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Easy Baked Cod Recipe with Lemon & Garlic - Restaurant-Quality Fish at Home

This Lemon-Garlic Baked Cod recipe combines vibrant citrus, buttery richness, and tender flaky fish for a restaurant-quality meal in just 15 minutes. Healthy, easy, and absolutely delicious.
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Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs cod loin fillet patted dry
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice from 1–2 lemons
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter diced
  • 1 small lemon thinly sliced
  • Fresh parsley chopped (optional garnish)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels.
  2. Season both sides of the cod with salt and pepper. Let rest for 2–3 minutes.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic until combined.
  4. Arrange cod fillets in a baking dish without overlapping.
  5. Drizzle the lemon-garlic mixture evenly over each fillet.
  6. Top with thin lemon slices and scatter diced butter over the fish.
  7. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until cod flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F internal temperature.
  8. Remove from oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

Use halibut or haddock as substitutes for cod. For a lighter version, reduce butter by half or replace with olive oil. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.