Baked Cod with Herb Butter (Printable)

Tender cod infused with herb butter, baked to a light and flavorful dish perfect for any meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless cod fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each)
02 - Salt, to taste
03 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Herb Butter

04 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
07 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1 tsp lemon zest
10 - 2 tsp lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - Lemon wedges, for serving
12 - Extra fresh herbs, optional

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or grease lightly.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper. Arrange fillets in the prepared dish.
03 - Combine softened butter, parsley, dill, chives, garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until homogeneous.
04 - Spread the herb butter evenly over the top of each cod fillet.
05 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque throughout.
06 - Serve immediately garnished with lemon wedges and additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 25 minutes flat, which means you can go from "what's for dinner?" to plating in less time than it takes to order takeout.
  • The herb butter does all the heavy lifting, turning plain fish into something that tastes like you spent hours thinking about it.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and feels elegant enough for guests, casual enough for a Tuesday night.
02 -
  • Pat your fish dry before seasoning—this small step is the difference between silky, flaky cod and fish that steams instead of bakes.
  • Don't skip the parchment paper; it's not just about easy cleanup, it also helps the fish cook more evenly and keeps it from sticking.
  • Lemon zest is worth the extra thirty seconds to zest fresh—it brings a brightness that bottled juice simply cannot match.
03 -
  • Make the herb butter ahead of time and refrigerate it; you can even freeze it in small portions for future meals.
  • If your fish fillets vary in thickness, arrange the thicker ones at the hot spot in your oven so everything finishes at the same time.

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