Easy Baked Cod Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This baked cod fillets recipe is white fish at its best. Using just one pan and a handful of ingredients, it makes for a healthy & filling dinner.

Love cod? This easy potato and cod recipe is another great sheet pan meal.

Easy Baked Cod Recipe (1)

Oftentimes, cod gets stereotyped as a boring fish. That’s such a shame because when cooked the right way it tastes like a 5-star meal. This easy baked cod recipe is the perfect example of what can happen when you let wholesome ingredients speak for themselves. Whether it’s a hectic weeknight or you’re hosting a dinner party, flaky fish and perfectly cooked veggies are always a crowd pleaser.

The Best Kind of Cod to Use

Cod fillets work best. While Pacific cod touts a thicker fillet than Atlantic, either will work just fine for this recipe. Fresh is always preferred, but if you need to use frozen make sure it’s completely thawed before you bake it. To do so, pop it in the fridge overnight.

Preparing this Easy Baked Cod

The first step to making this recipe is to trim down the cod into smaller pieces or keep it in whole fish fillets. It’s your choice!

  • Slice the Veggies: Next, slice the onion and bell peppers into small pieces.
  • Season the Veggies & Cod: Assemble the sliced veggies on the baking dish or a baking sheet with parchment paper, followed by the pieces of cod. Then, season liberally with garlic parsley salt and top the fish with pieces of butter.
  • Bake the Cod: Pop the pan in the oven and bake the cod at 400°F for about 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and green onions and serve alongside your favorite grain or potato dish. Enjoy!
Easy Baked Cod Recipe (2)
Easy Baked Cod Recipe (3)

3 Tips for Moist & Tender Baked Cod

Baked cod is hard to mess up, but a couple of tips will help you nail it.

  • Pat the fish dry of excess moisture. Before seasoning the cod, pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This will help the fish get a nice, lightly golden brown crust.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Take the guesswork out of checking the doneness of the cod by using an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 145°F.
  • Experiment with different seasonings. Cod couldn’t be more versatile, so go ahead and add your favorite seasoning to suit your taste buds. Fresh lemon juice, fresh basil, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika are all great options and add an extra layer of flavor. Or, swap out the butter for olive oil if you’d like.
Easy Baked Cod Recipe (4)

Different Ways to Serve Baked Cod

This baked cod makes for the perfect light lunch or dinner. Serve it alongside creamy cauliflower rice or some quinoa for a well-rounded meal. Or, sandwich the fillets between two slices of bread with tartar sauce and serve the veggies as your side dish.

Storing Baked Cod

Cod is great for meal prep! To keep baked cod on hand for up to a 3 days, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep it from drying out or absorbing any lingering smells in your refrigerator. Avoid freezing the dish, as the veggies are prone to turning soggy upon thawing.

FAQ

How long does it take to bake cod?

Baked cod takes about 15 minutes at 400°F. This can vary a couple of minutes in either direction depending on the thickness of your fillets.

What makes baked cod tough?

Baked cod will turn tough if you overcook it. It’s a very delicate fish, so keep a close eye on it and check how it’s coming along about halfway through the cooking time.

How do you know cod is done?

It’s ready when its internal temperature reaches 145°F and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

How should you thaw frozen cod?

The best way to thaw frozen cod is in the refrigerator overnight. If you need to thaw it quickly, stick it in cold water (while still in a bag or airtight package) for 20-30 minutes.

Other Cod Fish Recipes:

  • Buttered Cod Recipe – Buttery, lemony cod
  • Baked Cod With Vegetables Recipe – Baked cod in tomato sauce and veggies
  • Crispy Air Fryer Cod (15 minutes) – No-guilt, crispy cod
  • Pan-Fried Cod Recipe (Tips for Cooking Cod) – Simple pan-fried cod

Recipe

Easy Baked Cod Recipe (5)

Easy Baked Cod Recipe

Print Pin

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This baked cod recipe is simple, healthy, and satisfying. The buttery fish and sweet roasted veggies make for the perfect light meal!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs cod fillet
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 red bell pepper
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper
  • 1 small onion
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
  • garlic parsley salt to taste
  • parsley garnish
  • green onion garnish

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

  • Slice the cod fillets into smaller pieces or keep them whole. Next, slice the onion and bell peppers into bite-sized pieces.

  • Place all the vegetables in one layer on the baking sheet. Assemble the cod evenly throughout the pan. Season with garlic parsley salt and add chunks of butter on top of the cod.

  • Bake the cod at 400°F for about 15 minutes. It'll be ready once its internal temperature reaches 145°F. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Baked Cod Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 277 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 9g45%

Cholesterol 105mg35%

Sodium 220mg9%

Potassium 747mg21%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 27g54%

Vitamin A 985IU20%

Vitamin C 39.4mg48%

Calcium 36mg4%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Easy Baked Cod Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking technique for cod? ›

Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote. Both of these methods help to preserve Pacific cod's high moisture content and produce incredibly tender results.

How long should you cook cod at 400? ›

Bake in 400 degrees F heated oven for about 10 minutes or until the cod is cooked through. The fish is ready when it turns a beautiful white opaque and flakes easily when you take a fork to it. Garnish and serve! I love adding some parsley for a pop of green!

What temp is cod baked at? ›

Preheat an oven or grill to 400 degrees. Lightly spritz fish with olive oil, sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt. Bake for approx 12 minutes, or to an internal temp of 145 degrees. Squeeze fresh lemon or lime over the fish and serve.

Why is my baked cod tough? ›

Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture. The proteins in the fish also begin to tighten, which can make the fish tough and rubbery. In addition, overcooked fish can have a severe lack of flavor, as the heat causes the natural oils in the fish to evaporate.

Do you rinse cod before baking? ›

We recommend not rinsing unless you need to rinse off any scales. Pat dry with paper towels whether you rinse or not. Preheat the oven to 450°F for fillets and steaks or 350°F for dressed fish. Even thickness: Place the fish in a single layer in a greased shallow baking pan (like a baking sheet).

Is cod better in the oven or pan? ›

But more importantly, pan frying yields that deliciously browned exterior on both sides of the fish. Baking or steaming won't accomplish that same golden “crust.” Pro Tips for pan frying cod: Let fish sit at room temp in a colander to drain any excess water, particularly if your fish was previously frozen.

How do you bake cod without it falling apart? ›

Additionally, make sure the heat isn't too high and you use enough fat (e.g. olive oil, butter)/liquid (e.g. white wine, lemon juice) to keep it from sticking to the pan. If cod separates in pieces, it is overcooked. The flesh should still be slightly tender and in one piece.

How do you not overcook cod fish? ›

If the fillet is an inch thick, just cut the fish into 2-inch squares. “It's better to undercook cod than to overcook it, so test the fish after cooking 2 minutes on each side. And remember it will continue cooking a little as it rests,” says Dunlap.

Why is my cod rubbery? ›

Temperature is the key to making sure your frozen cod doesn't turn out rubbery or chewy. No matter how you cook it, be sure that your cod reaches an internal temperature of 145˚F as measured by a food thermometer. At this temperature, its flesh will be opaque white and flake easily when pressed with a fork.

Should cod be room temperature before cooking? ›

Another tip is to remove the fish from the fridge half an hour before cooking. The reason for this is that room-temperature fish loses less liquid during cooking than cold fish making it easier to avoid the fish becoming dry.

What temperature do cod prefer? ›

This facility has good data on cod farming and the environment. The scientists wanted to study the impact of temperature on fish health, and what happens if cod are infected with the Fransicella bacterium. Cod prefer temperatures between 8 and 13 degrees.

Why is my baked cod mushy? ›

It's easy to accidentally overcook seafood, especially small shellfish—like shrimp and mussels—and thin fish fillets. The texture can also turn out mushy if it is too saturated with water. Fortunately, you can start making restaurant-quality seafood at home with these seafood cooking tips.

Why does my baked cod taste bitter? ›

One of the reasons fish will taste bitter is due to incorrect manner of slicing the fish. Sometimes the gall bladder of the fish, which contains bile which of course is bitter, gets punctured when the fish is being cut. The leaked bile gets quickly absorbed in the fish body. This gives it a bitter taste.

Is undercooked cod bad for you? ›

Parasite infections from eating inadequately cooked fish are relatively uncommon and preventable. Roundworm infection due to anisakiasis ("the sushi worm") is acquired by eating raw fish, especially cod, herring, mackerel, and salmon; symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and mild fever.

What is the cod fish technique? ›

COD-FISH is a strand-specific modification of standard FISH technology which allows the hybridization of single-stranded probes to one, and only one, chromatid of a metaphase chromosome.

Should cod be soaked in milk before cooking? ›

To try this trick in your home kitchen, follow Cook's Illustrated's advice: before cooking, let your fish spend about 20 minutes sitting in milk to absorb any unwanted odors. Then, simply drain the fish and pat it dry. You'll be left with fish that has a clean, sweet flavor and none of the fishy edge.

What is the best cooking method for fish and why? ›

Make sure to cook your fish in a way that doesn't overwhelm the flavor. The level of fat in the meat. Leaner types of seafood dry out more easily, which makes them better suited for wet cooking methods like steaming and poaching. Fatty fish like tuna and salmon, on the other hand, are ideal for grilling and roasting.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6331

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.