Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Grilled Cajun Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
Sweet lobster meat gets a rich coating of garlic butter and Cajun spice on the grill. A lightly charred surface gives the buttery tails a savory edge, with the seasoning tucked into every exposed piece of tender meat.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 7 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner · Main course
- Primary protein
- Seafood
- Cuisine
- American · Mediterranean
- Cooking method
- Grilling
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Butterfly the tails
Cut down the center with kitchen shears, loosen the meat and pull it upward before seasoning.
2. Mix the butter
Combine melted butter, olive oil, garlic and Cajun seasoning before brushing it over the prepared lobster.
3. Turn after charring
Start the tails flesh side down and flip once the exposed meat has picked up light char.
Get to know the ingredients
Lobster
Prepare the tails by loosening the meat and drawing it upward before adding the salt and pepper.
Butter
Use melted unsalted butter so it combines easily with oil, garlic and the Cajun seasoning for brushing.
Cajun seasoning
Homemade or store bought Cajun seasoning is listed for mixing into the garlic butter coating.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Grilled Cajun Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Brush after turning
Brush the tails again after flipping and continue grilling until the lobster is cooked throughout.
A little more help as you go
Preheat the grill
Bring the grill to medium high heat before adding the butter brushed tails flesh side down.
Prepare on a tray
Set the butterflied and seasoned tails on a baking sheet while you mix their garlic butter coating.
A few questions you might have
How do I butterfly the tails?
Cut down the center with kitchen shears, loosen the lobster meat and pull it upward before seasoning.
Which side goes on the grill first?
Start flesh side down for three to four minutes, until lightly charred, before turning the tails.
Can I use store bought Cajun seasoning?
Yes. Homemade and store bought Cajun seasoning are both listed for the garlic butter mixture.
When should I brush on more butter?
Brush the tails again after flipping, then continue cooking for about five minutes until cooked throughout.
What goes into the garlic butter?
Mix melted unsalted butter, olive oil, minced garlic and Cajun seasoning, then brush over the prepared tails.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: therecipecritic.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.