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Coated in garlic butter sauce and so tender, Air Fryer Lobster Tail is the best way to cook lobster! Ready to eat in less than 10 minutes in the air fryer. Use fresh or frozen lobster tails!
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Lobster Tails
- Air Fried Lobster Tail Ingredients
- Isabel's Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Lobster Tail
- How to Butterfly Lobster Tail
- How to Air Fry Lobster Tails (Step-by-Step)
- How to Defrost Frozen Lobster Tails
- Lobster Tail in the Air Fryer Recipe Tips
- Surf and Turf Recipe
- Air Fryer Lobster Tails FAQ
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- Reviews
Air Fryer Lobster Tails
One of my favorite meals to enjoy as a special occasion Sunday dinner for two is a steak and lobster dinner. There is nothing quite like the pairing of buttery soft steak with juicy, tender lobster tails. And by far, my favorite way to cook lobster tails is in the air fryer!
This recipe for lobster tail in the air fryer has it all. The lobster tail is so tender and flavorful from a nice coating of garlic butter sauce, and it all cooks in less than 10 minutes.
If you're not familiar with cooking lobster tails, don't worry! This lobster tail air fryer recipe could not be easier. Plus, I'll show you how to butterfly lobster tails and, if you're planning on using frozen, how to thaw lobster tails. Make it with my Air Fryer Filet Mignon!
I’m so excited that my air fryer lobster tailed turned out excellent the very first time. It was so easy!!! I’ll never buy prepared lobster tails again!!
Sharon on Pinterest
Air Fried Lobster Tail Ingredients
- Lobster Tails: Fresh or frozen. If you buy frozen lobster tails, you'll want to thaw them first. See my thawing tips just below. You can use the leftover shells to make Lobster Stock.
- Garlic Butter: For my homemade garlic butter sauce, you'll need fresh garlic, parsley, and - of course - butter! A garlic press makes this easier.
- Lemon: In my opinion, every good seafood recipe is even better with a squeeze of lemon. This is definitely true for lobster tails.
- Salt: Use sea salt flakes (my favorite!) or kosher salt. Avoid table salt.
- Black Pepper: I like to use freshly ground black pepper.
- Parsley: For garnish, but that pop of green and bright flavor is wonderful with the rich garlic butter and buttery lobster flavor!
Isabel's Top Tip
Garlic butter is my favorite pairing with this air fryer lobster tail recipe, but you can also try it with lemon butter sauce or cowboy butter. If you use lemon butter sauce, brush with plain butter when air frying, then pair with the sauce when plating.
Isabel's Air Fryer
It's amazing what you can cook with an air fryer! I love mine and highly recommend it. It even has a steaming function to re-hydrate stale bread!
photo courtesy of Our Place
Air Fryer Lobster Tail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 4 oz. lobster tails
- 4 Tablespoons garlic butter
- ½ lemon - cut into wedges
- Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
- Chopped parsley - for garnish
Instructions
How to Butterfly Lobster Tail
- Using kitchen scissors, cut lengthwise through the center of the shells. Cut through about ¾ of the lobster tail, but do not cut all of the way through.2 4 oz. lobster tails
- Carefully spread the shell open where you cut. Place your fingers under the meat in the shell and firmly, but gently, pull it out in one piece. Close the shell so the lobster meat rests on top of the shell.
Air Frying Lobster Tail
- Melt garlic butter (salted butter mixed with garlic and parsley) over medium heat in a small saucepan.4 Tablespoons garlic butter
- Transfer 2 Tablespoons garlic butter sauce to a small bowl. Brush the lobster tail meat with it and season with salt and pepper to taste.Salt,Pepper
- Place lobster tails in the air fryer basket with the meat facing up. Air fry lobster at 380°F for 5-7 minutes, until the lobster meat is opaque.
- Squeeze lemon wedges over the lobster tails and serve with the leftover garlic butter sauce for dipping. Top with chopped parsley if desired.½ lemon,Chopped parsley
Notes
- When the lobster tails are done, the meat will be opaque. This takes about 5-7 minutes for 4 ounce lobster tails. I recommend checking at 5 minutes and if they're done, remove and serve; if not, add another minute.
- You can use frozen lobster as long as you thaw it first. See Air Fried Lobster Tails FAQs (click to jump) for how to thaw lobster tails.
- If you don't have kitchen scissors, you can use a sharp knife, but be extra careful not to cut through the bottom of the shell. You want to only cut the top shell to pull the meat out through the top.
- Keep reading for more tips!
Nutrition
How to Butterfly Lobster Tail
- Using kitchen scissors, cut lengthwise through the center of the shells. Cut through about ¾ of the lobster tail, but do not cut all of the way through.
- Carefully spread the shell open where you cut. Place your fingers under the meat in the shell and firmly, but gently, pull it out in one piece. Close the shell so the lobster meat rests on top of the shell.
How to Air Fry Lobster Tails (Step-by-Step)
- Start by butterflying your lobster tail.
- Melt garlic butter (salted butter mixed with garlic and parsley) over medium heat in a small saucepan.
- Transfer garlic butter sauce to a small bowl. Brush the lobster tail meat with it and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place lobster tails in the air fryer basket with the meat facing up. Air fry lobster at 380°F for 5-7 minutes, until the lobster meat is opaque.
- Squeeze lemon wedges over the lobster tails and serve with the leftover garlic butter sauce for dipping.
How to Defrost Frozen Lobster Tails
You can defrost frozen lobster tails safely one of two ways:
- Place the frozen lobster tails in a tightly-sealed bag on a plate in the refrigerator overnight to thaw the night before you plan on cooking them. This is the safest and easiest way to defrost frozen lobster tails, but if you're in a hurry, you can use the second method below.
- Add the frozen lobster tails to an airtight zip-top plastic bag. Place the bag in cold water. Make sure the water is cold, not warm or hot. Change the water every 30 minutes or so until the tails are defrosted. Usually, this takes about an hour.
Lobster Tail in the Air Fryer Recipe Tips
- Try my favorite 10-Quart Air Fryer for this and other air fryer recipes.
- When the lobster tails are done, the meat will be opaque. This takes about 5-7 minutes for 4-ounce lobster tails. I recommend checking at 5 minutes, and if they're done, remove and serve; if not, add another minute.
- You can use frozen lobster as long as you thaw it first. See defrosting tips above!
- If you don't have kitchen scissors, you can use a sharp knife, but be extra careful not to cut through the bottom of the shell. You want to only cut the top shell to pull the meat out through the top.
Surf and Turf Recipe
For an excellent Sunday dinner for two, serve air fryer lobster tail with steak! It's also easy to make steak in the air fryer for an air fryer surf and turf. Try my Air Fryer Filet Mignon!
Air Fryer Lobster Tails FAQ
The trick to perfectly cooking frozen lobster tails well is to properly thaw them. So, before you air fry lobster tail, thaw it first. How to thaw lobster tail: place the tails in bags with the air pressed out on a plate, then place them in the refrigerator overnight.
If you want to thaw lobster tails quickly, place them in bags with the air pressed out, then thaw them under cold running water for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Make sure the bags don't have any holes in them before placing them under running water. After thawing, pat dry before cooking.
Griff says
To make this even more decadent, put crab cake stuffing in the shell where the lobster meat was.
Em Beitel says
Griff, that's an amazing idea! That sounds just delicious! Thank you for the suggestion.
Eddie says
I have never had a lobster tail look like it was made in a restaurant now. Thanks for explaining how to get the meat on top of the shell. Not only does this recipe taste great but my lobster look awesome also.
Isabel Laessig says
That's awesome, Eddie! Thank you very much - I'm glad you enjoyed it!