This air fryer lobster tail recipe is a mouthwatering dinner made with lobster tails, and smothered with a garlic, herb, and buttery sauce; truly making recipe is the ultimate indulgence!
Are you a lobster fan looking to have a tail ready to eat in under ten minutes? Pop your lobster tail in your air fryer and you’ll have just that!
Air fryers can be used for many reasons, and if you are wondering which air fryer to use, we have the Crux air fryer, and a full post on the different types of air fryers you can choose from. And if you haven’t purchased one already, this recipe will convince you to buy an air fryer tomorrow!
No need to travel to the restaurants and spend a lot of money. This recipe is fancy enough to enjoy the same experience as you would at a 5-star restaurant. This is perfect for a date night.
When it comes to putting it all together, a beautiful table setting is key but the food will do all the talking for you!
Ingredients
This ridiculously delicious air fryer lobster recipe comes together quickly and easily.
You’ll for sure impress your favorite people with this beautiful lobster tail recipe. It is very simple to prepare. This is the type of meal you’ll want to prepare for Valentine’s Day.
The main ingredient, obviously, is lobster tail. Tails are a fabulous part of the lobster, offering a hearty piece of meat with texture and flavor, and only purchasing the tail saves you a fortune in comparison to buying the entire lobster.
Aldi has a great selection on lobster tail – depending on your location, of course. You may also purchase lobster from any major grocery store.
To perfectly complement the lobster tail, you’ll also be making a garlic butter sauce. This will coat the lobster before you pop it in your air fryer and halfway through the cooking process, adding flavor and brightening the meat.
The butter sauce is simply made of butter, lemon juice, and seasonings. We prefer salt, pepper, garlic, thyme and rosemary, and a dash of paprika, but you can easily make it your own with Old Bay, chili pepper, or saffron.
How to Buy Lobster
Starting off with a generous size lobster tail. Keep in mind, the larger the lobster, the more meat it has. This is important! Lobster can be very expensive, so we recommend shopping around and find ways to get the best for your buck.
Instead of buying fresh lobster, which we recommend, consider buying the frozen ones to save money. Do your best to avoid purchasing lobster tails that are bathing in sodium tripolyphosphate as it will decrease your chances of it tasting like ammonia.
Check your lobster tail color. Skip the discolored lobster tail. You lobster should have an even tone color. It is best to shop around.
How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail:
To butterfly a lobster tail is very simple. The only tool you’ll need is a sharp pair of kitchen scissors. When you butterfly your lobster tail, this will make it easier to eat and has a more elegant look when plated.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Use a sharp pair of kitchen scissors. Place the lobster tail on a cutting board, cut down the middle of the back towards the lobster tail.
- Next, slowly, and carefully pull up the lobster meat in one piece. The meat should still be attached at the bottom of the tail.
- Once you see and place the lobster meat on top of the shell, close shell around the bottom of the meat.
- As the lobster is air frying, it will expand slightly and will have an elegant fan shape presentation that’s very similar to the restaurants’ style.
How To Cook Lobster Tail – Different Cooking Methods
There are many ways you can cook lobster tail. However, it is easy to overcook lobster tails. Be sure to pay close attention to the lobster so they are not overcooked in the air fryer or other cooking methods.
Cooking lobster tail in the air fryer: When cooking lobster in the air fryer, the shell will turn color into a beautiful light pink/red color. In the air fryer cook the lobster for about 8 minutes (depending on the size, of course).
Boiling lobster tail: When it comes to boiling lobster, it is best to remember for every ounce, it takes 1 minute of boiling process.
Baking lobster tail: When baking lobster tails, spread them part and bake until they turn a light pink/redish color.
With either method, the center of the lobster will reach 145*F for best results.
Preparation Tips
- Before cooking your air fryer lobster tail, make sure you butterfly your lobster tail, which means cutting the shell and spreading the meat apart to resemble the shape of a butterfly. This will allow the meat to cook evenly, and it’ll look much prettier. Also be sure to devein the lobster because no one wants to eat that.
- Cooking with an air fryer is similar to cooking with an oven – it takes trial and error to learn. The lobster tails will be ready in under ten minutes, but the exact cooking time will vary from air fryer to air fryer, depending on true internal temperature, size of the tail, and your personal preference. If you’re unsure, cook until the meat is opaque.
Serving Tips
Lobster can be served so many wonderful ways. The best way to enjoy your air fryer lobster tail is as the entree, but don’t forget all the delicious sides.
Serve your air fryer lobster tail with steamed vegetables like these air fryer green beans, and a side of rice, like this dill rice, Haitian rice and beans, or this Haitian black rice.
We also like carrots like this instant pot glazed carrots, or these stovetop carrots. Steamed broccoli and zucchini. Or, if you’d prefer, add a cut of sirloin steak for a hearty surf and turf meal, consider this delicious Steak Au Poivre (Pepper Steak).
Enjoy your lobster roll with a dinner roll like these ultra-soft milk buns or a baked potato, and don’t forget the extra butter, lemon wedge, beet root salad, and fresh parsley or preferred herbs on top.
No matter how you consume it, your air fryer lobster tail will not disappoint!
Storage and Repurposing Tips
When thinking about meal prep meats, lobster likely doesn’t come to mind. But if you’ve prepared lobster tails in your air fryer, there are tons of ways to repurpose it throughout the week.
First, be sure to store your lobster tail in the fridge in an airtight container, as it is susceptible to taking on rogue odors and flavors, as well as spreading them.
Once it’s time to repurpose it, pop your lobster tail back in the air fryer just long enough to warm it through, then toss it on top of a salad or on a brioche bun for lobster rolls.
If you’d rather, chop it up and use in a mixture for stuffed avocados, or find a recipe for lobster cargot.
You can also toss it over linguine shrimp with a lemon butter sauce for a wonderful pasta dish, too. The possibilities are endless for air fryer lobster tail.
More Air Fryer Recipes To Enjoy
If you loved this air fryer lobster tail recipe, try this air fryer garlic butter shrimp recipe next. We also recommend trying of these recipes:
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Air Fried Lobster Tail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Lobster Tails Size vary based on budget. We recommend about 6 ounces.
- 2 Tbsp. Fresh Parsley; Chopped
- 4 Rosemary Sprigs; Chopped
- Juice From 1 Lemon
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 5 Tbsp. Butter Melted
- 2 Tsp. Garlic Cloves Or Garlic Powder
- 2 Tsp. Paprika
- ½ Tsp. Kosher Salt
- ½ Tsp. Black Pepper
Instructions
- Wash then butterfly the lobster tails. See recipe notes below. Set aside. Next, in a separate bowl, combine the herbs and remaining ingredients. Mix well to combined. Reserve about ¼ cup for dipping in a separate bowl and set aside.
- Using a pastry brush, apply the butter mixture over the lobster meat. Drizzle with olive oil (optional) and air fry at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until the meat is cooked and reaches 145°F in the middle. Apply more of the mixture halfway through the cooking process. When the lobster tail is done cooking, serve with the reserved dipping sauce and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Use a sharp pair of kitchen scissors. Place the lobster tail on a cutting board, cut down the middle of the back towards the lobster tail.
- Next, slowly, and carefully pull up the lobster meat in one piece. The meat should still be attached at the bottom of the tail.
- Once you see and place the lobster meat on top of the shell, close shell around the bottom of the meat.
- As the lobster is air frying, it will expand slightly and will have an elegant fan shape presentation that’s very similar to the restaurants’ style.
Tayler
I absolutely love lobster, so I can’t wait to try this air fryer recipe! So easy!
Beth
Yum! These are so good I could eat the whole plate! Thanks!
Jacqueline
I love using my air fryer. It’s just so convenient and quick.
Mirlene
Thank you
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Lobster is such a treat and I would never have thought of using the airfryer. Looks delicious.
Savita
This looks so amazing. I never had lobster before but this is making me try it. Too tempting.
Jeannet
We are so looking forward to trying this recipe. We love lobster. This is a great way to get a restaurant quality at home.
Mirlene
Thank you!
Dannii
I never would have thought to do lobster tail in the air fryer. Such a great idea!
Tara
Such gorgeous lobster tails! You had me at garlicky and stress-free. Definitely a wonderful option for an easy, yet indulgent date night at home.
Maria San Juan
Lovely! I want to make this in the future! Thanks for sharing!
Julie
Oh wow!
This recipe is definitely next level. How amazingly lush in the garlic, butter saffron sauce. Thank you so much for sharing.
Mirlene
Thank you very much, Julie!
Irina
Your lobster tail recipe is mouthwatering!.. I have recently bought an air fryer and am looking forward to using it. Well, I will sure surprise my family this weekend by making your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Mirlene
Thank you so much!