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lemon garlic butter baked cod - featured image

Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod


  • Author: SALY
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A quick and easy baked cod recipe featuring a bright, buttery, garlicky sauce with fresh lemon. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish is light, satisfying, and kid-friendly.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz / 170g each)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (60g)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (30ml)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or fresh chopped parsley)
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place evenly spaced in a baking dish.
  2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter gently. Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, dried parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  4. Pour the warm lemon garlic butter evenly over each cod fillet, ensuring some garlic pieces are on top.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout. Avoid overbaking.
  6. Spoon some of the buttery pan sauce over the cod before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

[‘Patting the fish dry helps the sauce cling and prevents steaming.’, ‘Cook garlic gently in butter to avoid bitterness.’, ‘Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor.’, ‘Watch bake time carefully to avoid drying out the fish.’, ‘Double the sauce if you want extra buttery goodness.’, ‘Make the lemon garlic butter sauce ahead and store in fridge; bring to room temperature before use.’, ‘Add smoked paprika to the butter mix for a smoky flavor variation.’, ‘This recipe works well with other fish like halibut, tilapia, or salmon.’, ‘For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and omit butter-based sauce.’, ‘Add vegetables like asparagus, green beans, or cherry tomatoes to the pan for a one-pan meal.’]

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cod fillet (6 oz /
  • Calories: 280
  • Sodium: 220
  • Fat: 16
  • Saturated Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 2
  • Protein: 30

Keywords: lemon garlic butter baked cod, easy fish recipe, quick weeknight dinner, baked cod, healthy fish recipe, kid-friendly fish, one-pan fish recipe