Description
Lemon Butter Cod delivers a simple seafood dinner that melts in your mouth with delicate, zesty flavors. Tender fish bakes quickly in a rich butter sauce that brings restaurant-quality taste straight to your kitchen table.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 4 cod fillets
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 lemons, juiced and zested
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400F and grab a baking dish that comfortably fits your 4 cod fillets.
- Create a zesty sauce by whisking 4 tablespoons melted butter with juice and zest from 2 lemons, 2 minced garlic cloves, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper.
- Arrange your cod fillets in the baking dish, ensuring they’re not overlapping.
- Generously drizzle the entire lemon butter mixture over each fillet, making sure every inch gets coated.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated 400F oven and bake for exactly 12-15 minutes, watching for the fish to turn opaque and flake easily with a gentle fork press.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the top for a bright, herbal finish.
Notes
- Fresh cod works best, but frozen works too – just thaw completely and pat dry before cooking.
- For extra flavor, add capers or sliced almonds on top before baking for a crunchy texture.
- Check fish at 12 minutes since overcooking makes cod dry and tough – fish should be opaque and flake easily.
- Swap butter with olive oil for a lighter version, or use ghee for a richer dairy-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg