Baked Cod with Garlic Butter (Print)

Flaky cod fillets baked in rich garlic butter and fresh parsley for a light, flavorful dinner.

# What You Need:

01 - 4 cod fillets (5.3 oz each), skinless and boneless

02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

03 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced

04 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

05 - 1/2 tsp sea salt

06 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

07 - 3 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

08 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer.

02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.

03 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.

04 - Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cod fillets.

05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until the fish flakes easily and is opaque throughout.

06 - Remove from oven, sprinkle generously with fresh parsley, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

01 -

The fish cooks so gently that even if you're nervous about seafood, this teaches you how forgiving a good white fish can be.
It tastes luxurious enough to serve to guests but honest enough to make on a tired Tuesday when you just need something nourishing.

02 -

If your oven runs cool, the fish might not cook through in 18 minutes—use the visual cue of opacity and the fork test rather than timing alone, because every oven has a personality.
The second time I made this, I arranged the fillets too close together and they steamed instead of baked; now I always make sure there's breathing room between them, which honestly makes all the difference.

03 -

Buy fish from a fishmonger if you can, not the supermarket case; the quality difference is noticeable and changes how this simple dish tastes.
If your garlic seems harsh or green inside, use less of it or remove the germ from the center—that's where the bitterness hides.