Baked Lemon Garlic Cod
Flaky cod fillets baked in lemon garlic butter in 20 minutes. Mild, tender and foolproof, even if you rarely cook fish at home.
25% of it needs you at the counter
- Hands-on
- 5 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Calories
- 250
- Protein
- 31 g
- Per serving
- $4.41
Why this recipe works
Cod is the fish we recommend to anyone who says they do not like fish. It is mild, it flakes into big tender pieces, and it is very hard to overcook in this lemon garlic butter.
- A hot 400°F oven cooks thin cod fillets through before they have time to dry out.
- Brushing the butter on before and spooning the pan juices over after keeps the fish moist.
- Checking the thickest part with a thermometer removes the guesswork that makes people nervous about fish.
Ingredients
You will need
- 9 x 13 inch baking dish
- Instant-read thermometer
Method
Tap a step number to mark it done.
Heat the oven
Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the cod dry and place it in the baking dish. Season both sides with the salt, pepper and paprika.
Make the lemon garlic butter
Stir together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice. Spoon it evenly over the fish.
Bake
Bake until the cod is opaque and flakes easily, and the thickest part reads 145°F (63°C). Thinner fillets may be done a few minutes sooner.
Baste and serve
Spoon the buttery pan juices over the fish, scatter with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Techniques in this recipe
- Fish and seafood145°F / 63°C
- Pork chops, tenderloin, whole cuts of beef145°F / 63°C
- Ground beef, pork and sausage160°F / 71°C
- Chicken and turkey (all cuts)165°F / 74°C
Source: USDA safe minimum internal temperatures. Measure the thickest part, away from bone. Is it done? Safe temperatures
The internal temperatures that tell you chicken, pork, beef, fish and ground meat are cooked safely, and when to pull them early for juicier results.
Read the full guide
Cook's notes
- Frozen cod works well. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, or in a sealed bag in cold water for 30 minutes, then pat very dry.
- If your fillets have a thin tail end, tuck it underneath so the whole piece cooks evenly.
- Serve with rice, roasted potatoes or a green salad to soak up the lemon butter.
Nutrition per serving
250 calories
$4.41 estimated cost per serving
Where the calories come from
| Protein | 50% of calories | 31 g |
|---|---|---|
| Carbs | 3% of calories | 2 g |
| Fat | 47% of calories | 13 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients and amounts; not lab-tested. Cost estimated from average US retail prices.
Questions people ask
How do I know when cod is done?
It turns from translucent to opaque white and separates into flakes when pressed with a fork. The thickest part should read 145°F (63°C) on an instant-read thermometer.
Can I bake cod from frozen?
You can, but it releases more water and cooks less evenly. If you must, rinse off any ice, pat dry, add the butter and bake 20 to 25 minutes until it reaches 145°F.
Is baked cod healthy?
Cod is a lean, high-protein fish. Each serving here has about 31 grams of protein and 250 calories, most of the fat coming from the butter sauce.
