Description
Lemon Butter Baked Cod brings your weeknight dinner to a whole new level of deliciousness. Tender fish fillets get dressed up with a zesty, simple sauce that makes your taste buds dance with Mediterranean-inspired flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 cod fillets
Fats:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Warm your oven to precisely 375F. Coat a baking dish with a thin layer of cooking spray.
- Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika in a small mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly dry your 4 cod fillets using paper towels, removing all excess moisture.
- Arrange the cod fillets in a single layer inside the prepared baking dish.
- Drizzle the entire butter mixture generously over each fillet, ensuring complete coverage. Allow any remaining sauce to pool around the fish.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for exactly 12-15 minutes until the fish easily separates with a fork.
- Verify the fish has reached an internal temperature of 145F using a meat thermometer.
- Garnish the hot fillets with 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley just before serving.
Notes
- Always pat the cod completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crisp exterior and prevent steaming instead of baking.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the brightest, most vibrant flavor in your sauce, as bottled juice can taste flat.
- Check the fish at 12 minutes to prevent overcooking, as cod can quickly become tough and dry when baked too long.
- For a gluten-free version, swap out any butter for olive oil and ensure all seasoning ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 175 kcal
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg