Description
This Baked Lemon-Garlic Cod with Butter Sauce is a light and elegant seafood dish that comes together quickly in one baking dish. With juicy, flaky cod bathed in a bright lemon-garlic butter sauce and finished with fresh herbs, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
4 cod fillets (about 6 oz each)
2 lemons, 1 juiced and 1 thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika or crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or spray.
2. Pat cod fillets dry and place them in a single layer in the dish.
3. Season both sides of the cod with salt, pepper, and paprika or red pepper flakes.
4. Lay thin lemon slices over each fillet.
5. In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and mix in garlic and lemon juice.
6. Drizzle the lemon-garlic butter evenly over the fillets.
7. Bake uncovered for 15–18 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
8. Spoon any remaining sauce over the cod and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Patting the cod dry before seasoning helps the spices and sauce stick better.
For extra moisture, cover with foil during baking, especially if using thinner fillets.
Add a pinch of capers or white wine to the butter sauce for a gourmet twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–18 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cod, baked cod, lemon garlic cod, seafood dinner