If you love seafood, you can’t miss this Instant Pot lobster recipe!
Tender and juicy lobster tails topped with a smooth and delicate butter sauce are just 5 minutes away!
We are using fresh lobster, but the recipe can also be adapted to frozen crabs or lobster parts.
This can be a quite expensive dish, but it is worth a try for a special occasion, like a birthday dinner or New Year’s Eve.
Though very simple, this recipe can be tricky: lobsters can’t be overcooked or the cooking process will completely ruin their flavor and texture.
That's why we are cooking the lobster tails in Instant Pot for only 1 minute. If needed, feel free to add 1-2 more minutes to the cooking time (after checking).
Instant Pot Seafood recipes

Instant Pot Lobster Tails
Ingredients
- 6 lobster tails
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Pour water in the Instant Pot and place the trivet.
- Place the lobster tails onto the trivet (shell down).
- Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 1 minute.
- In the meantime, melt butter in a saucepan and add garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper to obtain a sauce.
- When cooking time is complete, do a quick pressure release.
- Pour the butter sauce over the lobster tails and serve with lemon wedges.
Hi Corrie,
How much time if I’m only cooking one lobster tail?
I would still do 1 minute. The heat from the time it comes to pressure will be cooked perfectly!
Are the tails put in whole and not split across the shell?
I can't find anywhere on internet the answer to this question.
What is the recommended cooking time for one 12 to 14 ounce lobster tail in instant pot?
Can this be done on stove top and if so for how long
Sure-- you can place them in boiling water for about the same amount of time. Usually about 3-5 minutes depending on their size.
You say, cut the lobster tails in half, if needed. Do you mean split the tops? Or do you split the tops after cooking?
Split the tops before cooking if needed.
Can I do this in a crockpot
You could cook this in a crock pot/ slow cooker, but it would take a lot longer.
I am excited to try this, Corrie. Thanks for sharing.
Of course! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
I am surprised you don't address splitting the shell before cooking