Do you like garlic bread as much as I do? Do you keep it in your freezer at ALL times? This Garlic Butter Baked Cod recipe is for you. I was looking for something more filling to go with the buttery garlic goodness, but not so much that I would be tempted by eating 16 of them in one sitting. I came across some cod fillets with “garlic butter” written all over them in my freezer.

A cod filet’s mild and rich flavour is the perfect foundation for sweetened butter and fresh garlic. As if Garlic Butter Baked Cod weren’t perfect enough, it is also incredibly quick and easy to prepare. Weeknight dinner perfection!

WHAT’S IN GARLIC BUTTER BAKED COD

This recipe was based on my Garlic Bread recipe. I then duplicated the topping (butter, olive oil, garlic, and parsley) and added salt. Because baked cod is notoriously light, I added some paprika to give it colour. I had some lemons, so I cut one and added it to my baking dish to add bright flavour to the buttery butter. This delicious, flavorful recipe makes my mouth water just by typing it!

FROZEN COD OR FRESH COD:

You can use fresh, frozen or both. Frozen cod fillets should be fully thawed before adding the butter mixture to the pan and baking.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN COD IS DONE BAKING

The thickness of your cod filet will determine the time it takes to bake, but it should be baked until it reaches 145°F. The flesh will become opaque and flake easily when it reaches this temperature. The cod may become tough or rubbery if you bake it too long.

My filets were a bit too thick to get the right internal temperature, so I baked them at 400oF for 20 minutes. It may take only 15 minutes to bake thin filets. An electronic instant-read thermometer can determine when the fish has been baked. Below is a link to the one I use.

FRESH PARSLEY IS A MUST

You don’t have to buy a whole bunch of parsley to make this recipe. You can use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley instead of fresh parsley if you don’t have it.

IS THE LEMON NECESSARY

Although you can make this recipe with a single lemon, the lemon enhances the flavour. You can freeze whole lemons by buying them in bulk, but they can be costly.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH GARLIC BUTTER BAKED COD

My Garlic Butter Baked Cod was served with Roasted Asparagus, Tomatoes and Garlic Butter Baked Cod. But I think it would be great with:

  • Oven Roasted Broccoli
  • Lemony Artichoke & Quinoa Salad
  • Roasted Vegetable Couscous
  • Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad
  • Lemon Parsley Pasta
  • Spinach Rice and Feta
  • Lemony White Bean Salsa

P.S. P.S. It will adjust the ingredients to your liking.

GARLIC BUTTER BAKED COD

This delicious Garlic Butter Baked Cod recipe is quick and easy to make for a weeknight meal. It can be prepared using only basic pantry ingredients.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Tbsp butter at room temperature ($0.26)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
  • 2 cloves minced garlic ($0.16)
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp salt ($0.01)
  • 1 Tbsp chopped parsley ($0.10) finely
  • 8 oz. cod (two 4 oz. filets) ($2.48)
  • 1 fresh lemon (0.37)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Pre-heat the oven to 400oF. Combine the butter, olive oil and garlic in a small bowl. Add salt, pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix until you have a smooth paste.
  • Spread a little bit of garlic butter on a baking sheet to prevent the fish from sticking. Then add the cod filets to this dish. Finally, coat the fish with the rest of the garlic butter.
  • Half of the lemon should be cut and added to the baking dish along with the fish. For serving, cut the 1/2 remaining lemon into wedges.
  • Bake the cod for 20 mins or until it, is flaky with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145°F. Pour juices from the bottom into a bowl and pour over the fish. Serve the cod immediately with any remaining juices from the pan.

NUTRITION

Serving Size: 1 Serving Calories: 267.6 Kilocalories: 3.9 G Protein: 20.95 G Fat: 18.6 G Sodium: 308.85 mg Fiber: 1 g