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Home » Recipe Index » Main Course

Perfect Oven Baked Cod

Published: Dec 9, 2022 · Modified: Apr 13, 2025 by Tanya · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

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A flaky oven-baked cod that's buttery and garlicky with a burst of lemon. This refreshing and light main course is perfect for a weeknight dinner. These baked cod fillets will be a family favorite!

close up of freshly baked oven baked cod


 

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
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If you usually go for cod deep-fried with fries on the side, you’re not alone—fish and chips are a classic for a reason. But this baked version is something else. It’s tender, full of flavor, and shows just how good cod can be when you keep it simple and let the seasoning shine.

Baking fish in the oven is one of my go-to weeknight dinners because it's healthy and easy. Whether it's baked salmon, tilapia, or cod, this recipe is one you'll use again and again.

a spatula picking up a piece of oven baked cod topped with lemon

Ingredients and Tools Needed

  • Codfish fillets - defrosted and patted dry.
  • Dry Seasoning - Garlic powder, Kosher salt, Paprika, Black pepper
  • Unsalted butter, Lemon, and Parsley for serving.
Oven baked cod ingredients

Tools Needed For Oven-Baked Cod

  • 3-quart baking dish
  • Knife & Cutting board
  • Fish spatula

How To Make The Perfect Oven-Baked Cod

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry fish fillets with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Place fillets in a 3-quart baking dish. 

Sprinkle the fillets with kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Add butter and sliced lemon over the top of the fillets. 

cod prepared in the baking dish with butter slices and sliced lemons

Place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the fish is flaky and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove fish from oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving. 

oven baked cod covered in fresh parsley

Can I Use Frozen Cod?

If you don't have a local fish market near you with fresh fish, buying frozen cod is the next best thing. I would recommend buying a wild-caught cod versus a farm-raised cod. Wild-caught cod will have a fresher flavor, leaner meat, and no fishy aftertaste.

I suggest defrosting frozen fish before baking. If you prefer to bake from frozen, bake the fish for 20-25 minutes.

What To Serve With Baked Cod

Oven-baked cod can truly be served with almost anything! If you want it with vegetables, asparagus or broccoli would nicely complement baked cod.

If a salad side is more your speed, serve your fish alongside a fresh Quinoa Avocado Salad or Beet and Orange Salad.

My go-to grain with this dish is rice because it soaks up all that buttery, lemony sauce from the fish. So good!

oven baked cod being cut by a fork

Different Ways To Season Oven-Baked Cod

Want to change up the flavor profile of your oven-baked cod? Any of the spices listed below will taste equally amazing.

  • Homemade Fish Seasoning: Use 1.5 - 2 teaspoons of fish seasoning per pound of cod.
  • Blackened Cod: Want a little kick? Swap out the spices with blackened seasoning.
  • Cajun Baked Cod: A deliciously spicy baked dish with this added cajun seasoning.
  • All-purpose seasoning: This flavor combo is an all-around winner when it comes to any recipe.

Notes

  • The thickness of your fillets will determine how long they need to be baked. Thinner fillets will cook faster in the oven.
  • Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Looking for more fish recipes? Try these out:

  • Air Fryer Fish Tacos
  • Crispy Air Fryer Fish
  • Homemade Fish Seasoning
  • Brown Stew Fish
  • Fried Catfish

 If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

oven baked cod being cut by a fork
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4.96 from 24 votes

Oven Baked Cod Recipe

A flaky oven-baked cod that's buttery and garlicky with a burst of lemon. This refreshing and light main course is perfect for a weeknight dinner. These baked cod fillets will be a family favorite!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword oven baked cod
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 35 minutes minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 307kcal
Author Tanya
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound Codfish fillets
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon Paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter sliced
  • 1 Lemon sliced
  • Parsley for serving chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Dry fish fillets with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Place fillets in a 3-quart baking dish. 
  • Sprinkle the fillets with kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Add butter and sliced lemon over the top of the filets. 
  • Place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is flaky and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Remove fish from oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving. 

Notes

  • The thickness of your filets will determine how long they need to be baked. Thinner filets will cook faster in the oven.
  • Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 1289mg | Potassium: 1038mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

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Comments

    4.96 from 24 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Debbie says

    April 06, 2025 at 5:44 pm

    This was so good! It was quick, easy and used ingredients I always have on hand. It will be going into the regular rotation. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      April 08, 2025 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you Debbie! So happy you like the cod recipe.

      Reply
  2. PAULA says

    March 28, 2025 at 6:47 am

    IT WAS SO EASY TO FOLLOW THE RECIPE FOR THE BAKED COD, THE FISH WAS SO TENDER AND MOIST, REALLY LOVED IT

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 28, 2025 at 8:19 am

      Thanks so much, Paula! So happy you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
  3. Mary Weigel says

    February 02, 2025 at 6:16 pm

    Those fish sound real good & lent will be here soon.

    Reply
  4. Cheri says

    September 19, 2024 at 10:22 am

    Baked up perfectly and was nicely flavored.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      September 22, 2024 at 4:11 pm

      Thanks, Cheri! So happy you like the recipe 🙂

      Reply
  5. Lonnie says

    July 12, 2024 at 10:53 pm

    Very easy; very good!
    This is now my go to fish dinner recipe.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      July 15, 2024 at 9:13 am

      Thanks Lonnie! So happy you like the baked cod recipe 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kathleen says

    March 06, 2024 at 8:25 pm

    Tried this tonight and we both loved it! Will definitely make again.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 07, 2024 at 8:02 am

      Thanks so much, Kathleen! So happy you liked the recipe.

      Reply
  7. Sonja says

    August 28, 2023 at 8:47 pm

    Can I use cod for two with this recipe

    Reply
  8. Andrea says

    February 04, 2023 at 12:20 pm

    Great simple fish dish.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      February 07, 2023 at 7:20 am

      Thank you Andrea 🙂

      Reply
    • Laura says

      November 21, 2023 at 8:16 pm

      @Andrea, I have used cod and it works just fine.

      Reply

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Welcome to My Forking Life! Hi, I'm Tanya, attorney, busy wife and mom, and lover of quick, easy, and delicious meals.

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