Recipe Details
Garlic Herb Butter Baked Cod
Bright, savory, and perfectly flaky, this quick baked cod recipe comes together in just 25 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights or low-fuss weekend dinners. Bright lemon and fragrant herb butter complement mild cod beautifully for a light, satisfying meal.
Recipe Basics
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time | Servings |
|-----------|-----------|------------|----------|
| 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 25 minutes | 4 |
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (or rosemary, if you prefer)
½ teaspoon finely ground pink salt, adjust to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
4 cod fillets (6 ounces / 170g each)
2 medium lemons, each cut into 8 thin slices
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 sprigs fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and set out a large baking dish for cooking.
Prepare your herb compound butter first: add the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, and thyme (or rosemary) to a clean cutting board. Use a sharp knife to chop through the mixture repeatedly, working the herbs and garlic into the butter and folding everything together as you go. Add the pink salt, black pepper, and paprika, and continue mixing until all seasonings are evenly blended into the butter.
Pat all cod fillets dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure even cooking. Place 2 lemon slices on the base of your baking dish for each fillet, then set one dried cod fillet on top of each pair of lemon slices. Split the herb butter mixture evenly between all four fillets, spreading it in a smooth layer across the top of each piece of cod. Top each buttered fillet with 2 more lemon slices.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. The cod is fully cooked when it flakes easily and pulls apart cleanly when prodded with a fork.
To serve, drizzle a small amount of extra virgin olive oil over each fillet, and add a fresh parsley sprig garnish if desired. Serve warm with roasted vegetables, rice, or crusty bread.