Smoked Lobster Tails With Garlic Butter (Printable)
Tender lobster tails smoked to perfection and finished with a rich, aromatic garlic butter.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 4 lobster tails (about 6 oz each), thawed if frozen
→ Garlic Butter
02 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1 tsp lemon zest
06 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
07 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish (optional)
10 - Lemon wedges
11 - Extra parsley, chopped
# Step-by-step:
01 - Preheat your smoker to 225°F using mild wood chips such as apple or cherry.
02 - With kitchen scissors, cut down the center of the top shell of each lobster tail, stopping at the tail fin. Gently pry the shell open and lift the meat, resting it on top of the shell.
03 - In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to create the garlic butter.
04 - Brush each lobster tail generously with the garlic butter mixture, reserving some for basting and serving.
05 - Place the prepared lobster tails directly on the smoker grates, meat side up.
06 - Smoke for 40–45 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque and reaches an internal temperature of 140–145°F. Baste with more garlic butter halfway through cooking.
07 - Remove from the smoker and drizzle with any remaining garlic butter. Garnish with lemon wedges and extra parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The smoker gives lobster this incredible depth you cannot get from boiling or grilling alone
- Garlic butter gets infused right into the meat while it cooks gently over low heat
- Your guests will think you hired a private chef for the evening
02 -
- Overcooking lobster makes it tough and rubbery, so pull them right at 145°F
- The butter mixture can burn if your smoker runs hot, so keep that temperature steady
03 -
- Cutting the shell and lifting the meat helps it cook evenly and looks impressive
- A light coating of oil on the grates prevents any sticking disasters