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These Air Fryer Lobster Tails are buttery, tender, and surprisingly easy to make at home. Cooked to perfection in the air fryer, they’re ideal for date night, holiday dinners, or anytime you want a restaurant-quality meal without the hassle.
Quick Look At This Recipe
- ✨ Flavor: Rich, buttery garlic flavor with a bright finish from fresh lemon.
- ⏱️ Prep time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 5-8 minutes
- ⏲️ Total time: 15-18 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 2
- 🥄 Tools: Air fryer, kitchen scissors, pastry brush
- ❄️ Freezer-friendly: No, I don’t recommend freezing leftovers.
- 👩🏻🍳 Tip: Butterfly the lobster tails and brush with butter twice to ensure even cooking and tender, restaurant-style results.
SUMMARIZE AND SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
This air fryer lobster tails recipe cooks lobster to perfection in just minutes, staying juicy and tender with every bite. It’s the perfect dish for a special occasion or holiday. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want to treat yourself to something extra delicious at home, you can make an impressive meal with simple ingredients.
For a complete steak and seafood meal, enjoy your air-fried lobster tails with an air fryer ribeye, air fryer T-bone, or air fryer New York strip.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast, foolproof cooking. The air fryer’s circulating heat cooks lobster tails quickly and evenly, giving you tender, juicy meat without the risk of overcooking.
- Perfect texture every time. Butterflying the lobster tails exposes the meat directly to the hot air, so the thickest part cooks through while the edges stay soft and do not cook up rubbery.
- Elegant but easy. These lobster tails look restaurant-worthy but require minimal prep and just a handful of simple ingredients. They’re ideal for date night, holidays, or special occasions at home.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Will Need
- Lobster Tails: Use fresh lobster tails or fully thawed frozen tails. For best results in the air fryer, choose tails that are similar in size (about 4–6 ounces each) so they cook evenly. If using frozen lobster, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place sealed tails in cold water until fully thawed. Never use warm water, which can affect texture.
- Butter: Butter forms the base of the garlic butter glaze and helps keep the lobster meat moist while adding rich flavor. Melted butter also encourages light browning on the surface without drying out the delicate meat.
- Garlic & Lemon Juice: Fresh garlic adds savory depth, while lemon juice brightens the richness of the lobster and butter.
- Paprika or Old Bay Seasoning: Paprika adds subtle warmth and color, while Old Bay brings a classic seafood seasoning vibe with a bit more punch. Both are optional, but they enhance appearance and flavor without overpowering the lobster.
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Add Fresh Herbs: Finish the lobster with chopped fresh parsley or chives for a pop of color and a light, fresh contrast to the rich garlic butter. Sprinkle them just before serving so they stay vibrant.
- Swap the Seasoning: Use Cajun seasoning for a bolder, slightly smoky kick, or lemon pepper seasoning for a bright, citrus-forward flavor. If using pre-blended seasonings, reduce added salt since many mixes are already seasoned.
- Make It Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for gentle heat. Start small, as lobster is delicate, and a little spice goes a long way.
How to Make Air Fryer Lobster Tails
If frozen, remove your lobster tails from the freezer the night before and thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. When you’re ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 380° F.
- Step 1: Butterfly Lobster Tails. Use kitchen scissors to cut down the center of the shell to butterfly the tails.
- Step 2: Adjust the Lobster Meat. Gently pull the meat up over the shell.
- Step 3: Brush the Butter and Season. Combine the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and seasoning in a small bowl. Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket, meat side up. Brush with half of the butter mixture.
- Step 4: Air Fry. Cook the lobster tails for 5–8 minutes, depending on size. Tails are done when the meat is opaque, and the internal temperature reaches 140–145° F (60–63° C). Halfway through cooking, brush with the remaining butter mixture for extra flavor and shine.
Air Fryer Lobster Tail Time Chart
Cook lobster tails at 380°F in a preheated air fryer. Times may vary slightly based on air fryer model and tail thickness. Your tails are done when they are opaque, firm, and register 140–145°F with a thermometer.
| Lobster Tail Size | Approx. Weight | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 3–4 oz | 5–6 minutes |
| Medium | 5–6 oz | 6–7 minutes |
| Large | 7–8 oz | 7–8 minutes |
| Extra Large | 9–10 oz | 8–9 minutes |
Expert Tips
- Why Butterflying the Lobster Tail Matters: Butterflying the lobster tail is essential for even cooking in the air fryer. Splitting the shell and gently lifting the meat exposes it to circulating hot air, allowing the lobster to cook evenly from edge to center. This prevents the thickest part from staying undercooked while the outer edges overcook and turn rubbery. As a bonus, butterflying also creates that classic restaurant-style presentation and gives the garlic butter direct contact with the meat for better flavor.
- Brush With Butter 2X: Brushing the lobster tails with butter before cooking helps protect the delicate meat from drying out and kickstarts flavor as soon as the air fryer heat hits. Brushing again halfway through cooking refreshes the surface, boosts rich garlic-butter flavor, and encourages light browning without overcooking.
- Similar-Sized Tails Cook Best Together. Try to choose tails that are even in size. If your lobster tails vary in size, start checking the smaller ones early.
- Don’t Rely on Color Alone for Doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer and remove lobster at 140–145°F to prevent a rubbery texture.
- No Flipping Required. Since the air fryer circulates heat evenly around the lobster tails, there’s no need to flip the tails during cookng.
Have questions about air frying? Check out What is an Air Fryer or this list of our favorite Air Fryer Accessories.
Air Fryer Lobster Tails Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, but for the best texture, it’s important to thaw them first. Lobster tails can technically be cooked from frozen in the air fryer, but they won’t cook as evenly. The outside tends to overcook and turn rubbery before the center is fully heated. For the most tender, restaurant-style results, fully thaw frozen lobster tails in the refrigerator overnight or by placing them (sealed) in cold water until thawed.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To avoid drying out leftover lobster tails, wrap them loosely in foil with a small pat of butter, then warm them in the air fryer at 300°F for 2–4 minutes, just until heated through. The foil traps moisture while the butter helps rehydrate the meat, preventing it from turning tough or rubbery. Avoid reheating at high heat or for too long. Remember, the lobster is already cooked, so you’re just warming it, not recooking it.
For the best air fryer results, choose lobster tails that are similar in size, ideally 4–6 ounces each. Uniform sizing helps them cook evenly so the meat stays tender instead of rubbery. Cold-water lobster (commonly from Maine or Canada) tends to have sweeter, firmer meat than warm-water varieties, which can be softer or mushier once cooked. If buying frozen lobster tails, check the label and avoid packages treated with additives or preservatives. Lobster that has been soaked in solutions may release excess moisture during cooking, affecting texture and browning.
If you love this dish, you might also enjoy our other Air Fryer Seafood Recipes, like Air Fryer Cod, Air Fryer Salmon, Air Fryer Garlic Butter Shrimp, or Air Fryer Crab Cakes.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer lobster tails are perfect for special occasions, holidays, or an easy at-home date night. Serve them with simple but elegant sides that complement the rich garlic butter without stealing the spotlight.
Classic steakhouse-style pairings, like a juicy air fryer steak or air fryer baked potatoes turn lobster tails into a surf-and-turf dinner that feels restaurant-worthy with minimal effort.
For a lighter balance, add air fryer asparagus, green beans, or roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon for freshness and color.
More Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
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Air Fryer Lobster Tails
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lobster tails, 6-8 ounces each
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper
- ¼ teaspoon old bay seasoning
Instructions
- To prepare the tails, using sharp kitchen scissors, cut the top of the shell down the middle. Be careful to not cut all the way through.
- Once sliced, gently pull shell back to get to the lobster meat.
- Gently pull the meat up through the open shell so that it rests on the top of the shell.
- Melt the two tablespoons butter in a small sauce pan on medium heat, or in a small microwave safe bowl. Then add in the garlic and seasonings, and stir together.
- Place the lobster tails in the air fryer basket, and then brush the butter mixture onto the meat.
- Once they are buttered and seasoned, place the basket into the fryer and air fry lobster at 380 degrees F for 6-8 minutes. Depending on the thickness, you may need to air fry for an additional 2-4 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Butterfly for Even Cooking: Butterflying the lobster tails exposes the meat to circulating hot air, helping it cook evenly from edge to center while preventing rubbery edges and undercooked centers. It also allows the garlic butter to flavor the meat directly.
- Brush With Butter Twice: Brush the lobster with butter before cooking to protect the meat and start building flavor, then brush again halfway through to boost richness and encourage light browning without drying it out.
- Choose Similar-Sized Tails: Lobster tails cook best when they’re similar in size. If sizes vary, start checking the smaller tails first to avoid overcooking.
- Use a Thermometer for Doneness: Don’t rely on color alone. Lobster is perfectly cooked at 140–145°F—pulling it at the right temperature keeps the meat tender and juicy.
- No Flipping Needed: The air fryer circulates heat evenly around the lobster tails, so there’s no need to flip them during cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do the lobster tails have to be defrosted if they are frozen?
Hi Gale, I would defrost them first. You could probably do that in the air fryer for a couple of minutes too. You will need to cut the shells and be able to lift the meat up out of the shell in order to properly cook them. ‘
Thank you so much for the air fryer recipe for crab legs. So much better than using a pot to cook them in and no mess. I’m going to try the Lobster tails next.
my air fryer has racks can they be done on the rack
Yes! They can.
my air fryer does need to get the the right temperature, so, I say yes, you do have to allow it to “warm up”
Do you pre-heat the air fryer? I may have missed that. Thank you
No, you do not have to preheat the air fryer.