Lobster Roll Recipe – East Coast Style

This lobster roll recipe – East Coast style is a delicacy in New England and Atlantic Canadian provinces. A classic roll with lobster tails and herb butter in pretzel buns.​

You might like to try some other Canadian classics such as a Halifax donair, a Caesar cocktail, sweet butter tarts, or the famous poutine.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s packed with flavor: The combination of garlic, shallot, chili, dill, and lemon juice infuses the lobster with a zesty, aromatic taste.
It’s easy to prepare: With straightforward steps and common ingredients, this recipe is accessible for home cooks of all levels.
It’s versatile: Serve it as a main course, appetizer, or part of a seafood spread—it’s sure to impress in any setting.​

Homemade Lobster Rolls Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Lobster tails: The star ingredient, providing sweet and tender meat. Claw and knuckle meat is traditionally used for lobster rolls. If you can purchase a live lobster, steam and use all the meat. You could also reserve the tail meat for a main course dinner another day and save the remaining meat for lobster rolls another day. If using a whole lobster tail, you will need about 1 regular sized lobster tail per roll to get enough cooked lobster meat for a good sized serving.
Salted butter: Adds richness and helps carry the flavors of the aromatics.
Shallot: Offers a mild, sweet onion flavor that complements the lobster.
Garlic: Provides a pungent, savory depth to the butter mixture.
Red chilies: Introduces a subtle heat that enhances the overall flavor profile.
Fresh dill: Imparts a fresh, slightly tangy herbaceous note.
Lemon juice: Adds brightness and acidity to balance the richness.
Black pepper: Enhances the other flavors with a mild heat.
Hotdog buns: Serve as the vessel for the lobster mixture; pretzel buns add a unique twist.
Chives: Contribute a mild onion flavor and a pop of color.
Pickles: Provide a tangy crunch that contrasts the creamy lobster mixture.
Mayonnaise: Adds creaminess and binds the lobster salad together.
Lemon zest: Infuses the dish with a fragrant citrus aroma.

How to Make East Coast Seafood Lobster Sliders

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the butter mixture: Combine butter, garlic, shallot, chili pepper, dill, and lemon juice in a food processor and purée.
Broil the lobster tails: Cut lobster tails in half, top with butter mixture, and broil cut side up for 3 minutes; flip and broil for another 3 minutes.
Toast the buns: Brush buns with remaining butter mixture and broil until golden brown.
Assemble the lobster salad: Remove lobster meat, chop into ½” pieces, and mix with mayonnaise, pickles, chives, lemon zest, dill, and pan butter.
Serve: Fill toasted buns with lobster salad and garnish with chopped chives.​

Substitutions and Variations

Use different herbs: Substitute dill with tarragon or parsley for a different flavor profile.
Adjust the heat: Omit the red chili pepper for a milder taste or add more for extra spice.
Change the protein: Swap the lobster for crab to make crab rolls or even shrimp to make shrimp rolls.
Try different buns: Use brioche or traditional New England-style hotdog buns instead of pretzel buns.

Serving Suggestions

With vegetables: Any coleslaw or kale-slaw recipe such as this shaved Brussels sprout slaw. Seasonal steamed vegetables such as corn on the cob would also be good or some smoked asparagus.
With crispy side dishes: Potato chips, sweet potato wedges or polenta fries would be good, and perhaps some onion rings also.

How to Store Lobster Rolls

Store: These are best served fresh, but you can store the prepared herb butter and lobster mixture separately in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing these.