Baked Cod with Herb Butter (Printable)

Tender cod fillets baked with a fragrant herb butter topping for a light, elegant dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless cod fillets, approximately 5.3 oz each
02 - Salt, to taste
03 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Herb Butter

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
10 - 2 teaspoons lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - Lemon wedges, for serving
12 - Extra fresh herbs, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Arrange fillets in the prepared dish.
03 - In a small bowl, combine softened butter, parsley, dill, chives, minced garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir until fully blended.
04 - Spread the herb butter evenly over each cod fillet.
05 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Serve immediately garnished with lemon wedges and additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The herb butter does all the heavy lifting—your fish comes out moist and aromatic without any fussy techniques.
  • It tastes like you spent all afternoon cooking when you really just spent fifteen minutes, making it perfect for surprising guests or rewarding yourself on a Tuesday.
  • Naturally gluten-free and pescatarian, it fits into the way many of us actually eat these days.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the fish—wet fillets steam instead of cook, and you'll lose the subtle flavor under all that moisture.
  • The herb butter works best when spread cold or at room temperature; if it's too warm, it melts into the pan instead of staying on top of the fish where it belongs.
03 -
  • Make the herb butter ahead of time and keep it in the fridge; you can spread cold butter directly on the fish and it will soften as the oven preheats.
  • If your oven runs hot, start checking the fish at the 11-minute mark—every oven behaves differently, and overcooked cod is hard to fix.

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