Lemon Garlic Butter Cod (Printable Version)
Flaky cod fillets cooked in a rich, zesty lemon garlic butter sauce for a light yet satisfying meal ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll 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
# Directions:
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 Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
- Cods mild flavor lets the bright lemon and aromatic garlic really shine through
02 -
- Overcooked cod turns rubbery and dry, so pull it from the heat as soon as it flakes easily
- Adding cold lemon juice to hot butter can cause it to seize, so let the butter cool slightly before squeezing
03 -
- Room temperature fish cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 15 minutes before starting
- A thin spatula prevents the delicate fish from breaking apart when you flip it