Air Fryer Lobster Tail

Air fryer lobster tail is one of our favorite ways to cook up lobster. You have a succulent lobster tail that is then topped with melted butter and herbs and seasoning. An effortless way to whip up lobster for dinner any night of the week. Lobster tail in the air fryer takes just 15 minutes to make.

Pair your lobster meat with cheddar bay biscuits a juicy steak or even some air fryer asparagus. The options are endless on how you want to serve up this air-fried lobster.

Seafood lovers will enjoy this impressive meal. If you are looking for something new, try it out and see for yourself how it is.

This Air Fryer Lobster Tails Recipe Is…

• Just 15 minutes from start to finish is all this air fry lobster tail recipe requires. Great for a busy weeknight.
• Quick prep with minimal effort.
• Soft and tender succulent meat that is packed with flavor.
• Juicy lobster tails every single time. The biggest thing is to make sure you do not overcook the lobster depending on the size of your tails.
• Fancy restaurant quality lobster that you can make in your home for a fraction of the cost.
• Easy meals for the whole family to enjoy. Pair with your usual side dishes and devour.

Craving more seafood recipes? Try out our air fryer fish or learn how to make our tasty lobster roll for a date night at home.

Ingredients Needed

Lobster – Reach for lobster tails! Feel free to buy fresh or frozen lobster. Just thaw the lobster first for best results.

Butter – we used unsalted butter, but if you want to use salted butter, just leave out the salt in the recipe.

Garlic – we minced fresh garlic clove but you can buy pre-made garlic as well.

Lemon – You will use the lemon juice to enhance the flavor of the seafood. Go an extra step and use lemon zest as well.

Salt and Pepper – Use to flavor to your liking.

Parsley – Fresh parsley adds a stunning presentation value and a hint of fresh herb flavor.

How to Make

Here is a quick walk-through for this how to make Air Fryer Lobster Tail. For full directions and measurements see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. To start you want to rinse and pat dry the lobster tails. Then you will use kitchen shears and cut the top of the shell. We did this in two cuts.
2. Then you will take a knife and carefully lift up the tail out of the shell a bit, removing it from the shell. This is called butterfly lobster tails, where the meat is pulled out slightly of the shell.
3. Next, you will grab a small bowl and add your butter and melt. Then pour half the butter into a second bowl. In one of the bowls add the lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
4. In a preheated air fryer you will place your lobster tails in the air fryer basket. Drizzle the lobster with the melted garlic butter. Air fry for 6 minutes.

1. Check on the lobster meat to see the doneness. Depending on the size of the lobster the cook time does vary. At this point, we added the rest of the garlic butter sauce and then cooked an additional 3-4 minutes.
2. Once your lobster is fully cooked, serve immediately with the extra melted butter for dipping. Top with fresh parsley and serve with a drizzle of lemon juice and/or lemon zest.

Variations

• Serve with a lemon wedge for guests to choose to drizzle with lemon.
• Change up the seasonings and herbs used to flavor the lobster recipe.
• Add garlic powder instead of minced garlic.
• Add a splash of lemon to the sauce so it is a lemon garlic butter sauce to drizzle over. The lemon is great for reducing the flavor of the fishy flavor.

Keeping leftovers

If you do not eat all the lobster, you can store the leftover lobster in an airtight container in the fridge. The lobster will store for 1-2 days. Now you can leave the lobster in the base of the tail, or you can remove the meat and store just the meat.

Feel free to store it any way you prefer. Then to reheat warm in the air fryer or in the microwave. Then drizzle an extra helping of melted butter to ensure the cooked lobster is juicy and flavorful.

Practical notes

Do you butterfly a lobster tail before or after cooking?

You will want to butterfly a lobster tail before you cook. When you are prepping the lobster that is when you will make the slit in the shell and gently lift out the lobster meat a bit.

Why do you butterfly a lobster tail?

When you butterfly a lobster tail it is going to offer a gorgeous presentation value. But also, it allows the meat of the lobster to cook evenly. Lifting it off the shell is going to allow the heat to penetrate more areas of the meat for an even cook.

How to tell if lobster is fully cooked?

Grab a meat thermometer and read the internal temperature. The meat should read 180 degrees F. Make sure to check in the thickest part of the meat to get an accurate read.

Here are even more seafood recipes that will satisfy the whole family, or make for a dinner for two.

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Printable Recipe Card

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

• 2 Lobster Tails
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, optional
• 1 medium lemon, sliced into wedges

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Tongs
• Brush
• Kitchen Shears

Method

1. Wash and dry the lobster tails. With scissors, make two cuts on top of the shell, remove the central sector so that you can get the lobster meat from the shell.
2. Using a knife, carefully separate the inside of the lobster meat from the shell and remove part of the tail to the outside. This is called to butterfly lobster, where the meat will cook more evenly.
3. Melt the butter in a bowl, pour half into another bowl. In one part, add lemon juice, chopped garlic, salt, pepper, and stir.
4. Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket. Drizzle lobster meat with melted garlic butter. Bake at 360 degrees F for 7 minutes.
5. After 7 minutes, drizzle the lobster meat with the rest of the butter and cook for another 3 minutes.

Kitchen notes

How to Know When Lobster Is Done

– The internal temperature should read 180 degrees. Use a meat thermometer. Cook Time – Depending on how small or large your tails are just alter the cook time to fit the size. We had around 2 pounds of lobster. Seasoning – You can use any flavors you like to pair with your lobster. Swap out the spices we used and replace with what you prefer.