The Connecticut Lobster Roll features lobster meat served warm, doused in melted butter and served on a sliced hot dog bun.

Unlike other variations, such as the Maine Lobster Roll, this one relies on fewer ingredients and the touch of butter instead of mayonnaise. The Connecticut Lobster Roll is served warm.

In this article, you’ll learn all the important tips and tricks for making a traditional Connecticut Lobster Roll.

Classic Connecticut Lobster Roll with Warm Butter

The Connecticut Lobster Roll features lobster meat served warm in melted butter and served on a sliced hot dog bun. Unlike other variations, such as the Maine Lobster Roll, this one relies on fewer ingredients and the touch of butter instead of mayonnaise. The Connecticut Lobster Roll is served warm.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Course Main course

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Equipment

Frying Pan

Ingredients

250 g lobster meat cooked
2 hot dog buns brioche
5 tbsp. butter
½ lemon
Salt

Instructions

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in skillet.
Slice open the hot dog buns and toast the insides in the skillet until golden brown, then set aside.
Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the skillet over low heat and add the lobster meat.
Once the lobster meat is evenly coated with butter you can place it in the two hot dog buns and serve.
Optionally, you can season the Connecticut Lobster Rolls with salt and lemon juice.

Notes

Do not use too much butter. The lobster meat should only be coated with a light film of butter, not swimming in butter.
No celery or lettuce is used for a Connecticut Lobster Roll.
You can find more useful tips and information further down the article.

What is a Connecticut Lobster Roll?

The Connecticut Lobster Roll is a hot dog roll filled with lobster meat tossed in melted butter.

The warm version is one of the two most popular Lobster Roll variants.

In addition to the Connecticut Lobster Roll, there is also the Maine Lobster Roll. This is served with cold mayo and celery.

A Connecticut Lobster Roll is never served with celery!

What is the difference between a Connecticut Lobster Roll and a Maine Lobster Roll?

A Connecticut-style Lobster Roll is always served warm and consists of lobster meat generously covered with melted butter and served on a sliced hot dog bun.

The difference with the Maine Lobster Roll is that the Maine Lobster Roll is cold and the lobster meat is served with mayonnaise (and finely chopped celery).

In contrast, a Connecticut Lobster Roll gets its unique flavor by serving the lobster in melted butter, rather than mayonnaise.

Which bread is best for a Connecticut Lobster Roll?

If you’re making a Connecticut Lobster Roll, it’s best to reach for a hot dog bun that’s cut open on the sides. The perfect choice for a Connecticut Lobster Roll is a brioche bun.

These rolls are lightly toasted on the insides for a buttery soft texture and crispy edges. The flat inside of the bun provides the perfect platform to generously hold the lobster meat with melted butter.

How do you make the perfect Connecticut Lobster Roll?

Melt butter in a warm pan.
Lightly toast the insides of the hot dog bun.
Warm the lobster meat in the remaining butter over low heat.
Serve lobster meat in a hot dog bun.

Can you reheat a Connecticut Lobster Roll in the microwave?

Connecticut Lobster Roll and lobster meat can be reheated in the microwave. Since the lobster meat has a lot of water stored in it is no problem to use the microwave.

Make sure that you keep the temperature of the microwave as low as possible and heat the meat in small intervals. Check between operations to make sure that the meat has not become tough.

Use low power: Set the microwave to a low power setting to allow for gentle heating. This will prevent the lobster from drying out or becoming tough.
Select short intervals: Heat the Lobster Roll in short intervals, checking progress after each short time. This helps to avoid overheating.
Cover: Cover the Lobster Roll loosely with a damp paper towel or microwave-safe cover. This will help retain moisture.
Add melted butter: If possible, drizzle the lobster with a little melted butter while reheating to add additional moisture and flavor.