Learn how to make the best Ninja Foodi grilled lobster tails. You won't believe how quickly this recipe comes together. In under 10 minutes, the lobster is tender, juicy, and perfectly charred. Covered in a rich garlic butter lemon sauce, this grilled seafood recipe is a simple yet very impressive dish.

Lobster is a popular restaurant choice for special occasion dinners, but it's not a dish that many people make at home. If you ever wanted to make lobster but were worried that it might not turn out right, this Ninja Foodi grilled lobster tails recipe is for you because it actually is very easy to make!

All you need is 10 minutes to prepare succulent, tender lobster that is smoky with just a hint of char. It tastes as if it came from a restaurant but it's made conveniently from the comfort of your own home.

If you are like me and love the taste of grilled seafood but don't like the process try using an indoor grill. It gives you all the same benefits as a traditional grill but it's way easier and much more convenient to use. I used my Ninja Foodi XL Grill, but any indoor grill will work for this recipe.

raw seafood on the paper towel before cooking

Recipe ingredients

Lobster tails. You will need 2 tails. Fresh or thawed is fine.

Fresh garlic. Minced and gives a strong garlic aroma and flavor to these Ninja Foodi grill lobster tails.

Butter. Used to make a sauce to cover the lobster before it cooks and for serving afterward.

Salt and black pepper. Just a pinch for seasoning.

Lemon juice. Gives a hint of fresh citrus flavor to the garlic butter sauce.

How to make Ninja Foodi grilled lobster

If lobster tails are frozen thaw them first overnight in the fridge. If you don't have time for it, just leave lobsters on the counter for couple hours and it will defrost completely.

Rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Now, arrange back hard shell side up on a cutting board. Use kitchen shears to cut through the shell, starting from the thicker end.

Cut lengthwise all the way to the end of each lobster tail. Now turn lobster tail around and smash it slightly in to the cutting board. It will open the cut up side more and expose the meat.

Melt butter in small bowl. Add salt, freshly ground black pepper and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add minced or finely chopped fresh garlic and stir.

Preheat Ninja Foodi Smatt XL grill. Place lobster tails on the grill, cut side up. Pour about half of the butter mixture on the meat. Close the lid and cook as directed in the recipe card below.

Once all the way cooked, brush more melted butter mixture (you will may need to microwave it to make it hot again) and serve with your favorite side dish.

If unsure that the lobster is cooked all the way through, use an instant meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be at 145 degrees for a fully cooked lobster. Don't overcook or the meat will be dry, tough and chewy.

Tips for cooking the best lobster tails

Try not to overcook them. Lobster is a delicate meat that can easily become dry and tough if overcooked. You will know when your lobster tails are ready when the flesh turns from translucent to opaque white. The shell will also turn a bright orange color.

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Use a meat thermometer. Whenever you are cooking meat or seafood it's always a great idea to keep a thermometer on hand to check for doneness or if you are using the Ninja Foodi XL Grill, it actually comes with one built-in. You are looking for an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut the lobster tails in half lengthwise. This helps so that more of the lobster has a chance to char and be filled with smoky bbq flavor. To do this simply use a pair of sharp kitchen scissors to cut through the center of the shell all the way to the tip of the tail. You'll end up with two lobster tail halves.

chopped garlic mixed with butter on top of lobster in ninja foodi grill

Variations

Lobster meat doesn't need a lot of seasoning for it to be delicious but if you want to switch the seasonings up here are some of my favorite suggestions!

Old bay seasoning
Regular or smoked paprika
Lemon pepper seasoning
Italian seasoning
Freshly chopped parsley or lemon wedges for serving.

chopped cilantro on top of grilled lobster in ninja foodi grill

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to boil lobster before grilling?

No. This recipe cooks very quickly over the Ninja Foodi XL Grill and when covered with a garlic butter sauce they are very juicy and tender so there's no need to boil them beforehand.

Is lobster better steamed or grilled?

Grilling and steaming are both great ways to prepare lobster. I prefer grilled because it gives the lobster tails a smoky savoriness. On the other hand, steamed lobsters have a more tender and delicate taste and it's much harder to overcook them.

How long should you grill a lobster tail?

Lobster should only be grilled until it turns an opaque white color and has an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can I use frozen lobster tails?

When grilling it's best to use fresh or thawed meat. You'll get the best flavor and texture that way and your meat will cook more evenly. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or in a bowl of cold water until they are no longer icy.

Side dishes

My favorite side dish for lobster is potatoes. Roasted red potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes, scalloped or fried (like french fries or curly fries... or sweet potato fries!).

Fresh salad will be a great low carb option or steamed broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts. Any rice side dish will work amazing here too.

Leftovers

You can keep lobster leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you will remove lobster meat from the shell it can last up to 4 days in the fridge in the air tight plastic or glass container.

Reheat. Reheat lobster in the microwave, wrapped in damp paper towels to keep it moist and fresh. You may want to add a little bit of butter on top before reheating.

Freezer. Do not freeze cooked lobster for the best results.

Ninja Foodi grilled lobster

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Ingredients

2 lobster tails
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ stick of butter, melted
pinch of salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat Ninja Foodi Grill for 5 minutes.
Cut down the center of each lobster tail lengthwise.
Mix butter with lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic in a small bowl. Brush tails with half of the mixture.
Grill for 7 minutes or until the internal temperature shows 145 degrees.
Brush lobsters with leftover garlic butter and serve.

Notes

Leftovers. You can keep lobster leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you will remove lobster meat from the shell it can last up to 4 days in the fridge in the air tight plastic or glass container.

Reheat. Reheat lobster in the microwave, wrapped in damp paper towels to keep it moist and fresh. You may want to add a little bit of butter on top before reheating.

Freezer. Do not freeze cooked lobster to avoid dry meat.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 351mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 23g