Easy and simple, Grilled Lobster Tails are something extra special during the summer months but can actually be made all year long thanks to frozen lobster tails! Ready in minutes and served with a savory Garlic Butter Sauce, you can turn any night of the week into a celebration. 

grilled lobster tails on a white platter with a pan of garlic butter sauce next to it.


Grilled Lobster Tails

Lazy summer days have begun here even though summer hasn’t officially started. We’re already diving deep into all the seafood dinners because when you live on the east coast….you can really get some of the freshest seafood around just about anytime of the season. 

Plus, making any type of seafood on the grill is almost totally mess-free and super quick….especially my favorite Grilled Lobster Tail recipe! This easy dinner comes together quickly and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

Lobster used to be a special occasion dinner when I was little….whenever we’d have lobster, whether it was baked in the oven, steamed or grilled, it meant it was a celebration of something. I never realized until I was older that you can buy frozen lobster tails for fairly inexpensively and they’re just as easy to make as fresh lobster. 

What really makes these Grilled Lobster Tails really amazing is the rich garlic butter sauce which pairs perfectly with the sweet lobster meat. It’s insanely easy to make in about 5 minutes, too, making this a fabulous dinner for summer. 

Grilled Lobster Tails with butter sauce being drizzled overtop.

How to Grill Lobster Tails

If you ever wondered how to cook lobster tails on the grill, today is your lucky day. It’s sooo, sooooo easy to do and one of the BEST ways to cook lobster tail….period.

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 
  2. Drop the lobster tails into the water to par-cook them for approximately 3 minutes.
  3. Immediately transfer the lobster tails to a plate and allow to cool enough to handle.
  4. Taking a sharp knife, carefully cut the lobster tails in half lengthwise.
  5. Brush the lobster meat with olive oil and season with salt/pepper.
  6. Place the lobster tails on a preheat grill (medium high heat), shell side down, and grill for 3-4 minutes.
  7. Flip the lobster tails over and continue to grill for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the lobster meat is no longer translucent. (Be sure not to overcook the lobster because it will dry out quickly.)
  8. Drizzle the lobster tails with the garlic butter sauce and serve with fresh snipped chives or parsley.
Lobster tails on a cutting board being split with a knife.

How to Thaw Frozen Lobster Tail

If you’re going to grill frozen lobster tails, you will first need to thaw them.

  • Place the lobster tails in a zip top bag and seal it shut, pressing out the air to kind of make a vacuum seal bag without the vacuum. By placing your lobster tails in a bag to thaw, you will help keep them from getting water logged which diminishes the flavor.
  • Fill a bowl with cold water and place the bag with the lobster tails in the water.
  • Allow the tails to thaw completely, this will take approximately 1 hour. You can flip the lobster tails over every 15-20 minutes to help speed up the thawing process.

If you would prefer not to cook your lobster tails ahead of time and are looking for instructions on how to butterfly a lobster tail, this video is super helpful. You can then place your lobster tails on the grill shell side down and grill over low heat with the grill lid closed until the lobster meat is cooked all the way through.

Either method works well and is the best way to cook a frozen lobster tail, by far! You get the nice char from the grill with the sweet, buttery lobster meat…it really is a treat for your mouth!

Frozen lobster tails on a white background.
Frozen Lobster Tails in a plastic bag in a bowl of water.

Serving Suggestions

Depending on the time of year, my lobster tail side dishes do vary quite a bit.

Grilled Lobster Tails on a white platter.

More Easy Lobster Recipes

So, there you have it….the BEST summer recipe and I bet everyone would love this for the 4th of July! Best thing is….lobster tails are much less spendy in the summertime so everyone wins when you make these easy Grilled Lobster Tails to celebrate.

Want to see what else we’re cooking up? Be sure to follow us over on Instagram!

grilled lobster tails on a white platter with a pan of garlic butter sauce next to it.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Lobster Tail Recipe

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Summer's best way to cook Lobster Tails, these easy Grilled Lobster Tails are ready in minutes and are virtually mess-free!
5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients

  • 4 Frozen Lobster Tails, Thawed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 tbsp butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives

Equipment

  • grill

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
  • Add the lobster tails to the water and boil for 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool enough to handle.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut the lobster tails in half lengthwise.
  • Brush the lobster meat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the lobster tails, shell side down, on a preheated grill and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Flip the lobster tails and continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the lobster meat is no longer transluscent.
  • Transfer to a platter and keep warm.
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the herbs.
  • Drizzle the butter sauce over the lobster tails and serve immediately.
Calories: 318kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 141mg, Sodium: 472mg, Potassium: 136mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 820IU, Vitamin C: 2.4mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American