Description
Garlic butter baked cod fillets offer flaky, tender fish with rich, garlicky flavor in about 20 minutes. It’s a fast, restaurant-style weeknight option.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 cod fillets
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat your oven precisely to 375°F and prepare a clean baking dish for the cod fillets.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until completely liquefied.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the butter and cook for exactly 1-2 minutes, releasing their aromatic flavor.
- Squeeze fresh juice from 1 whole lemon directly into the butter and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Arrange 4 cod fillets in the baking dish and generously sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Drizzle the entire garlic butter mixture evenly over your seasoned cod fillets, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated 375°F oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, checking that the fish easily separates with a fork.
- Remove from the oven and scatter freshly chopped parsley across the top for a vibrant, herbal finish.
Notes
- Always choose fresh cod fillets with a firm texture and no strong fishy smell for the best flavor.
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels before seasoning to help the garlic butter sauce stick better and create a more even coating.
- Check the fish early and remove from the oven as soon as it flakes easily to prevent overcooking, which can make the cod tough and dry.
- For a low-carb or gluten-free version, replace butter with olive oil and add extra herbs like thyme or dill for more depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg