This really is the best baked cod! The fish comes out perfectly tender, seasoned with lemon and garlic. A dinnertime home run!

Looking for a home-run weeknight dinner? Try this incredible Baked Cod! We’ll admit, cod wasn’t always a fish on our radar. But this fish is truly special. It’s mild, tender, and buttery in flavor. The best part? It’s swimming in a zesty lemon garlic sauce that makes you want another bite before you’ve finished chewing. This baked fish is always a hit with our whole family! More with cod? Try 15 Cod Recipes Everyone Will Love.

How to buy a great fillet of cod

The most important part of making great baked cod? Start with a great piece of fish. We’ve been burned with a few bad pieces of cod, so here’s what to know:

Fresh tends to be best. With salmon you can find great fillets frozen or fresh. But the frozen cod we’ve tried has been sub-par, with a fishy aftertaste and watery texture. If you can, nab a piece from your local fish counter.
Buy wild caught. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.

What does cod taste like?

If you’re on the fence about cod, allow us to convince you. Cod has a mild, pure flavor without a “fishy” aftertaste. In fact, it’s even more mild than salmon. Cod is a great starting point for people who think they don’t like fish.

More ways to eat cod? Cod is versatile and works in many different types of preparations: like pan fried, in fish tacos, or grilled.

How to make baked cod: some tips!

Baked cod is one of the simplest ways to prepare this delicately-flavored fish! It comes out tender and seasoned to perfection. There are just a few things to note:

Let your fish come to room temp before baking. You can do this while the oven preheats; just pull the fish out the fridge. Cooking it from room temperature helps to ensure even cooking.
Season the fish. This is important! Sprinkle the salt and pepper right onto the fish.
Cover with seasoning. This recipe features a lemon garlic sauce made with olive oil, lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, shallot and dried oregano.
Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 400 degrees bakes it to perfection.
Bake 17 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Cod is not nearly as touchy as salmon, so you can approximate without a thermometer. Get it just flaky!

Cod seasoning variations

Want to mix it up a little? There are some great other seasoning variations to try! Skip the lemon garlic sauce and add these seasonings to the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then paint it right on the fish:

Mexican-Style Cod: Add 2 tablespoons of this Fish Taco Seasoning before baking.
Cajun Cod: Try it with 1 to 2 tablespoons of this spicy homemade Cajun seasoning.
Blackened Cod: Sprinkle on 1 to 2 tablespoons Blackened seasoning, a more mild blend that still preserves the Cajun flavor.

Make it a meal! Sides to serve with baked cod

Impress your entire family with this baked cod to make an easy, healthy dinner! (Ours was seriously impressed…even our three year old!) The seasoning blend is pretty versatile, lending to lots of different side dish ideas. Here are some we’d recommend:

Easy Arugula Salad or Perfect Spinach Salad Dress it up with an easy salad.
Perfectly Seasoned Quinoa or Jade Rice Whip up a pot of quinoa or rice with herbs.
Ultimate Sauteed Vegetables, Sauteed Peppers or Sauteed Peppers & Onions are easy to whip up on the stovetop.
Perfect Sauteed Cabbage or Peas with Lemon Super fast, super delicious.

More easy seafood recipes

Some of our favorite fast and easy dinner recipes feature seafood! Here are some of our favorite fish and seafood recipes:

Go for tasty Baked Tilapia or Easy Baked Fish
Try crispy Blackened Salmon or Cajun Salmon
Have a Classic Shrimp Boil or Shrimp Scampi
Whip up Quick Broiled Salmon with lemon caper sauce
Spring for fan favorite Creamy Shrimp Pasta or Pesto Salmon

This baked cod recipe is…

Gluten-free, pescatarian and dairy-free.