Baked Cod with Lemon Garlic (Printer-friendly)

Flaky cod fillets baked with lemon, garlic, and herbs, offering a flavorful and healthy main dish.

# What you'll need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets (5.3 oz each)

→ Marinade and 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)

# Method:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet using parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and parsley in a small bowl.
03 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush each fillet thoroughly with the marinade on both sides to ensure even coating.
05 - Place lemon slices on top of each fillet to infuse flavor during baking.
06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until the fish turns opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Remove from oven, optionally sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The fish emerges so tender it practically falls apart at the gentlest fork touch, no overcooked dryness in sight.
  • Lemon and garlic do all the heavy lifting, meaning you're done prepping before the oven finishes heating.
  • It tastes like you actually know what you're doing in the kitchen, even if you learned it five minutes ago.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the fish—wet fillets release steam instead of getting gently kissed by heat, and that changes everything about texture and taste.
  • The marinade is raw, and that's intentional; garlic softens beautifully during the brief bake, becoming sweet and almost buttery instead of harsh.
03 -
  • Buy your cod the day you plan to cook it, and keep it on ice in the coldest part of your refrigerator until the oven is actually preheating.
  • If your fillets are thicker than usual, give them an extra two to three minutes in the oven, but always trust the opaque test over the timer.

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