Baked Cod Lemon Garlic (Print Version)

Tender cod fillets baked with bright lemon and garlic for a healthy, flavorful meal.

# What You Need:

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

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

09 - 1 lemon, sliced

10 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

01 - Set the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or greasing lightly.

02 - Combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and parsley in a small bowl and mix well.

03 - Pat the cod fillets dry using paper towels and arrange them evenly on the baking sheet.

04 - Brush the marinade generously over both sides of each fillet to ensure full coverage.

05 - Place lemon slices atop each fillet for added flavor.

06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

07 - Remove from oven, optionally garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

01 -

The fish stays impossibly moist because the oven does all the work without any fussing or hovering.
Everything is ready in under thirty minutes, making weeknight dinner feel less like a chore and more like something you actually want to cook.
Lemon and garlic taste elegant enough for guests but so simple you won't feel like you've made a real effort.

02 -

Overcooked fish turns dry and rubbery in seconds, so watch the clock carefully during those final minutes—the residual heat keeps cooking even after you pull it out.
Drying the fillets before cooking makes a surprising difference in how they brown and how evenly the marinade clings.

03 -

Bring the fish to room temperature for ten minutes before baking so it cooks evenly throughout instead of having a cold center.
A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out entirely—fish is perfectly done at 63°C (145°F) in the thickest part.