A New England lobster roll is a tasty sandwich made with chunks of lobster meat in a creamy dressing on a buttered and toasted hot dog bun! This simple yet delicious recipe is a signature dish from the North Eastern United States, and for good reason! It's easy to prepare, always satisfying, and highlights lobster meat's sweet and succulent flavor!
New England Lobster Roll Recipe
When it comes to iconic American seafood, the New England lobster roll reigns supreme! This classic sandwich is a true regional specialty that is actually quite simple yet tastes luxurious.
A New England lobster roll is made with succulent chunks of fresh lobster meat and crisp celery in a creamy dressing piled on a toasted buttery bun. It's cool, satisfying, and perfect for lunch or dinner during the summertime!
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Be sure to check out my post on the differences between New England, Connecticut, and Maine lobster rolls for more delicious varieties!
🥘 New England Lobster Roll Ingredients
Once you have your cooked lobster meat, the rest of the ingredients are pretty common and easy to prepare. You can even use good-quality frozen lobster meat in a pinch!
- Lobster Meat - 1½ pounds (about 3½ cups) of cooked lobster meat chopped into ¾-inch pieces.
- Mayonnaise - ⅓ cup of mayonnaise (good quality mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods).
- Lemon Juice - 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best).
- Celery - ¼ cup of finely chopped celery or a celery substitute (use the tender inner ribs of celery or celery hearts).
- Chives - 1 tablespoon of finely chopped chives.
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of both salt & pepper (to taste).
- Hot Sauce (optional) - 1 splash of your favorite hot sauce for extra flavor.
- Butter - 2 tablespoons of melted butter or a butter substitute for toasting the buns.
- Hot Dog Buns - 4 hot dog buns or hoagie rolls split down the middle.
- Lettuce (optional) - 4 leaves of lettuce for serving. I used butter lettuce.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make A New England Lobster Roll
Once you quickly whip up some lobster salad, assembling the sandwiches is easy! To get started, you'll need your measuring utensils, a mixing bowl, a silicone spatula, and a frying pan.
This makes 4 lobster rolls if using hot dog buns. You can always make larger rolls on larger buns!
- Make lobster salad. In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together 1 ½ pounds of cooked lobster meat, ⅓ cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, ¼ cup of diced celery, 1 tablespoon of chives, ¼ teaspoon of both salt & pepper (to taste), and the optional 1 splash of hot sauce if using.
- Chill (optional). You can assemble your lobster rolls immediately, but ideally, you want to cover and chill the lobster salad for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to let the flavors marry.
- Toast the buns. Brush 2 tablespoons of melted butter on both sides of 4 hot dog buns or hoagie rolls and toast the bread in a frying pan over medium heat until lightly golden.
- Assemble and serve. Assemble your lobster rolls by putting one of the 4 leaves of lettuce in each bun, if using, and portioning out the lobster salad into each toasted bun. Serve right away.
Creamy Southern coleslaw or homemade potato chips are classic sides to enjoy with a lobster roll. A Caesar salad would be tasty, too! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- 1½ pounds of lobster meat is equal to about 3½ cups.
- I recommend using high-quality ingredients for the best-tasting lobster salad. If you have it available, try to use fresh lobster meat, fresh lemon juice, and a good brand of mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods.
- If you are preparing a whole lobster for this recipe, be sure to check out my quick and easy method for making a whole-boiled lobster!
- Lobster salad tastes best cold, so let the lobster meat cool before preparing your salad.
- You can adjust the seasonings to your preference by using more or less salt & pepper. I like to add a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of paprika for a little heat. Fresh dill also makes a lovely addition and can be mixed into the salad or used as a garnish!
- You don't have to chill your lobster salad, but a short period of time in the fridge really gives the flavors time to develop.
This recipe features seafood from Lobster Anywhere. Be sure to visit them for all of your seafood shopping! *I earn commissions on sales via this affiliate link at no additional cost to you.
🥡 Storing
Extra lobster salad should be kept refrigerated in an airtight container and is best enjoyed within 2 days.
Extra hot dog buns or hoagie rolls can be placed in a sealed Ziploc and kept at room temperature for 2-3 days.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Use cooked lobster meat from fresh or frozen lobster tails, claws, and knuckles. Freshly cooked lobster is ideal, but you can also use high-quality frozen lobster meat that has been thawed.
Yes, you can make a Connecticut-style lobster roll by swapping melted butter for the mayonnaise. Simply leave out the celery and chives, then toss the cooked lobster meat with warm melted butter and serve it in a toasted bun!
Yes, you can prepare the lobster salad up to a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble the lobster rolls!
🦞 More Tasty Lobster Recipes
- Poached Lobster Tails - Tender and buttery poached lobster tails are always a treat!
- Lobster Chowder - This chowder is warm, rich, creamy, and chock-full of delicious lobster meat!
- Lobster Jalapeno Poppers - An elegant seafood twist on a classic appetizer.
- Broiled Lobster Tails - A quick and easy method for whipping up succulent and juicy lobster tails in no time!
- Lobster Mac and Cheese Burger - In place of a burger patty, this burger features creamy mac and cheese loaded with chunks of lobster!
- Lobster Risotto - A restaurant-worthy lobster risotto that is perfect for special occasions!
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📖 Recipe Card
New England Lobster Roll
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs lobster meat (cooked and chopped into ¾-inch pieces)
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (good quality mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best)
- ¼ cup celery (finely chopped, use the tender inner ribs of celery or celery hearts)
- 1 tablespoon chives (finely chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 splash hot sauce (optional)
- 2 tablespoon butter (melted)
- 4 hot dog buns or hoagie rolls
- 4 leaves lettuce (optional for serving)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together 1 ½ lbs lobster meat, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ cup celery, 1 tablespoon chives, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste), and the optional 1 splash hot sauce if using.
- You can assemble your lobster rolls immediately, but ideally, you want to cover and chill the lobster salad for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to let the flavors marry.
- Brush 2 tablespoon butter on both sides of 4 hot dog buns or hoagie rolls and toast the bread in a frying pan over medium heat until lightly golden.
- Assemble your lobster rolls by putting one of the 4 leaves lettuce in each bun, if using, and portioning out the lobster salad into each toasted bun. Serve right away.
Notes
- 1 ½ pounds of lobster meat is equal to about 3 ½ cups.
- I recommend using high-quality ingredients for the best-tasting lobster salad. If you have it available, try to use fresh lobster meat, fresh lemon juice, and a good brand of mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods.
- If you are preparing a whole lobster for this recipe, be sure to check out my quick and easy method for making a whole boiled lobster!
- Lobster salad tastes best cold, so let the lobster meat cool before preparing your salad.
- You can adjust the seasonings to your preference by using more or less salt & pepper. I like to add a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of paprika for a little heat. Fresh dill also makes a lovely addition and can be mixed into the salad or used as a garnish!
- You don't have to chill your lobster salad, but a short period of time in the fridge really gives the flavors time to develop.
- To store: Extra lobster salad should be kept refrigerated in an airtight container and is best enjoyed within 2 days. Extra hot dog buns or hoagie rolls can be placed in a sealed Ziploc and kept at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Anonymous says
It was very, very easy to do and I this time let it cool for almost 2 hours. Served on a homemade Italion roll just off the grill. GREAT, GREAT. KEEPIN COMIN, YOUR THE BEST