Healthy Recipes

Lemon Garlic Baked Cod

This Baked Cod recipe is made with a simple lemon garlic marinade and is ready in just under 30 minutes. It comes out so soft and flaky and makes for a perfectly delicious healthy weeknight dinner.

If you love seafood specifically white fish, you will also love my oven-baked Tilapia Recipe.

top view of a black skillet with 4 baked cod fillets and blistered cherry tomatoes along with lemon slices garnishes

Cod is one of my favorite fishes to cook for my family. It never comes out too fishy and is super easy to put together too. Always so juicy and flaky every time. They are Sauteed with a simple lemon garlic marinade and then baked in the oven with some cherry tomatoes. This easy-baked Garlic Cod recipe is gluten-free and makes for a great weeknight dinner when you want to make a nutritious quick meal for the family.

Serve this baked cod recipe with some plain white rice or some Garlic roasted potatoes. More serving suggestions are further down below.

Why you will love this

  • Healthy: This baked cod is made with simple pantry staple ingredients. Low in carbs and fat, a low-calorie meal with only 268 calories per serving, and it is packed with protein.
  • Quick and simple: With only 15 minutes of cooking time required, this lemon-baked cod will be ready in less than an hour. No crazy list of ingredients is required either.
  • Tasty: The Citrus and garlic flavor of this baked cod will awaken your taste buds. It’s so tasty!
  • Great for meal prepping: A dish that works great for those who meal prep. Easy to store and reheat, and holds well for 3 days.
top view of a black skillet with baked lemon cods along with cherry tomatoes cod

Ingredients you will need

  • Cod fillet pieces: You may use frozen Cod fillets. Don’t like cod? Use any other type of white fish.
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste, or kosher salt.
  • Italian seasoning: or use a mix of Oregano, basil, and thyme.
  • All-purpose flour: or gluten-free flour
  • Olive oil: Avocado oil or butter will work
  • Lemons, juiced: use fresh lemon juice
  • Garlic cloves, pressed or minced: Use fresh garlic if you have, if not then use garlic powder.
  • Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Finely chopped fresh cilantro: fresh cilantro will bring out the taste of these baked cod. You may use fresh parsley
  • Optional: to garnish, you may use red pepper flakes
ingredients to make lemon garlic baked cod with tomatoes

How to make bake cod

Preheat the oven to 400F.
Season the cod filets with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then dredge into the flour to evenly coat.

seasoned fresh uncooked cod on a plate

Preheat 1 tablespoon of oil in an oven-safe skillet and sear half of the cod pieces until golden on both sides, then set aside. Repeat with the remaining oil and cod.

seared 4 Cod fillets on a skillet

Add the fresh lemon juice to the dripping from the pan, and stir while still on the heat. Add the minced garlic, and tomatoes, and return the cod to the skillet.

cherry tomatoes added over lemon garlic sauce on a black skillet

Bake for 10 minutes, or until flaky. Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • You may use fresh or frozen Cod fillets. Allow the cod to thaw overnight in the fridge the night before. Pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Use any tomatoes of your choice. Feel free to add more veggies like mushrooms or zucchini.
  • Do not overbake or the Baked cod will be a bit chewy and dry.
  • Do use fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice if possible, unless it is saving you a trip to the store
  • You may replace one of the lemons with some white wine, or some sauvignon blanc.
  • Want to skip sauteeing the cod fillets on the pan first? You can. Place all the ingredients on a baking dish and bale at 400F for 25 minutes or so.

What to serve with baked cod

close up view of baked cod fillets with blistered tomatoes in a pan

Storage and Reheating

  • Storing: Store leftover baked cod in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You may also freeze for 2 months.
  • Reheating: It is best to reheat leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until it is heated through.

Frequently asked questions

How long to bake cod at 400?

Without searing the fish first, Baked Cod will need 20-22 minutes of total bake time in the oven at 400F. You may also bake cod at 350F for 25-30 minutes. The best way to check if the Cod is cooked through is to use a food thermometer and check its internal temperature. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145F for fish.

Can you bake cod frozen?

You can technically bake frozen cod. It will release quite a bit of water and will take an additional 10-15 minutes of cooking time. I recommend that you thaw the frozen cod overnight if you can instead to ensure even cook especially if you plan on using your stovetop instead.

How to season baked cod?

There are no set rules on what seasonings you can use for baked cod. You may use any you have on hand and get creative or use your favorite spice blend. From Italian seasonings to smoked paprika or fajita spice blend, they will all taste great. I love to keep it simple with some lemon pepper, fresh garlic, fresh lemon juice, and some chopped parsley or cilantro.

Why is my baked cod rubbery?

If your baked cod is rubber then you have most likely overcooked the cod. Any fish that is overcooked especially cod, will lose most of its moisture and result in a dry and rubber texture.

close up image of 4 baded cod fillets on a black pan with lemon garnished and cooked cherry tomatoes around the cods

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  • Preheat the oven to 400F.

  • Season the cod filets with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then dredge into the flour to evenly coat.

  • Preheat 1 tablespoon of oil in an oven-safe skillet and sear half of the codpieces until golden on both sides, then set aside. 1-2 minutes on each side

  • Repeat with the remaining oil and cod. Add the fresh lemon juice to the dripping from the pan, and stir while still on the heat.

  • Add the garlic, and tomatoes, and return the cod to the skillet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until flaky.

  • Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy.

  • Storing: Store leftover baked cod in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You may also freeze for 2 months.
  • Reheating: It is best to reheat leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until it is heated through

Calories: 268kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 33gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 98mgPotassium: 891mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 279IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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