Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter

By · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Succulent lobster tails grilled over wood fire and basted with a vibrant garlic herb butter sauce for a smoky, rich flavor. This seafood ready in about 25 minutes pairs tails (6 oz each) lobster tails, unsalted butter, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Seafood cuisine 380 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Using kitchen shears, cut through the top shell of 4 lobster tails (6 oz each) lengthwise and gently pull the meat upward to rest on top of the shell.
  2. Step 2: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Brush both the lobster meat and shells with 1 tbsp olive oil and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  3. Step 3: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 6 tbsp unsalted butter with 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Keep warm.
  4. Step 4: Place lobster tails meat-side down on the grill and cook for 5 minutes until grill marks appear and meat firms.
  5. Step 5: Flip lobster tails meat-side up and baste generously with the garlic herb butter. Grill for an additional 3 minutes or until lobster meat is opaque and cooked through.
  6. Step 6: Remove from grill and spoon remaining garlic herb butter over the lobster tails before serving immediately.

Equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter take to make?

Total time is about 25 minutes (15 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep unsalted butter from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Wood-Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter?

Seafood seafood like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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