Baked Cod with Lemon Butter (Printable)
Tender cod fillets baked in zesty lemon butter sauce. Light and flavorful, ready in just 30 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Fish
01 - 4 cod fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each), skinless and boneless
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (approximately 1 lemon)
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
10 - Lemon slices
11 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to accommodate the cod fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the lemon butter mixture evenly over the cod fillets, ensuring each fillet is well coated.
05 - Top each fillet with a lemon slice.
06 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cod flakes easily with a fork and the flesh becomes opaque throughout.
07 - Remove from the oven, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce creates a protective blanket that keeps the cod incredibly moist while infusing it with bright citrus notes.
- Its one of those deceiving recipes that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, when really its almost entirely hands-off.
02 -
- Overcooking cod is surprisingly easy and turns it from tender to rubbery in just a minute or two, so start checking at the 15-minute mark.
- The sauce might look separated when it comes out of the oven, but a quick spoon over the fillets before serving brings it all back together.
03 -
- For restaurant-quality presentation, warm your serving plates in the oven for a few minutes before plating the fish so the sauce stays fluid rather than congealing when it hits a cold plate.
- If your cod fillets vary in thickness, position the thinner ones toward the outer edge of the baking dish where its slightly cooler, and the thicker ones toward the center.