Baked Cod Garlic Butter (Printable)

Flaky cod bathed in fragrant garlic butter and fresh herbs for an easy, flavorful main course.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets (6 oz each)

→ Garlic Butter

02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Fresh Herbs & Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
10 - 1 lemon, sliced for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and arrange in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Whisk melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
04 - Pour the garlic butter evenly over the cod fillets.
05 - Sprinkle chopped parsley, dill, and chives evenly over the fish.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
07 - Top with lemon slices before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in under 30 minutes, which means you can serve an elegant dinner without the stress.
  • The garlic butter does all the heavy lifting while the oven does the work—you're basically just a cheerleader at this point.
  • Fresh herbs transform something ordinary into something that tastes like you spent hours planning this meal.
02 -
  • Overcooked cod becomes dry and rubbery, so pull it out the moment the flesh flakes—if you're second-guessing yourself, that's the time to take it out.
  • Patting the fish completely dry before baking is the secret that separates restaurant-quality from soggy; don't skip this step even when you're rushed.
  • Fresh herbs really do matter—frozen or dried won't give you that same brightness and visual appeal.
03 -
  • Quality matters here—since there are so few ingredients, use the best butter and the freshest fish you can find; mediocre versions of both will show.
  • Don't be afraid of the lemon juice in the butter; it keeps the dish from feeling heavy and bright notes are what make this sing.

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