Baked Lemon Garlic Cod

By
Fiona Haynes
Fiona Haynes
Freelance writer and copy editor Fiona Haynes has published more than 100 published recipes focused on low-fat and healthy eating.
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Updated on 09/19/23
Tested by
Spruce Eats Test Kitchen
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Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 17 mins
Servings: 4 servings

When you're looking for an easy and quick dinner idea, even for a weeknight, you can't go wrong with this baked lemon garlic cod recipe. It's a great weeknight dish, but don't count it out for entertaining because it's definitely impressive enough for your most discriminating company. 

Cod is a relatively mild-tasting fish, making it a good choice for the fish-averse—including kids. It pairs well with and actually takes on the flavors of the ingredients you add to it. Here, a simple approach is used: A drizzle of lemon juice, some crushed garlic, and olive oil are cooked along with a sliver of butter and some fresh chopped parsley to make a bright and flavorful sauce that is spooned over boneless, skinless cod portions before baking. This dish is ready in about 20 minutes.

Serve with a green salad with a vinaigrette, or steamed veggies or a vinegar-and-oil coleslaw. This baked cod pairs especially well with nutty, delicate whole grains (and grain-like sides), as a side dish, such as brown rice, quinoa, millet, or barley. Cauliflower rice would taste great here, too.

A plate with lemon-garlic baked cod, served with steamed broccoli, lemon wedges, and a glass of seltzer

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

"The baked cod had a delicate, mild flavor with subtle acidity. Keep a close eye on the fish so it's not overcooked. This would probably work with frozen, thawed cod fillets as well. I would serve this with rice and roasted veggies." —Craig Ruff

Baked Lemon Garlic Cod/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 4 (6-ounce) pieces boneless, skinless cod fillets

  • 1 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, crushed

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus lemon wedges, for serving

  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F. Very lightly coat the bottom of a baking dish large enough to hold the fish in one layer with cooking spray.

    Ingredients to make lemon-garlic baked cod

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  2. Pat the cod pieces with a paper towel and place them in the baking dish. Season the fish with the salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    A baking dish with four cod filets, sprinkled with salt and black pepper

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  3. Place the butter and oil in a small nonstick skillet on medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Swirl the lemon juice in the pan. Immediately remove from heat.

    A pan with melted butter, crushed garlic, and lemon juice

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  4. Drizzle the lemon-garlic mixture over the top of the fish.

    A baking dish with four cod filets, topped with crushed garlic-butter-lemon sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  5. Bake, uncovered, until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes.

    A baking dish with four baked cod filets, topped with lemon-garlic sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  6. Divide the fish between plates and top with the accumulated juice from the dish. Garnish with parsley and serve with a lemon wedge.

    A plate with a lemon-garlic baked cod filet, topped with chopped parsley and served with a lemon wedge

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
226 Calories
6g Fat
1g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 226
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Sodium 717mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 6mg 29%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 444mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)