Garlic Butter Lemon Baked Cod
This cooking method makes the fish a little crispy on the outside, and wonderfully juicy and tender on the inside. That’s why I want to share my tried and true recipe that gives me the perfect results every time.
My baked cod recipe will give you the perfectly cooked, tender cod with a little crisp on the outside and great flavors of garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs. This a fantastic fish dinner that’s ready in 20 minutes! I’ve been cooking fish using this method since my my taught it to me when I was a teenager. It just doesn’t fail!
Cod is a fish that is often underutilized and under-appreciated in many kitchens but it’s a beautifully juicy white fish with large flaky filets. Cod has a delicate, mild flavor that makes it able to adapt to an array of different seasonings and cooking techniques. With this recipe, you’ll be cooking cod a lot more often.
Tips and Steps to Make Baked Cod
- Start by preheating you oven to 400°F first! By the time it’s preheated, your fish will be ready to go in.
- Combine the flour and seasoning, be sure to really mix them well.
- Before seasoning the filets, pat them dry with a paper towel, then add just a little bit of salt and pepper to them. Seasoning the filets themselves will ensure the best flavor.
- Evenly coat the filets with the homemade seasoning mix and flour. Make sure to PAT the coating onto the fish, not rub.
- Before you can bake the cod, you need to sear it, this will seal in the flavor and give you a nice crisp on the outside. Preheat the skillet over medium-high heat first, then add the oil. (Note: use a skillet or a cooking pan that can go from stove to oven!)
- Sear the filets for about a minute on each side, until they’re nice and golden in color, and make sure they are releasing from the pan before you take them out!
- Use a fish spatula to carefully remove the golden filets from the skillet and them set aside. Lower the heat on the stovetop.
- Add butter to the pan and then garlic, once it’s melted. Sear garlic until fragrant, then add the fresh lemon juice. Make sure to give garlic time to sear before adding lemon juice!
- Stir the lemon juice, garlic, and butter well, then add the fish back into the skillet.
- Transfer the pan into the oven and bake the cod for about 8-10 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the meat turns completely opaque, flakes easily, and the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Why Coat the Fish with Flour?
Coating the cod lightly with a flour mixture helps it get brown and a little crispy on the outside, while also sealing the juices on the inside to make it perfectly tender. This technique works best for pan-seared flaky fish, but also works well for baking it or finishing it in the oven.
What to Serve with Cod
I love serving this cod with vegetables, salads, and a slightly heartier side dish as well. Here are a few of my go-to side dishes!
- Caesar Salad
- Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
- Rice Pilaf
- Parmesan Mushroom Orzo
- Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes
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Butter Lemon Garlic Baked Cod Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs cod filets
- 2 tbsp canola oil to sear fish
- 3 tbsp butter to bake fish
- 1 lemon – juice only
- 3 garlic cloves pressed
- fresh minced parsley to garnish
Seasoning For Cod:
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour* use gluten free if needed
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt more or less to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
Prepare the fish:
- In a wide and shallow bowl, combine flour and seasonings and mix them well.
- Pat each fish filet with a paper towel and season with a little bit of salt and pepper on both sides.
- Dip each fish filet into the mixture, dusting it with flour mixture all around.
Sear the fish:
- Use an oven-safe pan like a cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan to cook the fish.
- Preheat the skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes first and then add oil. Allow oil to heat through for a couple of seconds, spread it all around the pan, and add fish fillets.
- Sear fish fillets for about a minute on each side, until golden. Carefully, using a fish spatula, take fish out of the pan and set it aside for a minute. Lower the heat.
- Add butter to the pan and once it's melted, add garlic. Sear garlic for a few seconds, until flagrant, and add lemon juice. Stir everything well and add fish back into the pan.
Baking cod:
- Transfer the pan into the oven and bake cod for 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness and size of the filets. You want to see cod turn completely opaque throughout. (If you want to take the internal temperature, fish could be cooked to 145°.)
Notes
Nutrition
More seafood recipes to enjoy!
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on May 19, 2021.
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
Excellent. I have made this twice thank you for recipe
I am so glad you liked the recipe, Alice!
Was excellent! Thank you for sharing this great recipe 😁
Bryan B.
You are so welcome! I am so glad you liked it!
This fish was absolutely delicious. Will be making it again soon
I love hearing that! Glad you liked it, Sandra!
I have never enjoyed fish, but when my daughter started eating I wanted to give her fish and I came across this recipe. Well now it’s a household favourite, we have it pretty much every other week! It’s so good, thank you!
I love hearing that, Tabea! So glad your family likes it!
Fantastic recipe! We really enjoyed the light batter and lemon, definitely adding to the rotation. Thanks!
I am happy you liked it, Kelly!
It was delicious, but I’m not sure it was, as you say “flagrnt”, but it was sure fragrant!
This was the BEST cod recipe I ever made!!! Husband and toddler loved it too!!!
I am trying to eat healthier so I tried this and it was really good!