Lemon Garlic Butter Cod (Printable Version)
Flaky cod in a rich lemon garlic butter sauce, ready in 25 minutes for an elegant weeknight dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Fish & Main
01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5 oz each), skinless and boneless
→ Sauce
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - Juice and zest of 1 lemon
05 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
07 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
08 - Lemon wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and foaming.
03 - Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
04 - Gently place the cod fillets in the skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes on the first side, then carefully flip using a thin spatula.
05 - Add the remaining butter, lemon juice, and zest to the pan. Baste the fish with the melting butter sauce as it cooks for another 3–4 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Sprinkle with chopped parsley and remove from the heat.
07 - Serve immediately, spooning extra lemon garlic butter sauce over each fillet. Garnish with lemon wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
- Cod is so forgiving, even if you are new to cooking fish
- Everything cooks in one pan, which means minimal cleanup
02 -
- Cod continues cooking after you remove it from the pan, so take it off when it is slightly underdone
- Watch the garlic like a hawk once it hits the pan, burned garlic turns bitter in seconds
- The sauce will thicken slightly as it stands, so serve right away for the best texture
03 -
- Room temperature fish cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 15 minutes before starting
- A splash of white wine in the sauce adds depth, but do not add more than a tablespoon