Air Fried Lobster Tail Recipe (Fast & Easy)

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This Air Fryer Lobster Tail Recipe is easy and delicious, and can be prepared quickly in your Air Fryer. It's also coated with a tasty garlic butter sauce and air-fried to perfection.

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Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips/tricks in the blog post.

When I first became obsessed with my Air Fryer a few years ago, a friend of mine suggested that I try cooking lobster tails in it. I was intrigued, yet cautious. Lobster tails aren’t cheap, and I wasn’t sure if it would work.

Traditionally, I was taught to boil lobster tails in water. The same with crab legs. But I gave it a try and I’m hooked. Now, any time I can find lobster tails on sale, I grab a few and we eat them for dinner.

Lobster is notoriously difficult to get right, and even the most experienced chef can end up with rubbery, overcooked seafood. That's why air fryer lobster tails are so good. You don't need any special skills or equipment, and you can have perfectly cooked lobster on your plate in just a few minutes.

For this recipe, you will want to do the following:

Butterfly your lobster tail
Make garlic butter
Air Fry your lobster tail with butter on top
Have extra butter for dipping if you like

A Quick Look at The Ingredients

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Lobster tails - I prefer to find some that are medium-sized, about 5-6 ounces each. If they are frozen, defrost them.
Garlic butter mix - unsalted butter, minced garlic, salt, chives, and fresh lemon juice.

How to cook lobster tail in the air fryer

First, gather your ingredients and create your garlic butter mixture. I combine butter, minced garlic, freshly chopped chives, salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice and microwave until melted. You could also use this garlic butter mixture I use in this steak recipe.

Then butterfly your lobster tails.

Then, place the lobster tails in your air fryer and spread some garlic butter over them. Close the air fryer and cook at 380°F for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, open the air fryer basket, add more butter on top, and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

hand brushing garlic butter over lobster tails

Serve and enjoy.

How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail?

The butterflying of lobsters is very easy, making the lobster meat easier to eat. It also looks pretty on a plate. The only tools you can use are sharp kitchen scissors and your hands.

First, cut the top shell with sharp kitchen shears down the middle, being careful not to cut through the meat. Then, slide your finger under the shell to gently separate the lobster meat from the shell. Once the meat is separated from the shell, pull it through the slit you cut and rest it on top.

If your lobster tail needs to be deveined, devein it at this time.

step by step photo collage of how to butterlfy a lobster tail.

Tanya's Top Tips

The size of your lobster tails will determine how long you need to cook them. At a minimum, they will need 6 minutes if they are on the smaller side, which is approximately 2 ounces. The ones pictured here took me the full 8 minutes to complete and weighed about 5 ounces each.
Have fun with the butter topping. Feel free to use Cajun butter, jerk butter, or plain butter. You could even not use any butter at all. Butter is optional, just highly recommended.

cooked lobster tails in air fryer basket

I hope you enjoy these lobster tails as much as we do. I’m so thankful to have friends who give great ideas when it comes to Air Fryer cooking.

How to store

To refrigerate: Cooked lobster tails can be enjoyed hot or cold. Once cooked and cooled, place any leftover lobster tails in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. If heating up, do so gently so that the lobster warms through without overcooking.

To freeze: It is perfectly safe to freeze cooked lobster. Once cooked and cooled, wrap the whole tail, including the shell, in freezer-proof clingfilm and a layer of kitchen foil, and store for up to 3 months. Freezing the lobster tail in the shell will stop the meat from drying out.

To reheat: Preheat your air fryer to 320°F and cook the lobster tail for approximately 3-4 minutes. This will help to preserve the lobster's flavor and moisture.

What should I serve with these lobster tails?

I enjoy serving these alongside a good steak, salad, or risotto. You can also prep these in the air fryer and add them to lobster mac and cheese.

FAQs about Air-Fried Lobster Tails

What's the best temperature to cook lobster tails in the air fryer?

The optimal temperature for cooking lobster tails in an air fryer is 380°F. This will ensure that the lobster tail is cooked evenly and thoroughly. Additionally, cooking at this temperature helps preserve the lobster's natural flavor and moisture.

How to cook frozen lobster tail in the air fryer?

I recommend defrosting the lobster tails prior to cooking, butterflying, and deveining them.

How do I know when my lobster tail is done?

Lobster meat is ready when it’s no longer transparent and has a white color. The lobster should feel slightly firm to the touch, and there should be no visible signs of pink or red. The best way to tell when your lobster tails are done is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the lobster tail and cook until the internal temperature reaches 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Looking for more Seafood Recipes? Try these out:

close up photo of lobster tail in air fryer basket

I hope you love these lobster tails as much as we do. If you've tried this recipe, please rate it and share your feedback in the comments below!

cooked lobster tails on white plate with green beans in background

Tanya

Air Fried Lobster Tails Recipe (Fast & Easy)

4.78 from 18 votes

This easy and delicious lobster tail recipe is topped with a yummy garlic butter sauce and air fried to perfection. It’s such a quick and easy recipe.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 13

Servings: 2 people

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 108

Ingredients

2 4-6 oz lobster tails
2 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped chives
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Equipment

Air Fryer

Basting Brush

Kitchen Shears

Instructions

Prepare butter mixture by combining butter, garlic, salt, chives and lemon juice.
Butterfly lobster tails by cutting through the shell, removing the meat and resting it on top of the shell.
Place in Air Fryer basket and spread butter over top of lobster meat. Close Air Fryer basket and cook on 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes.
Open Air fryer basket and and spread more butter on top, cook for an additional 2-4 minutes until done.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 1169mgPotassium: 26mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 372IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.1mg

Notes

Cook time will depend on the size of your lobster tails. A total of 6-8 minutes should work for most lobster tails.
You can make as many lobster tails as will fit in your air fryer basket.
For the oven, preheat it to broil and cook the lobster tails on a baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes.

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This post was originally published on 7/1/2019. It has been updated with new photos and additional helpful information.

Comments

4.78 from 18 votes (5 ratings without comment)