There’s something wonderfully satisfying about a meal that is both elegant and straightforward. This Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe is exactly that. It’s the kind of dish we turn to on a busy weeknight when we want something nourishing and full of bright, clean flavours, but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. For a long time, I used to struggle with baked fish turning out dry, until I discovered this technique of creating a flavour-packed parcel which steams the cod to perfection. The result is incredibly tender, flaky fish infused with the zesty aroma of lemon and the mellow sweetness of roasted garlic.

What I adore about this particular cod recipe is how the simple ingredients work together so harmoniously. The sharp lemon, pungent garlic, and fresh parsley are classic partners for delicate white fish. As it bakes, the butter melts into the lemon juice and white wine, creating a light, delicious sauce right in the baking dish. You end up with a meal that feels quite special, with very little effort. It’s a wonderful dish for a quiet dinner for two, but it scales up beautifully when you have guests. We’re going to walk through how to achieve that perfectly cooked, flaky cod every single time.

Recipe Overview

This baked cod recipe is all about gentle cooking to preserve the delicate texture of the fish. We create a simple but potent marinade with melted butter, fresh lemon, minced garlic, and herbs. The fish is then baked in a partially-covered dish, which traps steam and ensures the cod becomes wonderfully moist and flaky. I’ve found through testing that a splash of white wine is not essential, but it adds a lovely depth to the sauce that forms at the bottom of the pan.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
• Total Time: 25-30 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Easy

Why You’ll Love This Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe

• Genuine Flavour: The taste is bright, fresh, and clean. The garlic mellows in the oven, losing its raw bite and becoming subtly sweet, while the lemon juice and zest provide a vibrant, citrusy lift that cuts through the richness of the butter beautifully.
• Ready in Under 30 Minutes: From the moment you start mincing the garlic to the fish being ready to serve, this entire meal comes together in about 25-30 minutes, making it ideal for those evenings when time is short.
• Flexible Recipe: You can easily adjust the herbs. While parsley is classic, a sprinkle of fresh dill or chives towards the end of cooking works wonderfully. You can also add a handful of capers or some sliced black olives for a Mediterranean twist.
• Great for a Light Dinner: This dish is light yet satisfying. It works beautifully for a wholesome midweek meal, or as a sophisticated main course when you’re hosting friends and want to impress without the stress.
• Family Tested: This recipe always gets compliments in my house. My husband, who’s usually picky about fish, asked for seconds the first time I made it, which is the highest praise I can get!

Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe

⏱️ 10 min prep  •  🍳 20 min cook  •  👥 4 servings

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For this recipe, the quality of the fish is key. We look for thick, pearly-white cod loin fillets from a sustainable source. They hold their shape better during baking. For the butter, I prefer using a good quality unsalted block, like Lurpak, as it allows us to control the saltiness of the final dish precisely.

• 4 cod loin fillets (about 170g each), skinless and boneless
• 60g unsalted butter, melted
• 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 large lemon (zest of 1, juice of ½)
• 60ml dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc) or vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced for topping
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Elena’s Tip: Don’t be shy with the garlic! It might seem like a lot, but it becomes beautifully mild and fragrant once baked. If you only have garlic granules, use about 1 teaspoon, but fresh is definitely better for the final flavour.

How to Make This Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe

The process for making this lemon garlic cod is wonderfully straightforward. The main goal is to create a steamy environment for the fish to cook in, which prevents it from drying out. We achieve this by using a simple foil cover.

1. Preheat and Prepare: First things first, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with the olive oil. This stops the delicate fish from sticking.
2. Arrange the Cod: Pat the cod fillets dry with a paper towel – this helps them to absorb the flavours better. Arrange the fillets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, making sure not to overcrowd them. Season both sides generously with the salt and pepper.
3. Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the chopped parsley. This vibrant mixture is where all the flavour comes from.
4. Pour Over the Fish: Pour this beautiful lemon garlic butter mixture evenly over the cod fillets. Then, pour the white wine or vegetable stock around the fish in the bottom of the dish. This will create the steam and the base of your sauce.
5. Top and Cover: Arrange the thin lemon slices on top of each cod fillet. This not only looks lovely but also infuses more citrus flavour as it cooks. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminium foil. I find that sealing the edges well is crucial for trapping the steam.
6. Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your fillets.
7. Final Grill (Optional but Recommended): After 12-15 minutes, carefully remove the foil. The fish should be opaque and starting to flake. If you like a little colour, switch the oven to the grill setting and grill for another 2-3 minutes, watching it closely, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
8. Rest and Garnish: Let the cod rest in the dish for a couple of minutes. This allows the juices to settle. Spoon some of the delicious pan sauce over the fillets, garnish with a little extra fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Tips From My Kitchen

• Temperature is Key: Don’t bake the cod at too high a heat. A moderate 200°C oven is ideal. Too hot, and the outside will cook before the inside is done, risking dry fish. The internal temperature should reach 63°C, as recommended by the Food Standards Agency, but the best test is visual: it should flake easily with a fork.
• The Foil Tent Secret: The most important step is creating that tight seal with the foil. I learned that this method, similar to the French ‘en papillote’ technique, is the secret to succulent baked fish. It steams the cod in its own aromatic juices, guaranteeing a moist result.
• Make-Ahead Prep: You can prepare the lemon garlic butter sauce up to a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, just gently warm it to a liquid state before pouring over the fish.
• Storage: Leftover baked cod can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat it gently in the microwave at 50% power or in a low oven to prevent it from drying out.

Equipment You’ll Need

You don’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe, which is part of its charm. Just a few kitchen basics will do the trick.

• 9×13 inch ceramic or glass baking dish
• Aluminium foil
• A small mixing bowl for the sauce
• A sharp knife and chopping board

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcrowding the Pan: Give each fillet its own space in the baking dish. If they are packed in too tightly, they will steam rather than bake, and the sauce won’t reduce properly. Use a larger dish if necessary.
• Overbaking the Cod: This is the most common pitfall with any fish recipe. Cod cooks very quickly. Start checking it at the 12-minute mark. The moment it flakes easily with a fork, it’s done. Remember it will continue to cook a little from the residual heat after you take it out of the oven.
• Skipping the Rest Time: Just like with meat, letting the fish rest for a minute or two before serving makes a difference. It allows the flaky layers to firm up slightly and absorb the juices, making it even more tender.

Delicious Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, it’s fun to experiment. Here are a few variations we enjoy.

• A Touch of Spice: Add a quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a gentle, warming heat that contrasts beautifully with the lemon.
• Add Some Vegetables: Make it a one-pan meal by adding quick-cooking vegetables like asparagus spears or a handful of cherry tomatoes to the dish before baking. They will cook in the flavourful sauce alongside the fish.
• Different Herbs or Protein: This lemon garlic butter sauce is incredibly versatile. It works wonderfully with other white fish like haddock or pollock. It’s also fantastic with prawns, similar to my Savory Garlic Butter Shrimp recipe.

What to Serve With This Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe

This dish pairs beautifully with sides that can soak up the lovely pan sauce. Here are a few of my favourite accompaniments:

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The buttery mash is a perfect vehicle for the zesty, garlicky sauce from the cod.
• Steamed Asparagus or Green Beans: A simple green vegetable provides a fresh, crisp contrast to the soft, flaky texture of the fish.
• Fluffy Rice: Plain white rice or a fragrant basmati is excellent for soaking up every last drop of the sauce. If you have leftovers, it could even inspire a Simple Egg Fried Rice the next day.
• Wine Pairing: A crisp, dry white wine like the Sauvignon Blanc you used in the recipe or a Pinot Grigio is an ideal match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe

A simple and elegant dish of tender cod fillets baked in a vibrant lemon, garlic, and butter sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Calories: 335

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 4 cod loin fillets about 170g each, skinless and boneless
• 60 g unsalted butter melted
• 4 cloves garlic finely minced
• 1 large lemon zest of 1, juice of ½
• 60 ml dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon thinly sliced for topping
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

 

1. Preheat and Prepare: First things first, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with the olive oil. This stops the delicate fish from sticking.
2. Arrange the Cod: Pat the cod fillets dry with a paper towel – this helps them to absorb the flavours better. Arrange the fillets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, making sure not to overcrowd them. Season both sides generously with the salt and pepper.
3. Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the chopped parsley. This vibrant mixture is where all the flavour comes from.
4. Pour Over the Fish: Pour this beautiful lemon garlic butter mixture evenly over the cod fillets. Then, pour the white wine or vegetable stock around the fish in the bottom of the dish. This will create the steam and the base of your sauce.
5. Top and Cover: Arrange the thin lemon slices on top of each cod fillet. This not only looks lovely but also infuses more citrus flavour as it cooks. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminium foil. I find that sealing the edges well is crucial for trapping the steam.
6. Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your fillets.
7. Final Grill (Optional but Recommended): After 12-15 minutes, carefully remove the foil. The fish should be opaque and starting to flake. If you like a little colour, switch the oven to the grill setting and grill for another 2-3 minutes, watching it closely, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
8. Rest and Garnish: Let the cod rest in the dish for a couple of minutes. This allows the juices to settle. Spoon some of the delicious pan sauce over the fillets, garnish with a little extra fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

Serve immediately with roasted asparagus or steamed rice to soak up the delicious pan sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

I really hope you enjoy making this Baked Cod Lemon Garlic Recipe as much as we do. It has become a reliable favourite in our home for its simplicity and wonderfully fresh taste. It proves that you don’t need a long list of complicated ingredients to create something truly delicious. If you try it, I would love to hear how it turned out for you. Please leave a comment below!

– Elena Rodriguez