How Long Cook Cod Oven

Best Baked Cod

This baked cod is my easy and foolproof recipe for perfectly flaky fish, every time. A simple buttery and garlicky herb topping transforms simple cod fillets into a light and healthy weeknight dish.

Four baked cod filets in a white casserole dish.

While salmon tends to get a lot of attention, a cod fillet is not one to be overlooked. It's just as meaty, holds well in a variety of recipes, and you can't beat that flaky texture.

Today's recipe serves just that. An easy , oven baked fillet that's soaked up in butter, garlic, lemon, and parsley. It's unbelievably tender and guarantees one flavorful and healthy dinner in 30 minutes.

What Type of Fish to Buy

When it comes to fish, I always recommend starting with a good quality (preferably wild caught) variety. I'm using Alaskan cod in this recipe, but you could also use halibut, mahi mahi, or another flaky white fish.

Fresh vs Frozen Cod

Similar to how I shop for shrimp, frozen wild Alaskan cod might be the better option. You're never sure how long the "fresh" cod on ice has been sitting out. Plus, fresh catches of the day can be a bit pricey and hard to come by.

Baked cod filet with lemon slices in a pan.

Baked Cod Ingredients

Garlic and butter will always be a dynamic duo when it comes to flavoring seafood. But here's a few other things you'll need.

Cod: Look for wild Atlantic or Pacific cod varieties.
Butter: I use unsalted butter so I can add as much salt as I want to this recipe.
Garlic : Fresh is the way to go here, but you can use garlic powder in a pinch.
Parsley : Go with Italian flat-leaf parsley in the garlic butter and as a garnish. Not a fan of parsley? Try chives, thyme or other herbs!
Lemon : Fish and lemon are best friends!
Paprika : Add just a touch to elevate the flavor profile.

Ingredients for baked cod laid out on a table.

How To Make The Perfect Baked Cod

Pan searing is one way to achieve that beautiful crust. But I find that baking it in the oven is hands down the most foolproof method. Here's how to make it.

Make the garlic herb butter. Stir the topping ingredients together.
Coat the fish. Smear the garlic herb butter on the cod filets.
Bake the fish. Once the fish is flaky, it's ready to serve.

Ingredients for a garlic butter herb topping mixed in a bowl.

How to Know When Baked Cod is Done

A white fish like cod is done when you can flake it with a fork. But it's always best to cook fish to its proper temperature of 145 °F/ 63 °C.

Switch Up The Seasonings

Give this cod recipe a fun cod recipe a fun twist by tweaking the seasoning in the garlic butter. Here's a few of my favorites.

French : Use fresh or dried thyme in place of the parsley, and add a tablespoon of chopped capers.
Cajun : Replace the paprika with your favorite Cajun seasoning blend and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Italian : Swap the parsley for fresh basil, and the paprika for Italian seasoning.
Spanish : Use smoked paprika instead of sweet.
Mexican : Substitute chopped cilantro for the parsley, ground cumin for the paprika, and lime for the lemon.

How to Serve Garlic Butter Cod

What's a plate of fish without warm and savory sides? These easy ideas will complement the cod beautifully.

Broccoli Rice or Cauliflower Rice
Green Beans with Shallot and Lemon
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
Roasted Broccoli
Sautéed Cabbage

Baked cod filets on a white plate with a fork.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

As with most fish, it's best to eat any leftovers within 1 to 2 days after cooking. Here's a few storage options.

To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store for up to 2 days in the fridge.
To Freeze: Use a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 1 month.
How To Reheat: Simply reheat in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until the fish is warmed through.

More Easy Seafood Recipes To Love

If you're a seafood lover like, I highly recommend any of these recipes.

Orange Glazed Salmon
Creamy Chipotle Shrimp
Salmon Patties
Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Scallops with Citrus Ginger Sauce

Baked cod in a baking pan topped with lemon slices.

Best Baked Cod

This baked cod is an easy and foolproof recipe for perfectly buttery, garlicky, and flaky fish every time!

▢ 4 6-ounce cod filets
▢ 3 tablespoons butter, softened
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 3 garlic cloves, minced
▢ 2 tablespoons parsley, chives, thyme or other herbs, finely chopped
▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
▢ 1 lemon, thinly sliced
▢ salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat your oven to 400F/200C. Place the cod in a baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix together the butter, olive oil, minced garlic, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Spread the compound butter mixture on top of each filet.
Lay the lemon slices both on top and under the cod filets.
Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Before serving, spoon the juices from the baking dish over the cod.

To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store for up to 2 days in the fridge.
To Freeze: Use a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 1 month.
How To Reheat: Simply reheat in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until the fish is warmed through.

Calories: 258 kcal , Carbohydrates: 4 g , Protein: 31 g , Fat: 13 g , Saturated Fat: 6 g , Cholesterol: 96 mg , Sodium: 169 mg , Potassium: 760 mg , Fiber: 1 g , Sugar: 1 g , Vitamin A: 622 IU , Vitamin C: 19 mg , Calcium: 44 mg , Iron: 1 mg

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @downshiftology and hashtag it #downshiftology.