If you’re looking for a restaurant-quality dish that feels indulgent yet surprisingly simple to make at home, this Lobster Pappardelle with Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce is it. Tender chunks of buttery lobster are tossed with silky ribbons of pappardelle pasta and coated in a bright, velvety sauce made with white wine, fresh lemon, and garlic.

This is the kind of lobster pasta recipe that’s perfect for special occasions, date nights, or anytime you want to elevate your dinner routine with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Lobster Pasta

Elegant but easy: Tastes like fine dining, made in under 30 minutes.
Bright, balanced flavor: The lemon butter sauce keeps it light and fresh.
Perfect for entertaining: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

For this Lobster Pappardelle recipe, you’ll need:

Fresh Lobster Tail

For this recipe, I use fresh lobster tails. I pick them up from my local grocery store’s seafood counter. Specialty seafood stores will typically have them if your regular market doesn’t.

Butter

You can’t have lobster without butter. It’s a rule. The butter not only makes the lobster delicious, but it gives the pasta a silky texture.

Shallot and Garlic

For the base of this Lobster Pappardelle sauce sauteed shallot and garlic give it a boost of flavor.

Grape Tomatoes

I like to add grape tomatoes to this lobster pasta recipe to add to the flavor complexity of the sauce and also add in an additional vegetable.

Fresh Lemon Juice

It MUST be fresh. Lemon juice is one of the main bases of the sauce.

White Wine

Another large component of the sauce for Lobster Pappardelle is dry, white wine. Use a Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or similar. Always make sure to use wine you’d also drink on your own. If you don’t like the wine, you won’t like the sauce. Chicken broth can be substituted if needed.

Red Pepper Flakes, Salt, and Pepper

Cater seasoning to your preference. If you can’t handle any spice, simply omit the red pepper flakes.

Pappardelle Pasta

Pappardelle (pronounced paa-paar-deh-lay) is truly one of my favorite types of pasta. Its long, broad, ribbon-shaped egg noodles which originates from Tuscany, Italy. So good. The pappardelle shown here is store-bought, however you can also make your own from scratch with a pasta machine or using my Homemade Pasta with Kitchenaid recipe.

You can find the brand I used on Amazon as well here.

How to Make Lobster Pappardelle

Cook the Pasta

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Prepare the Lobster Tails

If using raw lobster tails:

Steam, boil, or grill until just cooked through (about 5–7 minutes)
Remove meat from the shell and cut into bite-sized chunks

If using pre-cooked lobster, simply chop into pieces and set aside.

Tip: To remove lobster meat from the tail, use kitchen shears to cut down the center of the top shell, or cut along the underside for easier access. Gently separate the meat from the shell with your fingers, pulling it out in one piece.

Prepare Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce

In a large saucepan, sauté shallot in butter for a couple minutes then add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté one more.

Next, add tomatoes, fresh lemon slices, and lemon juice. Cook for a couple more minutes then deglaze the pan with white wine.

Next, add more butter then the chopped lobster meat. Cook over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes.

Bring it All Together

Add cooked pappardelle to the pan and toss with the lobster and sauce.

Finish and Serve

And there you have it! Quick and easy Lobster Pappardelle. Adjust spice to personal preference. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges if desired.

Tips for the Best Lobster Pasta

Don’t overcook the lobster: It should be tender, not rubbery.
Use a dry white wine: Avoid anything sweet. You can substitute chicken broth if needed.
Salt your pasta water well: This builds flavor from the base.

Variations and Substitutions

No pappardelle? Try with fettuccine, tagliatelle, or linguine for a similar texture.
Trying to eat more vegetables? Toss in some spinach too!
Not a fan of lobster? This sauce recipe goes great with scallops or shrimp too!
Spicy twist: up the red pepper flakes to give your Lobster Pappardelle more of a kick.

Serve with...

Serve Lobster Pappardelle with a simple salad like Simple Radish Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette, Burrata Salad with Crispy Prosciutto, and/or garlic bread or a crusty baguette. Drinks? Serve with this Grapefruit Vodka Cocktail or a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.

FAQs

Can I use imitation lobster meat for Lobster Pappardelle?

Imitation lobster meat is a processed meat typically made from white fish like Pollock, whiting, or haddock. It is designed to look like lobster, but in my opinion it doesn’t taste that similar. I’d recommend using fresh lobster tails, however if you like imitation lobster feel free!

Is this recipe healthy?

This recipe is high in protein and lower in calories than many other popular lobster pastas which use cream as the sauce base (more of an alfredo). This version is made without cream. It does contain a good amount of butter which you can decrease if you’d like.

What does pappardelle mean in Italian?

In Italian, pappardelle comes from the verb pappare, which means "to gobble up," "to eat with childlike pleasure," or "to wolf down". Which I find adorable.

Storage Instructions

Store lobster pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat on the stove with a splash of water or in the microwave.

If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy…

Easy Crab Pasta in White Wine Sauce

Lobster Banza Mac & Cheese with Veggies

Mussels and Linguine in a White Wine Sauce

This Lobster Pappardelle with Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce is the perfect balance of indulgent and fresh. It’s rich without being heavy, elegant without being complicated, and packed with bright, citrusy flavor that lets the lobster shine. Ideal for the warmer summer months ahead.

Whether you’re searching for a lobster pasta recipe, a lemon butter lobster pasta, or an impressive dish for your next dinner party this one checks every box.