Easy Baked Cod Recipe
This easy baked cod recipe is made with flaky cod fillets, garlic butter, fresh lemon juice, and parsley. The cod bakes in just 10 minutes, making it a quick and flavorful oven-baked fish dinner for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 500 g cod fillet
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 lemon
For Garlic Butter
- 60 g unsalted butter softened
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C (350°F convection / 180°C fan).
- Cut the 1 pound (500 g) cod fillet into portions and season with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon paprika.
- Cut 1 lemon into quarters and place the pieces in a baking dish. Arrange the cod portions on top of the lemon pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup (60 g) softened butter, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, ½ tablespoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, and ½ teaspoon paprika until well combined.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter mixture over each piece of cod.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish with additional parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
Use Fresh Cod When Possible: I find fresh cod gives the best texture, but frozen cod works well too, as long as it is fully thawed and patted dry.
Do Not Overcook the Fish: Cod cooks quickly. I start checking after 8 minutes because it can go from perfectly flaky to dry in just a couple of minutes.
Let the Lemon Work Underneath: Placing the cod on top of the lemon quarters adds gentle citrus flavor while helping keep the fish moist.
Mix the Garlic Butter Thoroughly: I like making sure every ingredient is evenly combined so each piece of cod gets the same flavor.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat gently.
Nutrition
Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 590mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
