Baked Cod Fish Fillet (Printable)
Flaky cod fillets baked with lemon, garlic, and herbs for a light, healthy main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets (5.3 oz each)
→ Marinade & Seasonings
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
06 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
07 - ½ teaspoon paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped
→ Garnish
09 - 1 lemon, sliced
10 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and parsley in a small bowl.
03 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush each fillet generously with the marinade, coating both sides evenly.
05 - Arrange lemon slices over the fillets.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
07 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under 30 minutes, leaving your kitchen calm instead of chaotic.
- The fish stays impossibly moist while the lemon-garlic marinade does all the heavy lifting.
- No complicated techniques, just honest cooking that tastes like you tried much harder than you actually did.
02 -
- Overcooked fish is dry fish—check it at 15 minutes, not 18, your first time making this.
- Pat the fillets completely dry before cooking, or you'll steam them instead of baking them into something tender.
03 -
- Keep your eye on the oven around the 15-minute mark—fish forgives you once but not twice, and you'll thank yourself for checking early.
- If your fillets are thicker than average, go for the full 18 minutes; if they're thin, pull them out at 15.