The 19 Tasty Side Dishes You Should Serve With Lobster Tails

There are so many side dishes that you could order with a lobster tail that the decision can become confusing. It may depend on how hungry you are whether you want to add a whole potato or just some sautéed spinach.

The most important thing is to order something you like and which can work with the delicate lobster tail, instead of against it.

In this guide, we will look at 19 tasty side dishes you should serve with lobster tails (see also ‘13 Fun Side Dishes To Serve With Crab Legs‘)  and a bonus section for the absolute basics.

1. Oven Baked Potato

The humble baked potato can be a glorious side to go with your lobster tail. Prepare your oven to be extra hot (ideally 450°F) and poke the potato with a fork before baking it for around 25 minutes until the skin feels dry.

Baste on some melted butter or oil then sprinkle with Kosher salt and return to the oven until crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. 

2. Corn On The Cob

Crunchy Corn On The Cob can also provide a different texture to your lobster tail.

Microwave your corn on a suitable plate and then allow it to partially cool before slipping off the silk and husk. Melt some butter on top and maybe crisp it up under the grill. 

3. Steak (Surf and Turf)

To create your own Surf and Turf, simply add a steak to your lobster tail. Season your steak then place in a pan with some olive oil at a high heat to cook undisturbed to your liking.

Remove and leave to rest while you cook your lobster tail and arrange it on top of the steak. Spoon on some garlic butter with chopped parsley and enjoy.

4. Grilled Asparagus

The moreish, woodiness of grilled asparagus pairs well with lobster tail, especially when you cook it with garlic and Parmesan cheese.

Trim the asparagus spears then lay in a pan to sprinkle with seasoning and toss in olive oil.

Grill them in a row until fork tender and char marks appear on all sides. Return the spears to the pan while warm and coat with the minced garlic and Parmesan cheese.

5. Maple Glazed Carrots

Another quick vegetable dish you can try is Maple Glazed Carrots and the sweetness can go incredibly well with the lobster tail. Steam baby carrots until tender and a bit firm then remove them to a dish.

Whisk vegetable oil with maple syrup, add the carrots, and sauté until coated and cooked through. Season the carrots and sprinkle over nutmeg and cinnamon.

6. Sautéed Spinach

Sautéed Spinach can be a light side dish that can be produced really quickly. Rinse the spinach, spin it dry and then sauté some garlic in olive oil.

Add the spinach with some seasoning and toss to coat then cover the pot. Turn the heat up and cook the spinach until wilted then serve with butter and lemon.

7. Parmesan-Topped Broccoli

You may notice that a lot of these side dishes tend to involve Parmesan and the saltiness can truly complement a lobster tail, like with Parmesan-Topped Broccoli.

Coat the broccoli with olive oil in a Ziploc bag with the Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, and seasoning. Spread the florets in a layer on a baking sheet and bake until crisp-tender, turning halfway through. 

8. Garlic Gnocchi

For another dish that includes Parmesan that goes with the garlic that is typically involved with the lobster tail, try some Garlic Gnocchi with Parmesan Butter.

Cook the gnocchi then fry some red pepper flakes in butter and add the gnocchi to crisp it up. Add minced garlic, then season with salt and pepper before sprinkling on Parmesan cheese.

Garnish with parsley, sage, and basil alongside your lobster tail.

9. Coleslaw

Keep things simple with a small dish of Coleslaw which goes well with so many dishes.

Thinly slice some cabbage and mix that in with shredded carrot. In another bowl create your dressing by combining milk with buttermilk, mayonnaise, lemon juice, grated onion, sugar, onion powder, and seasoning.

Pour the dressing over the carrot and cabbage then mix and leave in the refrigerator overnight. 

10. Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad can be a filling side dish that you can jazz up with some dressing to create a tasty side dish. Cook your pasta until al dente, drain and toss in olive oil then leave to cool.

Chop up some cherry tomatoes with cucumbers, minced parsley, toasted pine nuts, cooked chickpeas, arugula, and crumbled feta.

Whisk together olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and sea salt for the dressing and pour over the pasta. 

11. Green Salad

Just a simple Green Salad can complement a lobster tail.

Create a dressing by mixing together Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.

In a bowl, toss together mixed greens, crumbed bacon, sunflower seeds, thinly sliced red onion, and cucumber.

Add the dressing just before serving and give it another toss to combine.

12. Potato Salad

Another salad with a bit more substance is Potato Salad and you can create a large serving of it to save for later. Boil up some white potatoes (Yukon golds work well) until tender then drain and peel off the skins.

Sprinkle with white vinegar in a mixing bowl then add green onions, celery, and hard-boiled eggs. In another bowl, combine mayonnaise with yellow mustard, seasoning, and celery seed.  

13. Hasselback Potatoes

A crispy side dish like Hasselback Potatoes can work really well with some soft lobster tails.

Wash and dry some large potatoes then cut in some slits and keep the bottom in place then brush them all over with melted butter.

Add seasoning, bake, and then baste with more butter before they finally crisp up. Serve immediately and add some herbs or freshly grated cheese.

14. Boston Baked Beans

The heartiness of Boston Baked Beans can offer a full, tasty contrast to the lightness of lobster tails. Create a bowl by soaking white beans with onion, carrot, garlic, a bay leaf, Kosher salt, and a woodsy herb like rosemary.

Once soaked, bring to a boil and simmer until tender, then drain the beans and keep the liquid to add to molasses with seasoning.

Brown some pork in a Dutch oven then add onion, the beans, bean water, molasses mixture, and bake for around four hours until the sauce has thickened. 

15. Lobster Bisque

It may be considered excessive to serve lobster tail with Lobster Bisque but that’s fine. Cook each part of the lobster, chop up, leave to chill and reserve the water.

Combine butter and oil in a Dutch oven, add the lobster shells and bodies until bright red then add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic until the vegetables have softened.

Add brandy until evaporated, white wine, and the reserved water with chicken broth then parsley, bay leaf, and tarragon sprigs.

Bring to a boil, simmer uncovered, strain, and reserve the solids. Add the stock to a blender and add some cooked vegetables with cream to blend until smooth.

Strain the soup into a pot, reheat, and season with salt and pepper, maybe some cayenne pepper. Add more lobster meat, melted butter, coriander, minced parsley, chives, and tarragon to serve warm in a bowl. 

16. Steamed Clams

Of course, seafood goes well with seafood so try some Steamed Clams with your lobster tail. Melt butter then cook some garlic before adding lemon juice and white wine.

Bring to a boil, add the clams and a bit more butter then cover to steam until the clams open. The clams that do not open can be discarded but the rest should be sprinkled with parsley and garnished with lemon wedges. 

17. Clam Chowder

Should you want to go all in for a seafood meal, add a bowl of Clam Chowder to your lobster tail. Cook bacon until crisp in a Dutch oven then set aside and sauté onion and celery until tender before adding garlic.

Stir in potatoes, clam juice, water, pepper, thyme, and bouillon then bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Combine the flour with half-and-half then add it in, up the heat to boil for a couple of minutes, and then throw in the clams, crumbled bacon, and a bit more half-and-half.

18. Cilantro Lime Rice

For an understated side dish to elevate your lobster tail, a simple side dish of Cilantro Lime Rice will suffice. Have a saucepan on a medium heat and melt either butter or oil then coat the rinsed rice.

When the onion has softened, add garlic and then water (vegetable or chicken stock will also do) while you move the rice.

Season, reduce the heat and cook covered then check a grain of rice periodically when removed from the heat and, once done, fluff it up and then scatter on lime juice and cilantro.   

19. Baked Risotto

As you may have noticed, garlic and Parmesan go well with lobster tail and both are in this Baked Risotto. Heat up olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until translucent then coat your Arborio rice.

Add chicken broth, basil, and seasoning then bring up to a simmer and stir before covering the pan with aluminum foil and adding the lid.

Oven cook for 20 minutes before stirring, and then stir in your Parmesan cheese and butter when the rice has completed cooking.  

Bonus: The Basics

You may not even want to confuse matters by perusing the side dish menu if you make the right choice elsewhere. A small bowl of melted butter may already come with your lobster tail which could be enough.

The right dessert can also be treated as a side dish to look after your palate while a suitable cocktail can be sipped while you indulge in the lobster tail.

Butter

It should sound ridiculously simple yet just some simple butter can work so well with lobster tail. Just serve up a small bowl of melted butter, ideally clarified, and dip the tails in.

You can even throw some garlic in for a taste sensation.

Dessert

If you want to keep your lobster tail just as a meal on its own then treat the dessert as a side dish, maybe even have it along with the lobster tail.

Fruit tarts or baked fruits can be subtle and not overwhelm the palate after it has been subjected to the richness of the lobster tail.

A fruit sorbet can also clean the palate of those delicious buttery notes. You could also try a creamy dessert like a Pavlova or a baked pudding to add some sweetness to the more mild flavor notes of the lobster tail.

Drinks

The right drink can also go a long way to enjoying a lobster tail. The acid from citrus fruit can really help bring out those big flavors. That includes cocktails involving citrus fruits like a Hurricane and a Mojito.

The classic cocktails like a Negroni and a Cosmopolitan can also work delectably well. Then there is the Rock Lobster, a cocktail named after the B52’s song which involves whiskey, cranberry juice, and raspberry liqueur.

Final Thoughts

A lobster tail may seem like a treat simply on its own. However, with the right side dishes, you can truly elevate the seafood and create a taste and texture sensation.

Try to consider what works for your palate. Maybe a filling portion of gnocchi or a double-down on the garlic with some gnocchi, even more lobster with some bisque.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Lobster Tail Typically Served With?

If you were to order lobster tail in a restaurant, you can expect it to come with garlic cheese biscuits, vegetable sides, or a salad.

Which Vegetables Are Typically Served With Surf And Turf?

On an order of Surf and Turf, or if you are trying to recreate it at home, you usually find some steamed green beans with it. However, you can also be served with mashed potatoes which go really well with seafood and steak.