Baked Cod with Lemon Butter
A quick and easy Baked Cod with Lemon Butter recipe that produces flaky cod fish topped with a buttery lemon sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Fish ingredients
- 4 fillets Cod fillets Fresh or thawed, about 1 to 1.5 inches thick is ideal.
Lemon Butter Sauce ingredients
- 1/2 cup Butter Salted or unsalted, both work.
- 1 whole Lemon Zest and juice.
- 2 cloves Garlic Fresh minced or garlic powder in a pinch.
- to taste Salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Paprika Optional, for color.
Garnish
- 1/4 cup Parsley or dill Optional, for a fresh finish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Pat the cod dry, then place it in a lightly buttered or oiled baking dish.
- Melt the butter and stir in lemon juice, a little zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Pour the lemon butter over the fish.
Baking
- Bake until the cod flakes easily with a fork, around 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness.
- Spoon the pan sauce on top and finish with herbs.
Notes
Pat the cod dry before baking for better texture. Use a snug baking dish to keep the sauce concentrated. You can substitute butter with olive oil for a lighter sauce.