Maine Lobster Rolls Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/9/22
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Headshot of Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Maine Lobster Rolls on a tray, served with chips

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 4 to 6 sandwiches

Less is more when it comes to authentic Maine lobster rolls. Unlike Connecticut-style rolls, which are served warm with butter, these are made with cold chunks of fresh, sweet Maine lobster, a simple mayonnaise-based dressing, and buttered, toasted hot dog buns. For crunch, add finely chopped celery if you like, and season with a dash of salt and pepper.

You'll need about three 1 1/4-pound to 1 1/2-pound lobsters to get 1 pound of meat, which is more than enough for four well-stuffed lobster rolls. In fact, this recipe can easily be stretched to fill five or six buns. Maine lobster rolls are typically made with New England-style split-top buns, but if they are not available in your area, feel free to use any standard-sized hot dog bun.

This sandwich is truly one of life's simple pleasures. While this will not be an inexpensive sandwich, once you taste the amazing contrast between the warm, buttery bun and the cold, sweet lobster salad, you'll realize it was worth every penny.

"Lobster rolls are my absolute favorite, and these were fabulous. Few ingredients in the lobster salad allow the sweet lobster chunks to really shine. I kicked it up a notch and used split-top brioche hot dog buns. I couldn't find any decent chives, so I swapped thinly sliced scallions." —Diana Andrews

Maine Lobster Rolls/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lobster meat, cooked and chilled

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery, optional

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened

  • 4 to 6 hot dog buns, preferably New England-style split-top

  • Lettuce leaves, optional

  • Chopped chives, for garnish, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Maine Lobster Rolls ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. Cut the lobster meat into 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks and add the pieces to a medium bowl. Add the mayonnaise, celery (if using), and lemon juice. Mix gently until the lobster mixture is well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Lobster, mayonnaise, celery, and lemon juice in a bowl with a spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. Liberally butter both sides of the hot dog buns.

    Buttered hot dog buns

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Toast the buns on a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Flip to brown both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes each side.

    Hot dog buns in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  5. Line the buns with lettuce leaves, if using, and fill with the lobster meat. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired.

    Maine Lobster Rolls on a tray

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

What Is the Best Way To Cook Live Lobster?

There are several ways to cook live lobsters. Boiling is a commonly used method, but steaming the lobsters in 2 inches of water is faster and produces perfectly cooked tender, flavorful meat. You can grill live lobsters as well, but they should be humanely killed or partially steam-cooked first.

What to Serve With Lobster Rolls

Whether you are serving lobster rolls for lunch or dinner, here are some of our favorite sides:

Coleslaw or a simple tossed green salad.

Dill pickles.

French fries or sweet potato fries.

Potato chips.

Corn on the cob.

3-bean salad.

Crunchy broccoli salad.

Steamed asparagus.

Pasta salad.

Corn salad.

Freshly-sliced tomatoes or cucumbers.

Elote (Mexican street corn).

A cup of soup.

Recipe Variations

  • Curry Lobster Rolls: Add a teaspoon or more of curry powder to the mayonnaise.
  • Chipotle Lobster Rolls: Add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of sauce from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
  • Herb Mayo Lobster Rolls: Add 1 teaspoon each fresh minced parsley, chives, dill, and tarragon.
  • Lobster Sliders: Serve the Maine-style lobster filling in toasted slider buns.
  • Low Carb Lobster Rolls: Serve the lobster salad mixture in lettuce cups or large romaine lettuce leaves.

How to Store Leftover Lobster

  • If you have leftover lobster roll filling, you may refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • The lobster and mayonnaise filling mixture does not freeze well, but cooked, undressed lobster meat may be frozen. If you have extra cooked lobster meat, vacuum seal it in small quantities in small freezer bags or containers. Freeze the lobster for up to 3 months, or up to 6 months if vacuum-sealed.

What Is the Difference Between a Maine Lobster Roll and Connecticut-Style?

A classic Maine lobster roll is made with chilled cooked lobster and seasoned mayonnaise salad mixture. A Connecticut-style lobster roll is made with warm cooked lobster tossed with warm melted butter. Both kinds of lobster rolls are typically served in toasted New England-style hot dog buns.

How Many Lobster Rolls Will 1 Lobster Yield?

The number of lobster rolls you can get from 1 lobster depends on the size of the lobster. A 1 1/4-pound to 1 1/2-pound lobster yields about 6 ounces of lobster meat, which is enough for two lobster rolls in standard hot dog buns.

What Is Different About New England Hot Dog Buns?

New England-style hot dog buns are split-top buns instead of side-cut and are usually toasted on both sides before fillings are added. They are essential for classic Maine or New England lobster rolls and make excellent buns for hot dogs, tuna salad, and other sandwich fillings.

Helpful Links

Best Lobster Delivery Services

Top Tips for Cooking Fresh Lobster

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
411 Calories
19g Fat
33g Carbs
26g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 411
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 650mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 156mg 12%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 243mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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