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.
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. This lemon garlic butter baked cod is the kind of main dish I can throw together on the fly when we’re tired or in a rush.
Everything goes into one baking dish. I whisk the 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
What You’ll Need
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
How to Make It
- 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
Nutrition
Meet Kim
Hi, I’m Kim Vargo! I love making scratch-made desserts and classic dinners that bring back a little nostalgia. Whether it’s a stovetop meal or a simple pasta bake, I’m all about good food made without the extra fuss.
