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Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod Recipe

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3.9 from 63 reviews

This Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Cod recipe offers a flavorful and easy seafood dish where cod fillets are baked with a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce. Perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner, the cod is tender, flaky, and infused with bright citrus and savory garlic notes, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon slices.

Ingredients

Fish

  • 4 cod fillets (about 6 ounces each)

Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Garnish

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Lemon slices (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the cod evenly.
  2. Prepare lemon garlic butter sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, smoked paprika, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional crushed red pepper flakes together until well combined.
  3. Prep cod fillets: Pat the cod fillets dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps the sauce adhere better and promotes even cooking. Place the fillets in a 9x13-inch baking dish in a single layer.
  4. Add sauce to cod: Pour the prepared lemon garlic butter mixture evenly over each cod fillet, making sure each is well coated for maximum flavor.
  5. Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cod flakes easily when tested with a fork. For thicker fillets, you may need to bake an additional 2–3 minutes to ensure doneness.
  6. Garnish and serve: Once cooked, sprinkle the baked cod with the chopped fresh parsley and garnish with lemon slices. Serve immediately to enjoy the cod at its freshest and most flavorful.

Notes

  • Ensure cod is patted dry to allow better absorption of the lemon garlic butter sauce.
  • Adjust baking time slightly based on the thickness of the cod fillets to avoid overcooking.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes are optional and can be omitted for a milder flavor.
  • Serve with steamed vegetables or rice for a complete meal.

Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/lemon-garlic-butter-baked-cod-recipe/