Baked Cod with Garlic Butter (Printable View)
Tender cod fillets baked with fragrant garlic butter and fresh herbs for a light, flavorful dish ready in 25 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5 ounces each), skinless and boneless
→ Garlic Butter
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
04 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped (optional)
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
→ Seasonings
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
→ Garnish
11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Extra chopped herbs
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the cod fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest and juice, parsley, dill, chives (if using), salt, pepper, and paprika.
04 - Spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cod fillets, making sure each piece is well coated.
05 - Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork (internal temperature should reach 145°F).
06 - Remove from oven, garnish with extra herbs and lemon wedges. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The fish stays impossibly tender while developing this gorgeous golden top that tastes like something from a restaurant
- Twenty five minutes from start to finish means dinner is ready before you even realize you were hungry
02 -
- Overcooking happens faster than you think so check at 12 minutes even if it looks slightly underdone because carryover heat finishes it perfectly
- Dry fish is usually from skipping the paper towel step so really pat those fillets down before they hit the baking dish
03 -
- Room temperature butter melts more evenly and incorporates the herbs better than cold butter straight from the fridge
- Letting the fish rest for two minutes after baking helps it retain all those delicious juices instead of losing them on the plate