Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod
Our lemon garlic butter baked cod recipe is quick and easy. Flaky cod fillets bake in one dish with a buttery lemon garlic sauce and are ready in less than 30 minutes.
You may also like my baked cod with panko and cod taco recipes.
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I love cod for weeknights because it’s so easy to pull together. The flavor is mild, the texture stays tender, and it doesn’t need a lot of prep. I make this lemon garlic butter baked cod really similar to how I make baked flounder fillets.
Everything goes into one baking dish. I whisk the buttery lemon garlic sauce in a small bowl, drizzle it over the cod fillets, and pop it in the oven. By the time the table is set, the fish is opaque, flaky, and ready to serve.
This fish tastes amazing with some roasted asparagus, sauteed broccoli, or an easy Caesar salad.
How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod
First, preheat the oven to 425°F, and lightly grease a baking dish. Pat the cod fillets dry, then place each fillet in the dish. If one end is thin, tuck the tail under so the fillets bake evenly. Season the fish with a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I like to use Kinder’s The Blend and go kind of light.
Next, make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, cloves garlic, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
After that, spoon the lemon garlic butter over the cod. If there is extra sauce, pour it around the fish instead of dumping it all on top.
Then bake until the fish turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Most cod fillets are done in 10–14 minutes, but thicker cod loins can take 15–20 minutes. For accuracy, check the internal temperature in the thickest part. It should reach 145°F.
Finally, spoon the pan sauce over the fish, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon slices or wedges.
More Fish and Seafood Ideas
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Ingredients
For the Fish:
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds cod fillets, 4 fillets (about 6-8 ounces each)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon (zest + 2 tablespoons juice), plus extra wedges for serving
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F, and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Pat the cod dry and place it in the dish (if the fillets are thick on one end, tuck the thin tail under so they bake evenly). Sprinkle it with salt, garlic powder, and pepper.1 ½ to 2 pounds cod fillets½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon garlic powder¼ teaspoon black pepper
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.6 tablespoons unsalted butter2 tablespoons olive oil3 to 4 garlic cloves1 lemon (zest + 2 tablespoons juice)½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Spoon the lemon garlic butter over the cod. If there’s extra sauce, pour it around the fish (not all on top).
- Bake 10–14 minutes, depending on thickness, until the cod flakes easily with a fork and hits 145°F in the thickest part.
- Spoon the pan sauce over the fish, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
How to Store Leftovers
- If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of a 6-8 ounce fillet. Actual calories will vary.
- Since a lot of the sauce will still be in the pan after baking/serving, the calories will likely be lower than listed above.
- I love to use garlic paste in this recipe because it whisks into the sauce so well. Fresh garlic and jarred garlic also work. Use your favorite!
- I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure you don’t undercook or overcook the fish. One like this works great: https://amzn.to/3NoNkEb
- Instead of using salt, pepper, and garlic powder to season the fish, I usually use Kinder’s The Blend. If you’re using it, a light sprinkle is plenty: https://amzn.to/4brXbTK