled lobster tails.
  • Fresh lobster tails
  • Cajun seasoning - a blend of spices like black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper to make the perfect lobster seasoning. 
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Melted butter
  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Fresh lemon juice

You'll also need a grill for cooking - I prefer a gas grill, but a charcoal grill will work if you can keep the temperature stable. 

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

First, warm up your grill. Heat grill to medium heat (375 to 400 degrees F).

Use sharp kitchen shears to cut down the back of each lobster shell until you reach the tail fins. Leave the base of the tail untouched as this will keep the whole tail together. 

Four lobster tails cut down the back on a cutting board with a pair of kitchen scissors.

Pull the shell back slightly, use your fingers to separate the meat from the shell. 

Press a metal skewer (if using wooden skewers, first soak in water for about 30 minutes) into the bottom part of the lobster tail from the top to the tail. This will keep it from curling on the grill.

Brush the lobster tails with the olive oil and sprinkle on half the Cajun seasoning.

Lobster tails with skewers through them topped with cajun seasoning.

Combine the melted butter, remaining Cajun seasoning, chopped parsley, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Stir to combine.

Cajun butter sauce in a white ramekin with a brush.

Place the lobster cut side down for 4 to 5 minutes on the grill grates. Flip the tails and brush them with the butter sauce. Grill lobsters for a few more minutes until the shell is bright red and there is no translucent flesh.

Lobster tails with skewers through them on the grill.

Remove the tails from the grill and serve immediately.

What to Serve with Grilled Lobster Tails

  • Parmesan Green Beans - these green beans are roasted with Panko and parmesan to create a delicious side dish.
  • The Best Green Salad Recipe - the name says it all for this recipe! With a mustardy dressing and Romano cheese tossed with butter lettuce and Panko breadcrumbs, this makes an irresistible side dish to any seafood recipe, especially lobster. 
  • Italian Tomato Salad - with ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs, and sliced shallots, this light but flavorful salad pairs well with grilled lobster tails. 
  • Roasted Broccolini - this lemony, salty dish is the perfect simple side to lobster tails and is what you would expect at a fancy restaurant. You can roast these in the oven while your lobster is grilling for a fast and easy side dish. 

More Seafood Recipes

If you love seafood, check out some of our other seafood recipes. 

  • Lobster Tail and Garlic Butter Sauce - this baked lobster tail is paired with a garlic herb butter, lemon wedges, and delicious spices that make a decadent lobster tail recipe. Double the simple garlic butter in the recipe and use it with roasted veggies for a delicious, easy side. 
  • Baked Whitefish - a white fish with lemon, a little olive oil, garlic powder, and fresh herbs. This easy recipe is ready in 30 minutes. Even non-fish eaters will love this one!
  • Honey Garlic Shrimp - this is a great recipe for busy weeknights! It's full of flavor and can be eaten over rice for the perfect dinner. 
  • 30 Delicious Seafood Recipes - we rounded up our 30 favorite seafood recipes. There's something for everyone on this list. 

Storage

Store lobster tails in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat them in the oven and pour melted butter on top of the tails if they seem dry.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Selecting the best lobster tails - Whether shopping at grocery stores or fish markets, try to find cold water lobster tails, which generally taste better. Look for tails that aren't damaged with cracks. They should have a brown shell (it turns red upon cooking) and no off-putting odor. 

Cooking Tips - When the shell is bright red and there is no translucent flesh, the lobster is done. You can also use an instant-read thermometer - when the internal temperature is 140 degrees F, the lobster is safe to eat. Just don't overcook and dry out the lobster meat.

Recommended Tools - Using a pair of sharp kitchen shears to cut the shell of the lobster tail will save you time and energy. You can use a sharp knife in a pinch, but a good pair of kitchen shears make the process much easier.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.

Yield: 4 servings

Grilled Lobster Tails

Grilled lobster tails on a white plate.

These succulent grilled lobster tails with Cajun butter are a delicious meal.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 lobster tails
  • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Heat grill to medium heat (375 to 400 degrees F).
  2. Use kitchen scissors to cut down the back of each lobster shell until you reach the tail. Leave the base of the tail untouched, as this will keep the whole tail together. 
  3. Pull the shell back slightly, and use your fingers to separate the meat from the shell. 
  4. Press a skewer into the bottom part of the lobster tail from the top to the tail. This will keep it from curling on the grill.
  5. Brush the lobster tails with the olive oil and sprinkle on half the Cajun seasoning.
  6. Combine the melted butter, remaining Cajun seasoning, chopped parsley, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
  7. Place the lobster cut side down for 4 to 5 minutes on the grill. Flip the tails and brush them with the butter sauce. Grill them for a few more minutes until the shell is bright red and there is no translucent flesh.
  8. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature - when the lobster flesh reaches 140 degrees F, it's done.
  9. Remove the tails from the grill and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 204Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 511mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 23g

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