Baked Cod with Garlic Butter (Printable Version)

Elegant baked cod fillets with melted garlic butter and fresh parsley. A simple, elegant dish perfect for weeknight dinners.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 cod fillets, approximately 5 ounces each
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garlic Butter

03 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest, optional

→ Herbs and Garnish

07 - 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest if using. Stir until well incorporated.
04 - Place the cod fillets in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over each fillet.
05 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chopped parsley over the fillets. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The garlic butter creates this incredible sauce that pools around the fish, perfect for sopping up with crusty bread when nobody is looking.
  • Its one of those deceptively simple recipes that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you were relaxing with a glass of wine.
02 -
  • Overcooking cod is easier than you think – pull it from the oven when it just barely flakes as it will continue cooking for a minute or two outside the oven.
  • The butter sauce might look like its separating in the hot pan, but a quick spoon over the fillets before serving brings it all together again.
03 -
  • Bringing the cod to room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking ensures more even baking and prevents the cold center problem that can lead to overcooked edges.
  • Save the garlic-infused butter that remains in the pan after serving to drizzle over plain vegetables or rice the next day for an instant flavor upgrade.

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