Lobster rolls are the quintessential summer meal, and there’s no better way to enjoy them than outdoors.
Especially with friends and family, no matter if you’re on the East Coast or West Coast, this list of what to serve with lobster will blow your mind!
Even if you’ve had your fill of lobster rolls, it’s time to branch out. Not only that, try one of these alternative dishes to go with your lobster feast this summer.
From juicy barbecue ribs to spicy corn on the cob, these recipes of what to serve with lobster will impress everyone at your next party.
1. Cold Lemon Zoodles
When it comes to what to serve with lobster, it’s really all about keeping things light. Nothing says spring is here like a big bowl of cold zoodles.
Zucchini noodles (or zoodles) are a low-calorie, low-carb alternative that adds volume and texture without calories or carbs.
Choose zucchinis that are between 4 and 6 inches long. Too small, and they will fall apart in your cooking water.
They are too large, and they won’t cook quickly enough. Spiralize your noodles and pour them into a colander; let them drain while you make your sauce.
2. Corn and Tomato Salad With Feta and Lime
Second on the list of what to serve with lobster is this basic corn salad that’s perfect as a fresh, light side dish. Corn, tomatoes, and feta cheese are tossed in lime juice and olive oil, then served over greens.
3. Pineapple Salsa
Pineapple salsa is a perfect accompaniment to what to serve with lobster because it has both sweet and savory flavors. Plus, it gives you an excuse to use tropical fruit in your cooking!
4. Arugula Salad With Toasted Walnuts
One of my favorite ways to eat arugula is with roasted walnuts, which add a delicious earthiness. This salad makes enough dressing so you can toss some crunchy greens like romaine in there too. Wonder why it is on the list of what to serve with lobster. Try it first!
5. Lemony Broccolini Pasta
Not adding the sumptuous Lemony Broccolini pasta as part of what to serve with lobster should be considered a mistake, right? Plus, it has very simple procedures to make.
To prepare: bring two pots of water to a boil. Add medium or small pasta shells, broccolini, and oil. Cook until tender.
Remove from heat, drain well and return to pot over low heat. Add butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
6. Mango Guacamole
Here’s a scrumptious twist on basic guacamole that’ll leave your guests wanting more. Each bite has an explosion of flavor with sweet mangoes, lots of fresh cilantro, and a little heat from jalapenos.
It’s also incredibly easy to make: Simply chop up a few ripe mangos, peel and mince a clove of garlic. Throw everything in a bowl with some mashed avocados.
The key is cutting up all your ingredients into similarly sized pieces. Otherwise, you may end up with chunks of mango swimming among smaller bits of avocado. Think about what to serve with lobster. Think mango guacamole!
7. Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
To prepare these biscuits to serve with lobster, you’ll need flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and bacon. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp; drain on paper towels and roughly chop; set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl; cut in butter using a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly.
Proceeding, add cheese and bacon; mix well. Stir enough water into the dough to make a soft dough that holds together when pinched between fingers.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; knead about 10 times (or roll lightly into a ball). Pat into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.
8. Gazpacho With Cucumber, Red Pepper, and Basil
Gazpacho is a classic Spanish soup made from tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers. Once you’ve learned how to make it, you can serve it chilled as an appetizer or side dish.
With its bright color, texture, and vibrant flavors, gazpacho is an excellent complement to delicate seafood, hence, part of what to serve with lobster.
Add cubed peeled cucumbers and chopped fresh basil for garnish for another refreshing summertime variation on gazpacho.
You can also easily turn gazpacho into a main course by adding diced cooked chicken breast or shrimp.
9. Herby Shoestring Fries
Next on our list of what to serve with lobster are these amazing fries. Here’s how to prepare: add a touch of freshness by serving herb-roasted fries with warm melted butter and lemon.
Try a crispy topping of Parmesan cheese, grated lemon peel, and fresh herbs such as chives or thyme as an alternative.
Furthermore, for added flavor, coat whole fries in a thin layer of spicy mustard before roasting them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until they’re crisp.
Bake in batches, so you have enough room to toss in different spices and add freshly chopped herbs after each batch is cooked. A quick trip under the broiler will help evenly brown them before serving them warm.
10. Zucchini Rice
It may sound a little strange at first, but once you try it, you’ll love it as it is on the list of what to serve with lobster.
Zucchini is a great substitute for rice, though not quite as filling or as calorie-dense as its predecessor. Therefore, it helps keep your portions in check while providing all that lovely flavor.
And since zucchini has only about 40 calories per cup versus white rice’s 260 calories per cup, you can eat nearly twice as much zucchini rice than white rice without consuming more calories. (Satisfaction guaranteed!)
11. Grilled Corn With Spicy Aioli
Yes! Grilled corn is not left out of what to serve with lobster! Follow these simple steps: grill up some corn, and top it with spicy aioli to serve alongside your lobster.
These sides will complement each other nicely, but be sure to keep a close eye on your lobster, as overcooked seafood is gross.
Also, if you like spicy food, consider making an extra portion of aioli and keeping it warm in a small saucepan while you grill.
The addition of crushed red pepper is all that’s needed to kick things up a notch! Be sure not to add too much; just two or three dashes should do it.
12. Steamed Vegetables
A simple mix of steamed vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and Brussels sprouts is perfect as what to serve with lobster.
You can use any kind of vegetable you have on hand—so long as they’re fresh and crisp-tender. Moreso, steaming retains all its flavor and nutrients while cutting back on calories.
Don’t forget to add some herbs and spices—like garlic powder or dried oregano—to add flavor without extra calories or fat!
13. Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a classic side dish that pairs perfectly with seafood. Adding lobster meat will give you an elegant, luxurious twist on a family favorite.
Start by adding cooked pasta to a bowl; then add small-diced lobster tail meat, grated parmesan cheese, heavy cream, butter, or margarine.
While in progress, stir in salt, pepper, and paprika. Microwave or heat in a pan until all ingredients are hot; often stir so that your mac ‘n’ cheese doesn’t stick or burn.
Sprinkle a little paprika on top, and enjoy! There are no doubts why this relishing dish is on the list of what to serve with lobster.
14. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilling corn is a great way to add a little extra smoky flavor, and it’s perfect as what to serve with lobster. Especially if spectacularly served right next to your main lobster dish.
You can grill corn in many different ways, but we like it best when it’s sprinkled generously with kosher salt and pepper.
Then grill over medium heat and finish off by being placed under a hot broiler until lightly charred. Add some butter right before serving, and enjoy! Yum!
15. Boiled Potatoes
You can’t beat classic potatoes for a simple, satisfying side dish, not when it specifically comes to what to serve with lobster. (OK, maybe you can—there are plenty of other ideas below).
Potatoes are a great source of potassium and fiber; they pair well with rich-tasting seafood like lobster.
In fact, one medium-boiled potato has more than 75 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. Try adding a little cilantro or scallions to your boiling water for extra nutrition and a crunch factor.
When it comes time to serve dinner, slice opens some boiled new potatoes and scoop out chunks of lobster meat right onto them.
16. Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette
If you’re thinking about what to serve with lobster as a side salad, it’s hard to go wrong with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. This type of dressing is ideal for lighter, more delicate salads like baby greens or arugula.
For example: Combine mixed greens (such as baby arugula and mizuna), sliced red onion, and shredded carrots in a large bowl.
Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, water, and Dijon mustard until well combined. Pour over salad mix; toss until combined; serve immediately.
17. Sweet Potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes are an excellent side dish that works well with almost any meat or seafood. They pair especially well with lobster because they have similar flavors, and you can easily make them ahead of time.
Baked sweet potatoes are a fantastic base; choose your favorite toppings like brown sugar, butter, maple syrup, and more!
Alternatively, simply add some chopped fresh herbs or spices. It’s fun to experiment to see what flavor combinations you like best.
Once baked, cut them in half lengthwise (or scoop out their flesh) and fill each potato with different toppings so guests can customize their meal.
This makes for a great conversation starter as people take a few minutes to ponder which combination is best before diving in! With sweet potatoes, you are on course regarding what to serve with lobster.
18. Clam Chowder
You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make good clam chowder. Onions, celery, potatoes, and clams are all you really need. Add some cream or milk and some salt and pepper, bring it to a boil and enjoy.
However, if you want something a little more hearty—or lobster—add some lobster meat or, even better, don’t add any at all!
Just throw in some chunks of lobster shell into your chowder while it boils. The shells will add flavor (lobsters are delicious) and an extra dose of calcium.
Besides, this is what you and your family can benefit from after enjoying your delicious meal. Using clam chowder as what to serve with lobster is never a wrong option!
19. Fruit Kabobs
First, it’s a great way to get kids involved in dinner. Cut up fresh fruit (like pineapple and strawberries) into cubes, stick them onto skewers and serve them alongside your delicious lobster tails.
This is also a great option for those with dietary restrictions preventing them from eating carbs or gluten.
Plus, fruit can be a fantastic alternative to bread and crackers when served with seafood like lobster. Another plus? It won’t break you financially!
So going easy on sides will leave more room in your budget for other luxuries. What to serve with lobster again? What more can you ask for with fruit kabobs?
20. Risotto
Did we leave another fantastic option out of the list of what to serve with lobster? Definitely not! Risotto allows you to enjoy a creamy dish that is filling and flavorful.
Risotto is simply rice cooked in broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. Start with white or Arborio rice. The color of your risotto will depend on what other ingredients you decide to add (green peas, red peppers, etc.).
Because its starchiness helps it absorb liquid easily and cook quickly, adding broth or stock as needed while cooking is all that’s needed.
To make your risotto extra special, stir in grated Parmesan cheese at the end. If you want even more flavor punch, consider adding some wine during cooking.
21. Salad Pizza
When you’re going out for a nice meal, it’s easy to fall into a rut and order your favorite dishes. Here’s a twist on an old classic – make salad pizza at home. You can use any kind of greens or vegetables you like, which couldn’t be easier.
Just spread a little olive oil over some pita bread (or another type of flatbread), and top with salad ingredients.
Bake in an oven until heated through. Perfect as a side dish or even on its own, depending on what you include in your pizza.
Salads can make meals healthy and interesting without sacrificing flavor! Looking for what to serve with lobster? You are on course with salad pizza.
22. Tomato and Yellow Zucchini Risotto
To make this risotto, you need parboiled rice. It’s easy to do, but it does take some planning ahead. Make sure you start when you have time and, better yet, that there are others around who can help.
Parboiling rice is pretty simple; put your raw rice in a pot of cold water, bring it to a boil, then let it sit covered for 20 minutes.
Wait until all the water has been absorbed and your rice is tender enough that you can crush it between your fingers.
Then cook as usual and add vegetables or lobster. Easy right? It’s never hard searching for what to serve with lobster!
Conclusion
Everyone loves lobster, but it can be difficult to know what to serve alongside it when you have guests. You could go with cooked vegetables like carrots, peas, and corn for something simple.
A side salad would also make a good accompaniment to the lobster’s rich flavor. If you really want to impress your guests, try these ideas for what to serve with lobster instead.
When you order lobster, it’s typically the protein that draws your attention. But if the plate arrives without any side dishes to complement the meal, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing something.
The already-stated ideas for what to serve with lobster should allow you to feel satisfied and happy with your dining experience from start to finish.