Description
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring flaky cod baked in a rich garlic butter sauce with lemon and herbs. This recipe requires minimal prep, cooks in under 25 minutes, and is perfect for busy families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds cod fillets (fresh or frozen)
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 lemons (one for juice, one for zest/slices)
- 2 teaspoons dried herbs (oregano and thyme mix)
- ¼ cup (60ml) dry white wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with foil or parchment paper and grease lightly.
- Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic, lemon zest, dried oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and white wine. Set aside.
- Place cod fillets in the prepared baking dish. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- Pour half of the garlic butter sauce over the fish. Reserve the other half for basting.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes (add 5-10 minutes if cooking from frozen). The fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
- Halfway through baking, remove dish and baste fish with the remaining sauce.
- Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top in the last 2 minutes of baking.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving with lemon wedges.
Notes
Do not overcook the fish as it becomes dry quickly. If using frozen cod, cook straight from the freezer but add 5-10 minutes to the baking time. For a crispy top, broil for the last 1-2 minutes. This recipe is naturally gluten-free; ensure wine and herbs are certified GF if necessary. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: garlic butter cod, baked fish, weeknight dinner, easy seafood, healthy fish recipe, gluten-free dinner