Ask Chef Dennis

  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Sandwich Recipes

Best Lobster Roll Recipe

Published: Sep 26, 2023 · Modified: May 17, 2025 by Chef Dennis Littley

1.4k
SHARES
Facebook1.4kPinterestFlipboard
Jump to Recipe
Pinterest Hidden ImagePinterest Hidden Image

If there were a king of sandwiches, it would be a Maine Lobster Roll, and our lobster roll recipe makes the best I’ve ever had! Sweet, succulent lobster meat, mixed in a light mayonnaise-based dressing, makes a sandwich that borders on legendary. If you’re a lobster lover, this is not a sandwich that you’ll want to miss!

4 lobster rolls on a white platter.


 

One of the great joys in life is a lobster roll, but don’t use just any lobster roll recipe. I’ve sampled this decadent sandwich from Massachusetts up through New Brunswick, Canada, and finding a good recipe is key.

3 lobster rolls on a white platter.

Our lobster roll recipe isn’t difficult to make and requires only a handful of ingredients. It’s a sandwich that can be served at a fancy dinner party or a relaxed date night at home. You can’t go wrong with my easy lobster roll recipe, I promise, they will be a hit every time!

If you love seafood sandwiches, make sure to check out my Maryland Crab Rolls because they are amazing!

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to Make the Best Lobster Roll Recipe
  • How to Make our Lobster Roll Recipe
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Best Lobster Roll Recipe

Ingredients to Make the Best Lobster Roll Recipe

ingredients to make recipe.

Gather the ingredients to prepare the Best Lobster Roll recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”

Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.

Made with simple ingredients

  • Lobster meat – body, claw, and knuckle meat
  • Split-top hot dog buns
  • Celery
  • Mayonnaise
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • Italian parsley
  • Table salt
  • Black pepper

Lobster meat: When it comes to lobster rolls, no matter if they’re Maine lobster rolls, New England Lobster rolls, or Connecticut lobster rolls, the one thing they all agree on is that they should be made with body, knuckle, and claw meat. Not only are lobster tails too expensive, they’re actually too tough for this iconic seafood sandwich. If you do have tails, you can use them in my amazing stuffed lobster tail recipe.

Cooks originally made them with the remains of whole live lobsters after removing and cooking the tails.. And that was actually a good thing. The body, knuckle, and claw meat are sweet and tender and make the best lobster rolls. Lobster tail meat will toughen up after they’re cooked and don’t have the same sweet flavor as the body meat.

You can find cooked lobster meat frozen in 8-ounce and sometimes one-pound containers at many grocery stores. Look in the seafood department or ask the seafood manager.

Lobster Roll Buns: For an authentic lobster roll recipe, you’ll want to find New England-style hot dog buns. Bakers split these buns down the top, giving the sides an inside-like texture. They brush the sides with melted butter and grill them until golden brown. Then, they fill the buttery, toasted bun with cold lobster salad to create a classic lobster roll.

Those rolls are hard to find outside of New England. You can use regular hot dog buns or the new split-top buns (Pepperidge Farms) that many grocery stores now carry. And although a buttery grilled bun does add flavor to the lobster roll, you can forgo that part of the recipe and still enjoy the delicious lobster rolls.

How to Make our Lobster Roll Recipe

Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make our lobster roll recipe in your home kitchen.

collage showing how to start making recipe.
  • Thaw the lobster overnight in the refrigerator. Then, place it in a colander and lightly press down to squeeze the excess water from the lobster meat.
  • Place the lobster meat in a large bowl.
  • Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and old bay seasoning to a medium bowl.
  • Whisk to combine the dressing ingredients.
collage showing how to finish making recipe.
  • Add the chopped celery and chopped Italian parsley to the bowl with the lobster meat.
  • Mix the ingredients together to combine.
  • Add the dressing to the lobster mixture.
  • Mix until well combined. Refrigerate for at least two hours to allow the salad to chill and the flavors to build.
2 lobster rolls on a white platter.

Serve the lobster salad on top of the split hot dog-style buns with a side of lemon wedges. Our easy lobster roll recipe makes the best sandwiches! Serve them with potato chips, macaroni salad recipe, coleslaw, or your favorite side dish and enjoy!

But whatever you serve them with, I promise these will be the best cold lobster rolls you’ve ever had. It’s one of my favorite seafood recipes.

Recipe FAQ’s

What are the different types of lobster rolls?

There are two types of this classic New England dish. The Maine style uses a mayonnaise-based dressing, while the Connecticut-style lobster roll comes warm and topped with melted butter. Both are delicious!

Can I make lobster rolls ahead of time?

It’s best to assemble the sandwiches right before serving to avoid the buns from becoming soggy. However, you can prepare the filling a few hours ahead of time. Don’t make it too far in advance, as the dressing will begin to break down.

More Recipes You’ll Love!

  • fried lobster tails on a white plate
    Restaurant-Style Fried Lobster Tails
  • Lobster stuffed with crab Imperial
    Stuffed Lobster Tail
  • cold water lobster meat
    Lobster Fra Diavolo Bianco Recipe
  • soup, bisque
    Easy and Delicious Lobster Chowder Recipe

2 lobster rolls on a white platter.

Best Lobster Roll Recipe

Chef Dennis Littley
There’s nothing like an oh so delicious New England Lobster Roll. And its easier to make at home than you may think, and a lot less expensive. 
4.81 from 52 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course sandwich
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 305 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 16 ounces lobster meat body and claws
  • 4 tablespoon mayonnaise less if you're not a mayonnaise fan
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ cup celery stalks finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning more or less to taste
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 4 New England style top split hot dog rolls

Instructions
 

  • Thaw the lobster overnight in the refrigerator. Then place in a colander and lightly press down to squeeze the excess water from the lobster meat.
  • Place the lobster in a large bowl.
  • Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, black pepper and old bay seasoning to a medium bowl.
  • Whisk to combine the dressing ingredients.
  • Add the chopped celery, and chopped Italian parsley to the bowl with the lobster meat.
  • Mix the ingredients together to combine.
  • Add the dressing to the lobster mixture.Mix until well combined.
  • Refrigerate for at least two hours to allow the flavors of the lobster salad to combine and build in flavor.
  • Serve the lobster salad on split top hot dog buns and serve with potato chips, macaroni salad or coleslaw.

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 23gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 784mgPotassium: 311mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 167mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.81 from 52 votes (45 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Kassy says

    April 17, 2025 at 12:35 pm

    Can you mix this the night before and have it marinate overnight?

    I’m looking to make this for a picnic

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 18, 2025 at 8:08 am

      Yes you can. The dressing may get a little watery, but if will be fine.

      Reply
  2. Amy P. says

    August 04, 2024 at 7:32 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner this evening and we rated it a ‘definitely do over’ recipe! Simple to prepare and nice bright flavors that complement the lobster well. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      August 05, 2024 at 7:06 am

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the lobster rolls. It’s one of my wifes favorites!

      Reply
« Older Comments


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

More about me →

Fan Favorites

  • overhead view of barbecued half racks of baby back ribs on a white platter
    Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
  • sliced meatloaf with the rest of meatloaf on a white platter
    Classic Meatloaf Recipe with Zesty Glaze
  • shredded cabbage mixed with coleslaw dressing in a glass bowl.
    Easy Homemade Coleslaw Recipe
  • Banana bread sliced on a cutting board.
    Banana Bread Recipe
  • chicken parm with pasta on a white plate
    Chicken Parmesan Recipe
  • seasoned crispy chicken legs on a foil wrapped tray
    Baked Chicken Legs

Featured In

Collage showing where Ask Chef Dennis has been featured.

Footer

↑ back to top

INFO

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

SUBSCRIBE

Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-quality recipes!

CONTACT

  • About
  • Contact

© 2009-2025 · Ask Chef Dennis · 30 N. Gould Street, STE 7204, Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801

Proud Member of:
Mediavine Publisher Network

Let's Get Social

Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.