Lobster Pasta with Lemon Butter Sauce

Lobster Pasta is a mouthwatering meal of spaghetti tossed with chunks of lobster tail meat and a light and creamy lemon-garlic butter sauce. Served hot or cold, this decadent yet easy meal is ready in just 30 minutes!

For more lobster recipes, try my White Wine Garlic Butter Lobster Tails, Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese, Twice Baked Lobster Stuffed Potatoes next!

Creamy Lobster Pasta

Lobster pasta is a simple meal with plenty of rich flavour thanks to butter, garlic, lemon, parmesan cheese and herbs. Adding succulent lobster tails to the mix makes it a special treat that everyone will enjoy on special occasions or whenever possible!

Here’s Why You’ll Love this Lobster Pasta Recipe

• Quick and Easy – you’ll be amazed at how quickly this meal comes together with just 10 minutes of prep time.
• Flavourful – this seafood pasta is bursting with fresh garlicky flavour with a pop of bright citrus due to the lemon juice and zest. Succulent chunks of buttery lobster make this a savory dish that you’ll be thinking about well after the last morsels are gone.
• Affordable – this is a budget-friendly way to enjoy lobster. No, the price of seafood hasn’t gone down but this lobster tail pasta is the perfect way to ration out the meat so the whole family can indulge.

How Do I know When Lobster is Fully Cooked?

You can visibly tell that that lobster meat is done when the meat is white and no longer translucent. It is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 135°F. Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the lobster.

How to Clean Lobster Tails

To start, you will need the following kitchen items:

• Kitchen shears or sharp kitchen knife
• Cutting board
• Clean towel or paper towels

If you’re using frozen lobster tails, ensure they are properly thawed (see FAQs section below for thawing methods). Use kitchen shears to cut each lobster tail down the center and remove the vein.

Add the lobster tail meat to a bowl and run cool water over them. After submerging them in water, remove the meat (optional) and place it on paper towels in order to absorb any excess moisture.

What Is Lemon Butter Sauce Made Of?

Lemon butter sauce is a delicious mixture of butter, minced garlic, fresh lemon, parmesan (optional), herbs, salt and pepper. Although it’s packed with flavour, the consistency is light because there’s no heavy cream.

How Do You Thicken a Butter Sauce?

As pasta cooks, it releases starches into the cooking water. Use this reserved pasta water to thicken the butter sauce. It also acts as an emulsifier for a nice, creamy consistency and helps bind the sauce ingredients to the pasta.

What’s Needed to Make This Recipe (Kitchen Tools and Equipment)

• Large Pot – use this to cook the pasta in.
• Large Saucepan – use this to make the sauce and pasta in.
• Kitchen Shears – use to cut and remove the lobster shells.
• Tongs – use this to toss the pasta with the lemon butter sauce.

Ingredients and Ingredient Notes

* INGREDIENTS, MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE LISTED IN THE RECIPE CARD AT BOTTOM OF PAGE *

• Spaghetti Pasta – I love pairing this sauce and lobster with a thin noodle so this is perfect, but feel free to use whatver variety you prefer. Additionally, use fresh pasta or dry pasta, whole wheat, gluten-free, chickpea pasta if this is your preference.

Butter Cooked Lobster

• Lobster Tails – either fresh or frozen lobster works for this recipe. Alternatively, if you are skilled in working with live lobsters, you can use this method as well. Note, cook time will vary depending on size.
• Unsalted Butter – use unsalted so you can control the amount of salt.
• Water – add about a tbsp (optional). It helps the lobster meat to cook rather than fry.
• Garlic Cloves – peeled and minced. You don’t want garlic powder for this dish. Fresh is best!
• Salt – to season.

Lobster Pasta in Lemon Butter Sauce

• Garlic – minced.
• Parmesan Cheese – the sharp, salty flavour of this cheese compliments the lemon and butter.
• Pasta Water – add this hot, to enrich the sauce as well as help with emulsification and sauce binding.Fresh Lemon – for grated lemon zest and lemon juice.
• Seasoning – season simply with salt and black pepper.
• Fresh Herbs – add either thyme or tarragon for garnish, alternatively you can use fresh basil, parsley, chives, dill or your herb as choice.
• Lemon Wedges – for serving, optional.

How to Make Lobster Pasta

Boil Pasta

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti pasta according to package instructions. Once al dente, reserve 1/3 cup pasta water, drain pasta and set aside.

How to Cook Lobster Tails for Pasta

If working with raw frozen lobster tails, thaw out lobster in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes or more, until fully thawed. If using cooked lobster, skip this portion of the recipe.

Using sharp kitchen shears, gently cut the bottom of the shell of the lobster tails from top to the tip of the tail. Carefully remove the lobster meat (optional – you can also keep shell on) and rinse away the vein and any shell pieces. Pat dry and season with salt.

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and melt butter. Add the lobster meat and poach until cooked through and opaque (be carefully not to overcook), about 4 to 6 minutes flipping at the half way point. Remove from pan, and roughly chop meat on a cutting board into large chunks, then set aside. If using shrimp, add to skillet, cook, then roughly chop meat and set aside.

How to Make Lemon Butter Cream Sauce

In the same pan used to cook the lobster, add and sauté the garlic and lemon zest. Stir continuously until tender and fragrant but not burnt. If using cooked lobster meat, melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat and then sauté garlic and lemon zest.

Next, add the lemon juice and reserved pasta water to the skillet, allow to reduce slightly. Then add in the pasta in small batches, lobster meat (+ shrimp if using), parmesan cheese, herbs and black pepper. Use tongs to toss pasta with the sauce, until the pasta is fully coated, sauce thickened, and lobster (shrimp) warmed through.

Serve while hot, garnishing with fresh herbs, more parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper and a lemon wedge. Enjoy!

Recipe Substitutions and Tips

• Toppings & Additions – for more flavour, consider adding chopped bacon bits, green onions/scallions, cherry tomatoes or white wine.
• Seafood – I use lobster tail because it’s an easily accessible part of the shellfish. However, you can use lobster claw meat or whole lobster. If that is out of the budget, swap it for cod, crab, shrimp, scallops or salmon.
• Pasta – instead of spaghetti, try linguine or fettuccine.
• Dairy-Free – swap the butter for olive oil instead and skip the parmesan.
• Spicy Lobster Pasta – add crushed red pepper flakes to the lemon butter sauce for some added heat.
• Creamier Sauce – for a more creamy parmesan sauce, add in heavy cream and more parmesan cheese then simmer until reduced and thickened.

What To Serve with Lobster Pasta

Although this is a full meal on its own, here are some tasty sides to serve it with.

• Steak – for a truly luxe meal, nothing beats lobster and steak. Try the pasta with Cajun Butter Steak Bites or Easy Garlic Butter Steak Bites.
• Bread – a crusty, hearty bread is also a nice addition to any pasta dish. If you really want to indulge, eat it with this Cheesy Garlic Bread.
• Salad – if you’re serving this during the summer, serve it with a simple side salad.
• Veggies – for some added nutrients, serve lobster pasta with roasted vegetables like broccoli or asparagus. This Balsamic Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon recipe would be delicious too.

Recipe Notes and Tips for the Best Lobster Pasta

• Cook the pasta just until it is al dente, for the best texture.
• Just like other crustaceans, lobsters cook quickly. Monitor them so they don’t overcook and become tough and chewy.
• Save the lobster shells to make lobster stock later. Just rinse them and place them in a zip loc bag or airtight container and refrigerate them.
• Grate your own cheese for the best results.

Can I Make Lobster Pasta Ahead of Time?

You can make the lobster sauce ahead of time and gently reheat it in a small saucepan when you are ready to serve. However, I suggest cooking the lobster and pasta just before serving.

Storage Instructions

Allow the lobster pasta to completely cool then store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

If you more leftovers, and prefer to store in the freezer for longer storage this is also an option. Note, the texture of the pasta may change slightly after freezing and reheating. Store in airtight freezer-safe containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, warm lobster pasta in a saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. You may need to refresh with butter, and a fresh squeeze of lemon juice, herbs and cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Interested in more Seafood Recipes? Check These Out!

• Cajun Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
• Twice Baked Lobster Stuffed Potatoes
• White Wine Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
• Creamy Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Seafood Pasta
• Ackee and Saltfish
• Honey Jerk Shrimp
• Creamy Tomato Pesto Shrimp Pasta
• Jamaican Coconut Curried Salmon
• Parmesan Herb Crusted Salmon
• Pineapple Jerk Chicken and Shrimp Skewers

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