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Light, fresh, and easy! This 5-Ingredient, 5-Minute Garlic Lemon Cod is an affordable and healthy dinner that the entire family will enjoy! Gluten-free, low-carb, and high in protein, the simple meal will suit just about everyone around the table.

Lemon garlic cod on a plate with slices of lemon

The seafood counter at the grocery store can kind of be an interesting place. It’s not like picking up chicken breasts or ground beef in the meat department where you generally know exactly what you’re getting each time.

Instead, the seafood counter is more of a crap shoot. What will be available? What will be on sale? And how the heck will I prepare whatever I come home with?

An overhead shot of Lemon Garlic Cod on a plate with a fork and lemon slices

While we love seafood and we know that it’s good for us, I often find myself stuck in the rut of grilling salmon or baking shrimp each week. We stick with what we know and with what is consistently available — often missing out on plenty of other amazing options!

A fillet of garlic lemon cod on a plate

When I recently found cod at an incredibly low price behind the seafood counter at our local store, I was determined to find a new and delicious way to prepare this versatile white fish (other than the classic frozen fish sticks)!

Squeezing lemon juice over a fillet of cod

The End Result

The end result was this easy Garlic Lemon Cod that only requires 5 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep!

The fish is tender and mild (perfect for little kids who don’t want a strong “fish” taste); richly flavored with garlic and butter; and freshened-up with a hefty dose of lemon and herbs. The flavor and texture just can’t be beat, making this cod a simple solution for your next visit to the seafood counter!

Cooking Just for Two?

You can easily cut all of the ingredients in half and just cook about 3/4 lb. of fish. The cooking process and time will remain the same.

More Fish Recipes To Try;

Lemon garlic cod on a plate with slices of lemon

5-Ingredient, 5-Minute Lemon Garlic Cod

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Total: 18 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 293.6 kcal
Light, fresh, and easy! This 5-Ingredient, 5-Minute Lemon Garlic Cod is an affordable and healthy dinner that the entire family will enjoy! 

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs. cod or other similar white fish
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges
  • Optional garnish: fresh herbs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
  • Season fish with garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
  • Pour oil into a large oven-proof skillet to coat the bottom of the pan (about 2 tablespoons). Heat over medium heat. Add butter, let it melt.
  • Place fish in the oil and butter, skin side down. Cook until bottom is lightly browned (about 3-4 minutes).
  • Use a spatula to gently turn the fish over.
  • Place skillet in the oven and bake for about 8 more minutes, or until fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
  • Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs, and serve.

Notes

Cooking Just for Two? You can easily cut all of the ingredients in half and just cook about 3/4 lb. of fish. The cooking process and time will remain the same.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4th of recipeCalories: 293.6kcalCarbohydrates: 1.3gProtein: 38.2gFat: 14.2gSaturated Fat: 4.8gCholesterol: 109.1mgSodium: 172.3mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.4g
Keyword: Baked Cod, Healthy Cod, Lemon Cod
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: The Seasoned Mom
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Comments

  1. You got that right! The seafood counter is definitely an interesting place. My husband and I usually get salmon or walley, but I’ve got to try this cod! I always forget about cod and I’m loving this easy dish. Lemon and garlic together are one of my favorite flavors and it sounds delicious on fresh fish!

  2. I’m always excited to share a recipe, like this baked cod, that looks elegant enough and tastes bright and fresh enough to impress anyone you happen to be cooking for.

    With the light, delicate flavors of zesty lemon and fresh sage, this baked cod looks and tastes like a nice restaurant entrée.

    1. Thanks so much, Lisa! I agree — fancy enough for company, but easy enough for a quick weeknight meal! 🙂

  3. I enjoy your recipes, I hope you have a wonderful 4th, my hubby and I are taking my Grandson to the parade here, we live in a small town only 1000 people, but the parade is great and several things going on through the day. Alaric and his Mom will go and enjoy after she gets off work.

    1. Hi, Sheila! Thank you! I hope that you have a fun July 4th as well! We live in a very small town, too. The fireworks are always a big deal, but with little ones I think we’ll skip them this year. Instead we’re looking forward to the county fair next week. Definitely a highlight! 🙂

  4. Hello, my wife has just recently has been put on a low sodium diet so this is perfect ????. Do you have any suggestions for a side/ carb to go with this?
    Thank you

    1. Hi, Doug! I’m glad that you found this recipe! It’s such an easy dish to pair with your favorite sides, because so many different flavors will work well with it. As far as carbs go, you can use your favorite bread or dinner rolls (such as a French baguette), rice, wild rice, couscous, pasta tossed with pesto sauce, or even just pasta tossed with salt, pepper, garlic and olive oil. For veggies, I like to serve a simple salad on the side. You could also steam some broccoli, roast asparagus in the oven, or sautee some green beans in a skillet with garlic and olive oil. Enjoy!

  5. It would be impossible to get the fish to brown if it is drowning in butter and oily; you should post recipes if you don’t know the basics

  6. I keep a lovely brown glass spray bottle filled with apple cider vinegar. When I put oil into a pan to cook my fish, I spray a couple spritzes of AC vinegar instead of lemon. It’s sheaper than lemon and it’s wonnderful! I also collect various specialty vinegars, such as coconut, pineapple, banana, etc. and they work well too.