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Air Fryer Lobster Tails
Ready to bring a little luxury to your weeknight dinner? These Air Fryer Lobster Tails are buttery, garlicky, and perfectly tender in under 10 minutes. It’s a foolproof way to make restaurant-quality lobster right in your kitchen, no boiling pot or special tools required.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 203kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails 6–8 oz each
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 2 garlic cloves finely grated or minced
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- With kitchen shears, cut the top of each lobster shell down to the tail. Gently loosen the meat with your fingers and lift it slightly, resting it on top of the shell. Pat the lobster meat dry with a paper towel.4 lobster tails
- Lightly season each lobster tail with salt and pepper.¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and paprika. Reserve 2 tablespoons for serving.6 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, ½ tsp paprika
- Brush the lobster meat generously with the butter mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket, meat side up. Cook for 6–8 minutes, until the meat is opaque and just firm to the touch (internal temperature 140–145°F).
- Brush the cooked lobster tails with the reserved butter and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm with lemon wedges.1 tsp fresh parsley, Lemon wedges
Notes
Chef’s Touch
- Don’t overcook: Lobster should be tender and slightly springy, not rubbery.
- A sprinkle of flaky sea salt just before serving makes the flavors pop.
- For indulgence, whisk a few drops of truffle oil or a pinch of cayenne into the butter.
- For a luxe variation, swap parsley for fresh tarragon or chives.
- Butterfly correctly to keep lobster tails from curling: Lift the meat over the shell, keeping the very end attached to the shell, so it rests neatly on top. The shell underneath helps keep it in place.
- Gentle heat control: Don’t blast it too hot, 380°F is a sweet spot in the air fryer. Higher temps make the curl more dramatic.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 416mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 654IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.3mg
