Baked Cod Fish Fillet (Printable)
Tender cod fillets with light lemon-garlic seasoning baked to flaky perfection, easy and healthy.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets (5.3 oz each)
→ Marinade & Seasonings
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tsp sea salt
06 - ½ tsp black pepper
07 - ½ tsp paprika
08 - 1 tsp dried parsley or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped
→ Garnish
09 - 1 lemon, sliced
10 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and parsley.
03 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush each fillet generously with the marinade, coating both sides thoroughly.
05 - Arrange lemon slices on top of the cod fillets.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The fish cooks so gently that it stays impossibly tender and flaky, no rubbery edges in sight.
- It's ready in under 30 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your evening instead of spending it in the kitchen.
02 -
- The biggest mistake I made early on was not drying the fish first—wet fillets steam instead of bake, and the texture suffers for it.
- Oven temperatures vary, so start checking at 15 minutes; overcooked cod becomes chalky, but undercooked is easy to fix with another minute or two.
03 -
- Buy cod fillets of similar thickness so they cook evenly—the fishmonger can usually help with this if you ask.
- If your oven runs hot or cool, the first time you make this, check at 14 minutes instead of waiting until 15—it's easier to bake a minute longer than to fix overcooked fish.