How to make Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod? (Light and Fresh)

Cod loins or fillets are baked in the oven with lemon butter, lemon pepper, and a layer of fresh lemon slices.

Serve with a side Baked Cod of rice, some fresh vegetables, or a side salad as a light lunch or dinner.

Best Recipe for Lemon Cod

• Since codfish is so adaptable, there are numerous ways to prepare it. Air fryer, baking in the oven or even grilling.
• Less than 20 minutes are needed to prepare and serve this dish.
• Cod is inexpensive; use fresh or frozen fillets, depending on what is available. Use your preferred white fish if you don’t have cod.
• The best recipe for consistently delicious and trouble-free fish is this one!

Ingredients & Variations

Everything, from roast chicken to this simple fish recipe, tastes great with garlic butter.

FISH: Fresh or frozen cod is widely available and reasonably priced. Although cod filets are also excellent, we like using cod loins because they are a little thicker.

You can also use tilapia, haddock, hake, or sea bass as other white fish.

SEASONINGS: For this dish, we use melted butter over olive oil due of its flavor. Baked cod is enhanced by the savory flavor of garlic and the bright flavor of lemon pepper and lemon juice.

Use fresh lemon juice; one whole lemon should be sufficient as you’ll also need lemons for slicing.

If you want to produce your own lemon pepper, use a tiny portion of the lemon’s zest! We like homemade lemon pepper because I find store-bought to be a little too salty.

Variations include flavoring handmade breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or Panko for a crunchy topping.

ADVICE: Thaw frozen fish in the fridge, never on the counter.

Cod Bake Techniques

It’s easy to prepare this baked cod recipe.

1. Prepare lemon slices for the baking dish and squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice from each lemon slice.
2. Cod fillets are placed atop lemon slices after being seasoned with lemon pepper.
3. Add some butter with garlic. Bake at 400°F until the flesh is opaque and easily flakes.

A CAKE TESTER or fork can be used to check a cake’s doneness.

How to Make the Best Fish Fillets

After thawing in the refrigerator, make sure to wipe the cod dry because frozen filets will leak some water.

Avoid overbaking fish fillets for the ideal flaky and delicate texture. Fish that has been taken out of the oven will continue to cook.

Present baked cod with…

It pairs wonderfully with either asparagus or broccoli, brown rice or rice pilaf, and a simple tossed salad.

With a glass of pinot grigio or other crisp white wines, this fish is delicious.

How to Keep Leftovers Safe

For up to three days, refrigerate leftover baked cod fillets in a closed container. Add to soups, stews, or omelets. Reheat in a pot with a little water, cover, and steam until done.

Baked Cod

This baked cod is brimming with flavor in every bite because to its tender, flaky texture and lemony garlic butter infusion.

Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 clove garlic minced, or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
• 4 cod loins or filets, 4-5 oz each
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions for Baked Cod

1. Set the oven to 400 °F.
2. Slice a lemon in half. You will need 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to juice the remaining half. In a casserole dish, arrange lemon slices.
3. Butter, garlic, and a tablespoon of lemon juice are whisked together.
4. With a paper towel, pat dry cod filets or loins. Place cod over lemon slices and season with lemon pepper and dill.
5. Over the cod, spread the garlic butter mixture. Just bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Avoid overcooking.
6. To serve, top with butter and sprinkle parsley.

Notes

Since lemon pepper from the store is typically quite salty, I don’t think this recipe needs a lot of salt. If the lemon pepper doesn’t taste salty, you can add a little extra salt to the recipe.

Depending on the fish’s shape and thickness, the cooking time may change. Cod filets that are thinner will take a little less time, whereas filets that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick will require 15-20 minutes. Make sure the cod is not overcooked by checking it early.

The amount of butter in the recipe can be increased if you’d like more to drizzle on rice or vegetables.

The internal temperature of cod should be 145°F. Once cooked, it will be opaque and easily flake.

When the cod is finished cooking, remove it from the baking dish because the heat from the dish will keep the cod warm.

Nutrition information

Calories: 252 | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 762mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 523IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg