Baked Cod
This Baked Cod recipe is the perfect easy weeknight dinner! It’s made with fresh cod fillets seasoned to perfection, then baked until tender and flaky. It’s made with simple ingredients that give it so much flavor!
Easy Baked Cod Recipe
Cod is one of my favorite fish to cook. It’s the perfect blank slate for flavor, meaning it just soaks up whatever spices you season it with…in the best way!
This recipe for baked cod is one of best cod recipes! It’s made with fresh cod fillets that are seasoned with olive oil, herbs, and spices, topped with shallot and garlic, and cooked in a baking pan until tender, juicy, and deliciously flaky.
Whip it up for those busy weeknights or serve it at your next dinner party. It’s sure to impress!
How to Make Baked Cod
This delicious dinner is ready in a quick 30 minutes!
Scroll to the recipe card below for the ingredient amounts and full instructions.
- Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel, then place into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, shallots, and garlic.
- Pour the lemon and oil mixture over the fish. Be sure to evenly distribute the garlic and shallots.
- Bake the prepared cod fish in a preheated oven at 400ºF until a meat thermometer reads 145ºF. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve.
Tips and Notes
- Pat the cod dry. Before prepping, use a paper towel to gently pad the cod fillets dry. Removing the excess moisture helps the seasonings adhere to the fish.
- Check the temperature. The best way to tell that the fish is done is to use a meat thermometer. It should be 145ºF. Once it hits that, pull it out of the oven so as not to overcook it.
- Play with flavors. You can use this recipe as a guide, but season the cod any way you would like! Try adding garlic powder, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, you name it.
- Adjust to taste. Any of the ingredients or flavors can be adjusted to taste.
Storage
Leftover cod can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To enjoy again, thaw the fish overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm on low on the stove or in the oven at 275ºF until heated through.
What Temperature Is Cod Baked At?
For this recipe, the perfect temperature is 400ºF! It’s high enough heat that the cod cooks through quickly and the texture remains light and flaky.
For the best results, make sure the oven is fully preheated to 400ºF before you start baking.
How Long Does Cod Take in the Oven at 400ºF?
That really depends on the size of your fillets.
If you have a thicker fillet, it will take a little bit longer. If you have a thinner fillet, it will cook more quickly.
While I do plan for 15-18 minutes of cooking time, the best way to check that the cod is done is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Simply insert it into the thickest part of the fillet. It should be 145ºF.
Should You Cover Cod When Baking?
No! Covering the baking dish may make the fish mushy and watery because the moisture can’t evaporate. It is best to leave the pan uncovered while the cod cooks.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod fillets, patted dry
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F, and lightly grease a large baking dish.
- Pat the cod filets dry with paper towels, and place in the baking dish in an even layer.1 pound cod fillets
- Sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and paprika.½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground black pepper¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, oregano, shallots, and garlic.1 tablespoon olive oil1 lemon1 teaspoon dried oregano1 shallot2 garlic cloves
- Pour the olive oil mixture over the fish making sure to evenly distribute the garlic and shallots.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of cod reads 145°F. Let the fish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Scroll up and see the post for tips, storage options, and FAQs.
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 cod fillet. Actual calories will vary.