Homemade Red Lobster-Style Garlic Butter Maine Lobster Tails

Prepare the garlic butter: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and keep warm.

Prepare the lobster tails for cooking: Using sharp kitchen shears or a sturdy knife, carefully cut along the top center of the lobster shell from the open end down to the tail fan, being careful not to cut through the meat entirely. Gently spread the shell apart, then carefully pull the lobster meat up through the opening, leaving it attached at the base of the tail. Rest the meat on top of the shell.

Choose your cooking method:

A. For Steamed Lobster (Recommended for tenderness): Fill a large pot with about 1 inch of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Place the prepared lobster tails in a steamer basket. Carefully place the basket over the boiling water, ensuring the water does not touch the lobster. Cover the pot and steam for 5-8 minutes, or until the lobster meat is opaque and firm.

B. For Grilled Lobster (For smoky flavor): Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the lobster meat generously with the prepared garlic butter. Place the lobster tails meat-side down on the grill grates. Grill for 2-3 minutes to get nice grill marks. Flip the tails so they are shell-side down, baste with more garlic butter, and continue to grill for another 4-6 minutes, or until the meat is opaque and firm, basting occasionally. Be careful not to overcook.

Once cooked, transfer the lobster tails to serving plates.

Brush generously with the remaining warm garlic butter.

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges for squeezing.