The Best Lobster Roll Recipe
The Best Lobster Roll Recipe, this dish just screams summer! Toasted hotdog buns are loaded with garlic butter-coated meat and come together in under 30 minutes. They’re perfect for cookouts or a delicious weeknight dinner!
I look forward to lobster rolls every summer, and my friends and family often request them at gatherings. Luckily, while they look impressive, they’re super quick to make.
So, I always happily oblige. Pair them with sides like my Easy Potato Salad Recipe and Summer Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese, and you’ll have the perfect warm-weather meal!
What is a Lobster Roll?
A lobster roll is a popular New England dish made with lobster meat tossed with a garlic butter mixture and stuffed onto a grilled or toasted hotdog bun. You can find the rolls served hot or cold, depending on the region.
Most cold rolls are made with a mayonnaise mixture. Meanwhile, the hot sandwiches feature melted butter.
Maine vs. Connecticut Lobster Rolls
Maine lobster rolls coat the meat in a mayonnaise dressing that normally includes mayo, tarragon, celery, and onions. The mixture is then loaded into buns and served chilled.
Connecticut lobster rolls do not contain mayonnaise. Instead, the meat is tossed with garlic herb butter and served warm on toasted buns.
Both versions are delicious. However, for this recipe, we’re serving our rolls Connecticut style, because I prefer it a bit more than cold lobster rolls.
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Lobster Meat – You’ll need 12 ounces of lobster tail meat for this recipe, which usually comes in two 6-ounce tails.
- Unsalted Butter – I recommend using unsalted or clarified butter if possible.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves add extra depth and a subtle sweet, pungent flavor to the butter.
- Lemon – We’re using both lemon juice and lemon zest to add a bright, refreshing, citrusy flavor!
- Italian Parsley – Used as a garnish, this adds an extra touch of bright, herbaceous flavor. If preferred, fresh cilantro will also work.
- Kosher Salt – Adjust to taste.
- Hotdog Buns – I recommend using split-top style hotdog buns for easy toasting and assembly.
How to Make the Best Lobster Roll Recipe
- Cook the lobster. Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the tails, and cook for 8-10 minutes or until they’re bright red in color. Use tongs to remove the tails from the water, and set them aside to cool. You can run the tails under cold water to speed up the cooling process!
- Remove the meat. Gently crack the shells, and remove the meat from the tails. Then, slice it into bite-sized pieces.
- Create the garlic butter. Add the unsalted butter, garlic, and lemon zest to a sauté pan. Sauté over medium-low heat to melt the butter and combine the ingredients. Be careful not to let the butter brown!
- Toss the meat. Add the lobster meat, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a pinch of kosher salt to the pan. Toss to combine, and coat the lobster in the butter mixture. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes to create a crispy exterior. Turn off the heat, and set the pan aside.
- Prepare the buns. Butter the sides of split-tip hotdog buns, and let them brown in a pan.
- Assemble. Once toasted, load the warm lobster mixture into the split-top buns, adding about 6 ounces per bun. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro, and enjoy warm!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use unsalted butter? It is best to use either unsalted butter or clarified butter for this recipe. Unsalted butter helps manage the salt levels so it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the lobster. However, clarified butter aka drawn butter is able to hit higher temperatures without the milk fats burning, yielding a better tasting lobster sandwich.
How should I serve this recipe? Pair your rolls with all your favorite sides such as potato chips, fries, a sautéed spring vegetable salad, grilled zucchini ribbon salad, or baked beans.
Can I use pre-cooked lobster meat? I haven’t tested it, but it should work. Just toss the meat in the butter mixture, and allow it to heat through on the skillet. Remember, lobster cooks quickly. So, be careful not to let it burn or become rubbery!
Can I make this lobster rolls recipe ahead of time? I don’t recommend storing the assembled sandwiches, but the lobster meat will keep well. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Add the leftover meat to salads, sandwiches, or wraps.
Reheat in a skillet with a touch of butter just until warmed through. Microwaving can cause the lobster to become rubbery!
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Add leftover lobster meat to salads, sandwiches or wraps.
To heat, add the lobster meat to a skillet with a touch of butter. Microwaving can cause the lobster to get rubbery. Looking for more delicious sandwich ideas? Try my Spicy Italian Sandwich.
The Best Lobster Roll Recipe
Equipment
- 1 pasta pot to cook lobsters
- 1 saute pan
Ingredients
- 12 ounces lobster meat, two, six-ounce tails
- 2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter, option to use clarified butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced, about 2 cloves
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, chopped fresh parsley
- kosher salt, to taste
- 2 hotdog buns , split top, buttered and toasted in a pan
Instructions
- Boil water and add the lobster tails. Cook until the tails are bright red in color or for about 8-10 minutes depending on size. Remove the tails from the water using tongs and let the lobster cool. You can even run it under cold water to help it cool off more quickly. Gently crack the shells and remove the meat, cut the meat into bite size pieces.
- In a sauté pan add the butter, minced garlic, and lemon zest. Saute over medium / low heat for a few minutes. You do not want the butter to brown so keep a close watch.
- Next, add the cubed and cooked lobster meat, lemon juice, and a pinch of kosher salt. Toss everything together until the lobster is coated in the butter, lemon zest & juice, garlic and salt. I like my lobster meat to be a little crispy on the outside, so I let it saute in the pan for a few minutes. But since the meat is already cooked this will come together very quickly. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Butter the sides of your split top hotdog buns and let it brown in a pan. Once toasted on the outside, load in the warm lobster meat. Serve with a slice of fresh lemon and enjoy! You can also add some fresh chopped parsley or fresh chopped cilantro for some extra flavor!
One Comment on “The Best Lobster Roll Recipe”
Sooooo good!!!