This baked cod recipe is such a good go-to recipe. It’s like a restaurant quality white fish recipe even if you use fish other than cod. The flavors are wonderful and the garlic butter sauce make this a no-fuss recipe.

pan of cooked baked cod recipe

Why we love this baked cod recipe

The technique is simple and the sauce is a no-brainer. And best of all, it only takes about 15-20 minutes to bake. It’s the best and quick and easy baked fish recipe to make during the week. When we get home after a long days work, this baked cod is so satisfying. The garlic butter is fantastic too when spread on some thick cut bread for a fast garlic butter bread. It’s always a winner!

filet of baked cod recipe on plate

Video: Baked Cod or White Fish Recipe with Garlic Butter

Different types of white fish?

Can you cook other types of white fish other than cod? Sure, this recipe works with any white fish. But timing will vary depending on how thick the your white fish fillet is. Also, the amount of fish you cook changes time too. Basically if you double the recipe, expect the fish to take a little longer to cook. So start with our base time and add more time if needed. Here’s some other types of white fish you can bake:

Tips for Baking Garlic Butter Cod

  • If you have leftover butter, use it on bread for warm baked garlic bread. You can save any leftovers to cook eggs for breakfast. This compound garlic butter is useful for so many things.
  • There’s some great frozen fish brands out there to use if you can’t get a hold of fresh fish. Just make sure the fish is fully thawed before baking.
  • To make this extra flavorful, add a small handful of chopped fresh dill. The combination of garlic, parsley and dill is wonderful.
  • Meyer lemons are wonderful to use on this recipe. It’s fragrant and a little more sweet, which is why we love using meyer lemons on fish.
  • All baked cod recipe details are in the recipe box below.
filet of baked cod recipe on plate

Baked Garlic Butter Cod

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
If using a different type of white fish, cooking time could vary depending on the thickness of the fish.
4.58 from 7 votes
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Ingredients

  • 4 (6 oz./170g) cod filets
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt , or to personal taste
  • Fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) smoked paprika , or to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) butter , softened (not melted)
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) minced or crushed garlic (about 3 large cloves)
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) minced parsley
  • Olive oil , for baking dish
  • Lemon wedges , optional

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat oven to 400°F/205°C. Lightly oil a baking dish and set aside.
    oil prepared pan
  • Rinse and pat dry cod fillets. Season both sides of cod with salt, pepper, and paprika. Set aside.
    seasoned fish fillets
  • Make the compound butter: in bowl stir together the softened butter, garlic and parsley.
    making compound butter
  • Rub compound butter on both sides of the cod.
    spreading butter on fish fillet
  • Place cod fillets on prepared baking dish. If desired, add any remaining compound butter to the baking dish with the fish. If desired, add some lemon wedges to the baking dish with the cod.
    buttered cod fillets in pan
  • Bake at 400°F/205°C for about 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Internal temperature of the fish should be 145°F/63°C.
    cooked cod
  • Reserve the melted butter sauce in the baking dish to pour over the fish before serving.
    spooning sauce over fish
  • Serve with your favorite vegetables and lemon slices (optional).
    plated garlic butter cod with veggies

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 222kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 96mg, Sodium: 451mg, Potassium: 732mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 538IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 222

Is it Better to use Fresh or Frozen Fish

Fresh is always better but there’s quality frozen white fish too. If you choose to use frozen fish, make sure it’s thawed all the way through before cooking. Blot the thawed fish with paper towels to remove any excess moisture before cooking it.

plate of baked cod with garlic butter and veggies

Can you use salmon for this recipe?

Yes, salmon works great too! The garlic butter is fantastic on salmon. Add the garlic butter salmon on a salad, noodles, rice or pasta. There’s so many wonderful ways to serve fish.

Meal prep for this cod recipe

When you come home from a long day of work but still want a fresh seafood dinner, you can plan ahead. You can easily meal prep by making the compound butter ahead of time. Also prep and cut your vegetables ahead of time that you want served with the fish. Or you can even pre-cook the veggies and just heat them before serving.

Storing and freezing leftovers

If you have leftovers, store it in airtight containers for up to 2 days. Try to eat it right away as the flavors and freshness are best within 1-2 after cooking. You can freeze it too for up to 2-3 months. But again, don’t wait too long because frozen foods can easily get freezer burn and compromise on the flavors and freshness.

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