Lobster Casserole with a Crispy Buttery Topping (Lazy Lobster)is a classic way to prepare Maine lobster, especially on the East coast of the US. Grab this easy recipe and host your own New England culinary adventure!
If you're not familiar with Lazy Lobster, it's a seafood dish where lobster is dressed simply in a super-savory butter sauce, then topped with crispy, buttery crumbs and baked until just warmed through.
It's "lazy", because it gives the diner the chance to enjoy a spectacular lobster dinner without the hassle of cracking through shells and splattering juices across the curtains.
It is the perfect seafood dish in every way, and it's one of my favorite methods for How to Reheat Lobster. For more lobster deliciousness, try my Butter Poached Lobster next!
Ingredients needed for this lobster recipe:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
Lobster meat: ideally, use one shelled whole lobster per person (this recipe feeds 2), including the lobster tail, claws and body meat. But this is a great recipe to use up leftover lobster meat, too. So if you have chunks of lobster leftover from your fresh lobster boil, grab what you have and let's make a casserole!
Butter: between the lobster filling and the crispy topping, we use a full stick of butter. Trust me, it's worth it. I prefer salted butter, but use what you have and taste and adjust salt levels in both the sauce and the topping.
Sherry: the perfect flavor booster to pair with fresh Maine lobster meat. Substitute dry white wine, if needed.
Full ingredients and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.
Check out How to Reheat Cooked Lobster for any leftovers!
Step by step instructions:
1. Make crunchy topping
To begin, preheat oven to 325℉. Crush buttery crackers and corn flakes to a coarse crumb. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add crushed crackers and cereal to the butter, along with fresh parsley, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Toss to coat and brown the crumbs over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside.
2. Make filling for casserole
Heat 5 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add grated garlic and shallot, and cook for about 2 minutes.
Add sherry and lemon juice and simmer for 2-3 more minutes. Taste the butter sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
If you’re using raw lobster meat, add the meat (and any lobster juice included) to the butter sauce in the sauté pan and cook for about 2 minutes, just until the seafood begins to firm.
If using already-steamed lobster or leftover lobster meat, remove the butter sauce from the heat and place lobster into the pan and toss to coat in the sauce.
3. Bake lobster
Divide your butter and lobster mixture among two ovenproof ramekins (or one medium casserole dish). Top with a healthy portion of the crispy topping. Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until lobster is warmed through and topping is golden brown.
4. Garnish
Serve your seafood casserole with a fresh lemon wedge and a loaf of crusty bread.
Need more lobster in your life?
FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:
Lobster casserole is a user-friendly lobster experience where you enjoy pure lobster flavor without the challenge of cracking through shells to get to the delicious meat. But if you're looking for a vegetable and seafood type of casserole for variety, add diced vegetables like celery or green pepper, grated parmesan cheese, herbs like tarragon or dill, or even another type of seafood such as shrimp or scallops to compliment the lobster.
Yes, you can assemble the casserole up to a day ahead and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake it. Just make sure to cover it well to prevent drying out or absorbing any odors from your refrigerator. Adjust the baking time by a few minutes if baking from cold.
Lobster casserole can be served as a main course alongside a variety of side dishes. Some popular choices include Savory Coleslaw, Parmesan Truffle Fries or Lemon Dill Basmati Rice. Check out 16 Best Sides for Lobster next!
Lobster in garlic butter sauce topped with crunchy cracker topping. Lobster Casserole or Lazy Lobster as it is often called at the seafood shacks in New England.
If using leftover lobster for your lobster casserole, it's best to consume all of the casserole the day you prepare it. If using fresh lobster, store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, let the casserole sit at room temperature while the oven is preheating. Then bake gently at 325℉ for 10-12 minutes, or until the lobster is just heated through.
Maine Lobster Casserole Recipe (Best Lazy Lobster)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2
Ingredients
Crispy Topping:
10 Ritz crackers
1 cup cornflakes
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Zest of ½ lemon
Buttery Lobster Filling:
5 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 shallot, grated
2 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons lemon juice
10-12 ounces lobster meat
Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325℉. Begin by making the crunchy topping. Crush buttery crackers and corn flakes to a coarse crumb. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add crushed crackers and cereal to the butter, along with fresh parsley, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat and brown the crumbs over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside.
- Next, make the filling. Heat 5 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add grated garlic and shallot, and cook for about 2 minutes. Add sherry and lemon juice and simmer for 2-3 more minutes. Taste the butter sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
- If you’re using raw lobster meat, add the meat to the butter sauce and cook for about 2 minutes, just until the seafood begins to firm. If using already steamed lobster or leftover lobster meat, remove the butter sauce from the heat and place lobster into the pan and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Divide your butter and lobster mixture among two ovenproof ramekins (or a medium casserole dish). Top with a healthy portion of the crispy topping. Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until lobster is warmed through and topping is golden brown.
- Serve with a fresh lemon wedge and crusty bread.
Notes
This is a great recipe for using up leftover lobster meat!
Substitute dry white wine for dry sherry, if needed.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Easy Recipes
- Method: Oven and Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
christina toth
Oh my fave crustacean, too!! And buttery cornflakes — that’s totally brilliant ♥️ 🦞
Christina
I just know you'll love it 😉
Bryce
Made this for my wife's family for Christmas and we can't stop talking about how amazing it was. Her grandparents are from Maine, so it was a little risky! But wow. Huge win. The directions make everything easy and that cornflake topper was insane. I've been ordered to make it again next year. Gladly!
Christina Jolam
Cooking lobsters for Mainers is no joke! Bravo for your courage and congrats on your big success. And thanks so much for coming back to leave a review!