Description
Whip up a healthy lemon butter baked cod in your oven! This simple, flavorful fish recipe comes together fast for an easy weeknight dinner you’ll love.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Ingredients:
- 4 (6 oz/170g) cod fillets, fresh or thawed
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large lemon, juice and zest
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Seasonings & Spices:
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Prep Your Cod & Oven:: First things first, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Then, pat those cod fillets super dry with paper towels. This step is crucial, honestly! If they’re wet, they’ll steam instead of getting that lovely, slightly firm texture. I once skipped this, thinking “eh, it’ll be fine,” and ended up with sad, watery fish. Lesson learned for my healthy lemon butter baked cod!
- Mix the Lemon Butter Sauce:: In a small bowl, melt your butter. To that, add the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, dried parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Give it a good whisk until everything is combined. This is where the magic starts to happen, the smells are just incredible – bright lemon, pungent garlic, a hint of smoke. Don’t be shy with the seasoning; this sauce is the heart of our healthy lemon butter baked cod.
- Arrange & Pour:: Grab a baking dish or a rimmed baking sheet and lightly grease it. Place your dried cod fillets in a single layer. Now, generously spoon that beautiful lemon butter mixture over each fillet, making sure every inch is coated. I always try to get some of the minced garlic right on top of the fish. Sometimes I get a little messy here, but it’s all part of the process, right?
- Bake to Flaky Perfection:: Pop that dish into your preheated oven. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of your fillets, so keep an eye on them! I’ve definitely overcooked fish before, and it turns out dry and sad, so don’t walk away for too long. You want that tender, juicy healthy lemon butter baked cod.
- A Quick Broil for Color (Optional):: If you want a little extra golden color on top, you can briefly broil the fish for 1-2 minutes at the very end. Watch it like a hawk, though – broilers are intense! I’ve learned this the hard way after charring the edges of my fish more than once. Just a quick kiss from the heat is all you need for this healthy lemon butter baked cod.
- Serve It Up:: Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Let the cod rest for a minute or two before serving. You can spoon any extra lemon butter sauce from the bottom of the dish over the fish for an extra flavor boost. The aroma filling your kitchen right now? That’s the smell of a delicious, healthy meal you just made. So good!