Name: Lemon Butter Baked Cod – Easy Baked Fish Recipes Healthy
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz each); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 lemon, juiced and zested; 2 garlic cloves, minced; Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably stared into your fridge at 6 p.m. wondering what magical meal will appear next. Well, here’s a secret: baked cod in lemon butter. It’s the answer to the weeknight dinner panic. The kind of dish that feels fancy enough to impress, but comes together faster than your favorite sitcom rerun. What I love about this recipe—besides the fact that it basically cooks itself—is how light, flaky, and flavorful it turns out. The lemon butter does all the heavy lifting. It melts over the cod like a dream, seeping into every flaky crevice without overpowering the natural flavor of the fish. We keep it simple around here. No five-page ingredient lists or complicated prep steps. Just a few pantry staples, a splash of lemon, and boom—you’ve got a healthy, easy seafood dinner on the table in under 25 minutes. Oh, and it works perfectly with air fryer fish too, if that’s more your style.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Lemon Butter Baked Cod Recipe
3) Ingredients for Lemon Butter Baked Cod
4) How to Make Lemon Butter Baked Cod
5) Tips for Making Lemon Butter Baked Cod
6) Making Lemon Butter Baked Cod Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Lemon Butter Baked Cod
8) Try these dinners next!
9) Lemon Butter Baked Cod
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Learn how to make flaky, juicy cod with a buttery lemon finish.
Quick prep and cook time makes this a reliable weeknight dinner.
Works beautifully as a healthy seafood dish, even with an air fryer.
Pairs well with salads, roasted veggies, or even a crusty loaf of bread.

2) Easy Lemon Butter Baked Cod Recipe

We’ve all been there. It’s Tuesday, the clock just hit 5:45, and you’re already hangry. That’s where this easy baked fish recipe comes in—it’s healthy, stress-free, and packed with bright citrusy flavor that makes your kitchen smell like a seaside getaway.

We’re talking flaky cod dressed in a lemon butter sauce that’s simple, satisfying, and makes you feel like you’ve got your life together (even if your laundry situation suggests otherwise). The best part? This dish is naturally healthy, quick to bake, and doesn’t hog your sink with a mountain of dishes.

I like using cod because it bakes fast and takes on flavor like a sponge. That first bite is buttery, tangy, and melts in your mouth. With just a few ingredients and one pan, this is the kind of seafood dinner recipe that you’ll make again and again.

3) Ingredients for Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Cod Fillets: You’ll want about four pieces, each around six ounces. Fresh or frozen both work—just thaw the frozen ones first. Cod has a mild flavor and tender texture, perfect for soaking in all that lemony goodness.

Unsalted Butter: Just two tablespoons melted. This gives the dish that rich, golden finish and works perfectly with the acidity of the lemon. It’s like they were meant to be together.

Olive Oil: A couple tablespoons help round out the flavor and prevent sticking. Plus, it plays nicely with the garlic and lemon, giving the fish a gentle, fruity note.

Lemon: Use both the juice and zest from one lemon. It brightens the fish and adds that signature tangy punch that sets this dish apart from plain baked cod.

Garlic: Two cloves, finely minced. Not too much—you want just enough to bring warmth without overpowering the fish. Garlic and butter? Always a win.

Salt and Pepper: Season to taste. Just a sprinkle of each will wake everything up. Don’t skip this part—it makes all the difference.

Fresh Parsley: A handful of chopped parsley adds a bit of color and freshness. I love tossing it on at the end just before serving.

4) How to Make Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grab a baking dish and either oil it lightly or line it with parchment paper to make cleanup easier later. Yes, this step matters more than you think.

Step 2: Place the cod fillets in the dish. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Moisture is not your friend here—it keeps the butter from sticking, and we want all that butter stuck to our fish.

Step 3: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic. It’s a quick sauce that packs a whole lot of punch.

Step 4: Pour the lemon butter mixture over the cod. Get every bit of it. Use a spoon if needed. This sauce does all the heavy lifting flavor-wise.

Step 5: Sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper. Don’t go overboard. Let the butter and lemon do their thing.

Step 6: Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the fish flakes easily with a fork and looks opaque all the way through.

Step 7: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve while it’s warm. That first bite? Absolute heaven.

5) Tips for Making Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Use a meat thermometer if you want to be precise. Cod is done at 145°F, but it usually flakes perfectly when it’s ready. Don’t overbake it—it dries out fast.

For easy baked fish recipes healthy enough for every day, I skip any breading. This version is low-carb, gluten-free, and lighter than fried alternatives.

You can substitute other white fish like haddock, tilapia, or even halibut. They all hold up well with the lemon butter treatment. Just adjust the cooking time a bit.

6) Making Lemon Butter Baked Cod Ahead of Time

This dish is best served hot, but you can prep it early. Mix the sauce and store it in the fridge. Then, right before baking, pour it over the fish. That way you keep everything fresh without scrambling at dinnertime.

If you’re planning meals for the week, this cod stores well in the fridge for a couple of days. It’s one of those quick and easy seafood dinner recipes that doesn’t lose its flavor after reheating.

Just be sure to cover it tightly and reheat gently to avoid drying it out. I like using the oven at a low temp for a few minutes—just enough to warm through.

7) Storing Leftover Lemon Butter Baked Cod

Once the cod has cooled, move it into an airtight container. It’ll keep in the fridge for up to three days.

To reheat, bake it at 300°F for about 8 minutes. Avoid the microwave—it can zap the moisture right out and turn your perfect cod into rubber.

This is where easy cod fish recipes air fryer fans can also rejoice. You can even reheat this cod in the air fryer for that just-baked texture all over again.

8) Try these dinners next!

9) Lemon Butter Baked Cod