Baked Cod with Lemon Garlic Herbs (Printable)
Flaky cod fillets oven-baked with bright lemon, garlic, and herbs for a simple, satisfying meal ready in under half an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish & Marinade
01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5 oz each), boneless, skinless
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Juice of 1 lemon
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Flavor & Herbs
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
10 - Lemon slices, for garnish
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
04 - Pour the marinade evenly over the cod fillets, ensuring each is well coated.
05 - Sprinkle chopped parsley, thyme leaves, and smoked paprika over the fish.
06 - Arrange lemon slices on top or around the fillets for extra flavor and presentation.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 16-20 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
08 - Remove from the oven, let rest for 2 minutes, then serve warm with your favorite sides.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- Its the kind of dinner that makes you feel like youve eaten something indulgent while actually being incredibly good for you
- The cleanup is so minimal youll be relaxing on the couch before the oven even cools down
02 -
- Dry your fish thoroughly before adding the marinade or the sauce will slide right off instead of clinging to the fillets
- Overcooked cod is a tragedy, so start checking at the 16-minute mark even if your oven runs a bit cool
03 -
- Room temperature fish cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for about 15 minutes before you start
- Always buy the freshest cod you can find—fish should never smell fishy, just like a clean ocean breeze