Lobster Roll

You don’t need to be a professional chef to easily create this legendary classic Maine-style Lobster Roll right in your own kitchen

The Best Lobster Roll Recipe: Maine vs. Connecticut

Lobster Rolls are the coastal cousin of mid-America’s hot dog! These sandwiches are served virtually everywhere in New England and throughout the Northwest. And much like the hot dog, this seafood sandwich can be made in various wonderful ways!

The cold classic Maine-style lobster roll is served like a chilled seafood salad. The luscious lobster is blended with lemon, mayo, chives, celery, and seasonings and served on a toasted buttery bun. The warm, traditional Connecticut-style lobster roll is a toasty split-top hot dog bun loaded with steamed lobster meat and drizzled with (or drenched in!) decadent, melted butter.

Which is better? They are both so incredible it’s impossible to choose!

Other Recipes to Serve Lobster Rolls

• If you’ve never made the world’s best lobster rolls before, it might be good to start with How to Cook Lobster Tail as an intro!
• Classic Macaroni and Cheese not only makes the perfect comfort-food side dish, but you can also toss some luscious lobster meat into this mac & cheese recipe for the most amazing pasta ever!

Ingredients

Lobster: Cooked lobster meat! Of course, you can cook your lobster or purchase frozen lobster and thaw it before preparing the lobster rolls. Either way, it will be yummy!

Crispy: Finely diced celery gives the lobster salad a tiny bit of crispiness without being too crunchy. Chives add a nice, fresh bit of spice. (Green onion could substitute if you prefer.) Lemon juice, lemon zest, kosher salt, and ground black pepper add a subtle zing to round out the flavor palette. SO good.

Creamy: Mayo for the salad (not too much!) and unsalted butter for the toasted buns.

Bread: Split-top hot dog buns are the ideal “roll” for lobster rolls! They are soft enough for biting into, easy to sear in the skillet, and firm enough to hold up to the lobster without getting soggy. Perfect!

How to Make Lobster Rolls

STEP ONE: In a small to medium bowl, add diced celery, mayonnaise, chopped chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt & pepper, and give it a good mix.

STEP TWO: Add in the chunks of lobster, stir thoroughly, and set aside.

STEP THREE: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the buns open flat, inside down, to toast the inside until golden brown and buttery.

STEP FOUR: Fill each bun with the succulent lobster and eat your heart out!

Tips for Success

• Warm the lobster meat in a skillet with melted butter, then chill it again before mixing in the salad ingredients. 
• Stick with the 3 TBSP of mayo in the recipe—too much mayo will overpower the lobster’s delicate flavor.
• Even though this lobster recipe is served on a warm bun, the lobster salad should be chilled until it is time to eat. 
• Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or some finely chopped fresh dill for an extra flavor.

What Should I Serve with Lobster Rolls?

The most popular side dishes to serve with a lobster roll are, by far, French fries and corn-on-the-cob! But many other dishes work to complement these succulent seafood sandwiches! Coleslaw, salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato fries and cornbread muffins will all be winners at the table!

What Kind of Lobster Should I Use for Lobster Rolls?

If you can access live lobster, you can’t beat it for freshness and flavor! You can also look for fresh seafood in local Asian markets and some high-end supermarkets. BUT…if you don’t have that access, no worries! While canned or “fake” lobster isn’t recommended for lobster rolls, frozen lobster works wonderfully! Once thawed and patted dry, frozen lobster can make a great lobster roll!

Other Spectacular Sandwich Recipes!

• Philly Cheesecake Sliders
• Peanut Butter Jelly French Toast Roll Ups
• Cheddar, Apple & Chicken Panini
• Italian Stromboli
• Mini Bacon Jalapeno Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Bacon Egg and Waffle Sandwich