Baked Cod with Lemon Butter (Printable)

Tender cod baked in zesty lemon butter sauce with briny capers and fresh herbs.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets, 6 oz each
02 - Salt, to taste
03 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - 2 tablespoons capers, drained
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Garnish

11 - Lemon slices, for serving
12 - Additional chopped parsley (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish to fit cod fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper and place in the dish.
03 - In a bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, capers, parsley, and minced garlic. Stir to blend.
04 - Evenly pour the lemon butter mixture over the cod fillets.
05 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Top with lemon slices and extra parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more time than you actually did, which is the dream.
  • The capers add this unexpected briny moment that makes people ask what you did differently.
  • Everything cooks in one dish, meaning fewer pans to resent while you're cleaning up.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the fish dry; moisture is the enemy of anything approaching crispy or caramelized edges.
  • Cod cooks faster than you think, and overcooked fish is dry fish—set a timer and start checking early rather than late.
  • Fresh lemon juice and real butter are the backbone here; they're what makes this taste restaurant-quality without any real effort.
03 -
  • Let your baking dish come to room temperature before adding the fish if it's been sitting in a cold cabinet; cold dishes make the heat distribute unevenly.
  • If you accidentally overcook it slightly, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the top masks it beautifully and reminds everyone of the intended flavor anyway.

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