This really is the best baked cod! The fish turns out perfectly tender, seasoned with lemon and garlic. A home run for dinner!
Looking for a home cooked weeknight dinner? Try the amazing Baked cod! We’ll admit that cod wasn’t always a fish on our radar. But this fish is really something special. It is soft, tender and buttery in taste. The best part? It’s smothered in a tangy lemon-garlic sauce that will make you want another bite before you’re done chewing. This baked fish is always a hit with our whole family! More with cod? Try 15 cod recipes everyone will love.
How to buy a good cod fillet
The most important part in making a good baked cod? Start with a good piece of fish. We burned ourselves with some bad cuts of cod, so here’s what you should know:
- Fresh tends to be better. In addition to salmon, you can find excellent frozen or fresh fillets. But the frozen cod we tried was mediocre, with a fishy aftertaste and watery texture. If you can, get a piece from your local fish store.
- Buy tomboy. Wild fish caught in your country is generally a sustainable choice. There are also quality options at well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch consumer guide.
How does cod taste?
If you hesitate about cod, let us convince you. Cod has a smooth, clean flavor with no “fishy” aftertaste. In fact, it’s even sweeter than salmon. Cod is a good place to start for people who think they don’t like fish.
Other ways to eat cod? Cod is versatile and can be prepared in many ways: pan fried, in fish tacos, or grilled.
How to cook cod in the oven: a few tips!
Baked cod is one of the easiest ways to prepare this delicious fish! It comes out tender and perfectly seasoned. There are just a few things to consider:
- Allow your fish to come to room temperature before cooking. You can do this while the oven is preheating; Just take the fish out of the fridge. Cooking at room temperature ensures even cooking.
- Season the fish. It is important! Sprinkle salt and pepper directly on the fish.
- Cover with spices. This recipe features a lemon garlic sauce made with olive oil, lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, shallots, and dried oregano.
- Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 400 degrees it cooks perfectly.
- Bake for 17 to 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Cod isn’t as delicate as salmon, so you can guess without a thermometer. Just make it scaly!
Cod Seasoning Variations
Wanna mix it up a bit? There are some great other spice variations to try! Forget the lemon-garlic sauce and add these condiments to the 2 tablespoons olive oil, then brush directly onto the fish:
- Mexican cod: Before cooking, add 2 tablespoons of this fish taco seasoning.
- Cajun Cod: Try 1-2 tablespoons of this flavorful homemade Cajun seasoning.
- Blackened cod: Sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons blackened spice, a milder blend that still preserves the Cajun flavor.
Make it a meal! Side dishes to serve with baked cod
Impress your whole family with this Baked Cod to make an easy and healthy dinner! (Ours was blown away…even our three year old!) The spice mix is quite versatile and gives lots of ideas for side dishes. Here are some we recommend:
Easier Seafood Recipes
Some of our favorite quick and easy dinner recipes include seafood! Here are some of our favorite seafood recipes:
This Baked Cod Recipe is…
Gluten free, pescetarian and dairy free.
The description
This really is the best baked cod! The fish turns out perfectly tender, seasoned with lemon and garlic. A home run for dinner!
- 1 1/2 Pound cod (4 fillets), patted dry
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plusis 1 lemon (plus lemon slices for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons Sliced shallot
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic (approx. 4 cloves)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or paprika
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat the cod dry, then season with ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and divide among the fillets.
- In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, dried oregano, chopped shallot, and chopped garlic.
- Spread some of the mixture on the bottom of a casserole dish, then place the cod on top. Brush each cod fillet generously with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle the paprika powder evenly between the fillets.
- Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 17 to 20 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fish) until the fish is flaky and the internal temperature reads 130 degrees Fahrenheit using a food thermometer. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, if you like.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: American
- Diet: Gluten free
Keywords: Cod in the oven, recipe for cod in the oven
