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Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Tender, flaky cod fillets baked to perfection in a pool of garlicky lemon butter sauce. This elegant yet effortless dish delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal prep and hands-off cooking—perfect for busy weeknights or impressive dinner parties.

Baked cod fillet with lemon slices in garlic butter sauce garnished with fresh parsley

Prep Time : 10 min

Cook Time : 18 min

Servings : 4

Prep Time :

10 min

Cook Time :

18 min

Servings :

4

Ingredients

For the Cod

• 800g cod fillets (4 portions, about 200g each)


• 10g fine sea salt — this one on Amazon


• 4g freshly ground black pepper


• 3g smoked paprika

For the Lemon Butter Sauce

•  80g unsalted butter, melted


• 45ml lemon juice


• 6 garlic cloves, minced

For Garnish

•  1 lemon, thinly sliced


• 30g fresh parsley, chopped

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Directions

  1. Preheat and Prepare
     Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the 800g of cod fillets in a baking dish in a single layer, ensuring they fit snugly so the butter will pool around them.
  2. Make the Lemon Butter Sauce
     In a small bowl, combine the 80g of melted butter, 45ml of lemon juice, and minced garlic cloves. Whisk together until well incorporated.
  3. Season the Fish
     Season each cod fillet evenly with the 10g of salt, 4g of black pepper, and 3g of smoked paprika. Pour the lemon butter mixture over the fish, ensuring each piece is well coated.
  4. Add Lemon Slices
     Arrange the thinly sliced lemon rounds on top of each fillet, placing 2-3 slices per portion for beautiful presentation and extra citrus flavor.
  5. Bake Until Flaky
     Bake uncovered for 15-18 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout. The top should dry slightly while the bottom stays moist in the butter.
  6. Garnish and Serve
     Spoon the pan juices over each fillet, garnish with the 30g of chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately while hot.

*Notes : 

  • Choose a baking dish that fits the fillets snugly so the butter pools around them rather than spreading thin—this keeps the fish moist and creates a delicious sauce for serving.
  • Don’t cover the dish while baking—you want the top to dry slightly and develop texture while the bottom stays moist and tender in the butter sauce.
  • Fish continues cooking briefly after removal from the oven, so take it out when just done to prevent overcooking—it should flake easily but still be moist.
  • Serve with crusty bread, rice, or roasted vegetables to soak up the incredible garlic lemon butter sauce that collects in the pan.

Nutrition Facts 

( per serving )

Calories

~322 kcal

Protein

 36 g

Fat

18 g

Carbs

~2.5 g

Calories

~322 kcal

Protein

 36 g

Fat

18 g

Carbs

~2.5 g

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Baked cod fillet with lemon slices in garlic butter sauce garnished with fresh parsley

Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Tender, flaky cod fillets baked to perfection in a pool of garlicky lemon butter sauce. This elegant yet effortless dish delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal prep and hands-off cooking—perfect for busy weeknights or impressive dinner parties.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 322
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cod
  • 800 g cod fillets 4 portions, about 200g each
  • 10 g fine sea salt
  • 4 g freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 g smoked paprika
For the Lemon Butter Sauce
  • 80 g unsalted butter melted
  • 45 ml lemon juice
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
For Garnish
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced
  • 30 g fresh parsley chopped

Method
 

Preheat and Prepare
  1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the 800g of cod fillets in a baking dish in a single layer, ensuring they fit snugly so the butter will pool around them.
Make the Lemon Butter Sauce
  1. In a small bowl, combine the 80g of melted butter, 45ml of lemon juice, and minced garlic cloves. Whisk together until well incorporated.
Season the Fish
  1. Season each cod fillet evenly with the 10g of salt, 4g of black pepper, and 3g of smoked paprika. Pour the lemon butter mixture over the fish, ensuring each piece is well coated.
Add Lemon Slices
  1. Arrange the thinly sliced lemon rounds on top of each fillet, placing 2-3 slices per portion for beautiful presentation and extra citrus flavor.
Bake Until Flaky
  1. Bake uncovered for 15-18 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout. The top should dry slightly while the bottom stays moist in the butter.
Garnish and Serve
  1. Spoon the pan juices over each fillet, garnish with the 30g of chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

  • Choose a baking dish that fits the fillets snugly so the butter pools around them rather than spreading thin—this keeps the fish moist and creates a delicious sauce for serving.
  • Don’t cover the dish while baking—you want the top to dry slightly and develop texture while the bottom stays moist and tender in the butter sauce.
  • Fish continues cooking briefly after removal from the oven, so take it out when just done to prevent overcooking—it should flake easily but still be moist.
  • Serve with crusty bread, rice, or roasted vegetables to soak up the incredible garlic lemon butter sauce that collects in the pan.