Baked Cod with Lemon Garlic Herbs (Printable)

Tender cod fillets baked with bright lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs for a light and healthy 30-minute meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish & Marinade

01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5 ounces each), boneless, skinless
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Juice of 1 lemon
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Flavor & Herbs

07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
10 - Lemon slices, for garnish

# Step-by-step:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
04 - Pour the marinade evenly over the cod fillets, ensuring each is well coated.
05 - Sprinkle chopped parsley, thyme leaves, and smoked paprika over the fish.
06 - Arrange lemon slices on top or around the fillets for extra flavor and presentation.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 16–20 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
08 - Remove from the oven, let rest for 2 minutes, then serve warm with your favorite sides.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The entire dish comes together in 30 minutes start to finish
  • Its nearly foolproof even for people who swear they cant cook fish
  • The cleanup is minimal because everything bakes on one pan
02 -
  • Dont overcook the fish or it will become dry and tough
  • Patting the fish dry before marinating helps the coating stick better
  • Fresh herbs make a huge difference compared to dried ones here
03 -
  • The fish is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 63°C (145°F)
  • If the lemon slices start browning too quickly, tent the dish loosely with foil

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