Description
Lemon Butter Baked Cod is a quick and easy seafood dinner featuring tender, flaky cod baked in a zesty garlic lemon butter sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a healthy weeknight meal or a light yet elegant dinner.
Ingredients
- Cod fillets (fresh or thawed frozen)
- Unsalted butter
- Fresh lemon juice
- Garlic, minced
- Paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices (for garnish)
- Olive oil or cooking spray (for greasing the pan)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Place cod fillets in the dish and season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, then stir in lemon juice and minced garlic.
- Pour the lemon butter sauce over the cod fillets and top with lemon slices.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Add a splash of white wine to the lemon butter sauce for extra depth.
- For a crispy topping, sprinkle breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan over the cod before baking.
- Swap cod with haddock or halibut if preferred.
- Capers or olives make a great Mediterranean twist.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat gently to avoid drying out.
