Baked Cod with Garlic Butter (Printable)

Tender flaky cod fillets with garlic butter and fresh parsley. Ready in 25 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fish

01 - 4 cod fillets, about 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 & Garnish

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

# Steps:

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 evenly with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest if using.
04 - Arrange 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 with the chopped parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This dish has that restaurant-quality look and taste but comes together in less time than it takes to decide what movie to watch afterward.
  • The garlic butter creates this incredible sauce that pools around the fish, perfect for sopping up with a chunk of crusty bread.
02 -
  • I once overcooked this dish by just three minutes and the difference between silky, tender cod and tough, rubbery fish was dramatic, so set a timer and check early.
  • Letting the cod sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before cooking helps it bake more evenly and prevents that alarming sizzle when cold fish hits a hot pan.
03 -
  • The biggest secret to perfectly baked fish is to pull it from the oven when it just barely flakes but still looks slightly underdone in the very center, as it will continue cooking from residual heat.
  • Adding a splash of white wine to the garlic butter mixture creates an even more aromatic sauce that feels restaurant-worthy with minimal extra effort.

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