Description
This Garlic Butter Baked Lobster Tails recipe delivers succulent lobster meat brushed with a rich blend of garlic, lemon, and smoked paprika butter, baked to perfection. Ideal for an elegant seafood dinner, this dish is simple to prepare and full of flavor, perfect for holidays or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 4 lobster tails (5–6 oz each)
Butter Mixture
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with foil to make cleanup easy.
- Cut and Expose Lobster Meat: Using kitchen shears, carefully cut down the top center of each lobster tail shell, stopping just before the tail fin. Gently lift the lobster meat through the slit and rest it on top of the shell, keeping it attached at the base to maintain shape.
- Make Garlic Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Brush Lobster Meat: Generously brush the exposed lobster meat with the prepared garlic butter mixture, ensuring even coverage to infuse rich flavors.
- Bake Lobster Tails: Place the lobster tails on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until the meat is opaque and slightly firm to the touch.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove from the oven, brush with any remaining garlic butter for extra flavor, and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
Notes
- For extra flavor and a lightly browned top, broil the lobster tails for the final 1–2 minutes of cooking.
- Serve lobster tails with melted butter, steamed rice, or a light green salad for a complete meal.
- Handle lobster shells carefully when cutting to avoid injury.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lobster tail
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
