5.0 from 417 votes
Lemon Butter Cod Recipe
Cod is a healthy, lean fish that can be easily added to your dinner rotation. This tender, flavorful cod recipe is quick enough for busy weeknights. It's sure to become a favorite.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 490 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the Lemon Butter Mixture:
- 3 TB salted butter softened to room temp
- 1 TB chives or parsley, freshly chopped
- 2 TB garlic freshly minced
- 1 TB shallots freshly minced
- ⅛ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 TB juice from fresh lemon
- 1 TB grated lemon peel
For the Fish:
- 2 TB olive oil
- 4 cod fillets 1-inch thickness, 4 oz each
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- additional lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Place cod in colander and let sit to drain and get closer to room temperature, while you prepare rest of ingredients.
- In a small pan, combine all Lemon Butter Mixture ingredients and stir to fully combine. Set aside.
- Use paper towels to pat-dry all excess moisture from the fish fillets. This step is important, so be sure to pat off as much moisture as you can (extra moisture from fish will dilute flavors and steam the fish rather than brown it.)
- Evenly sprinkle both sides of fillets with pinches of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside. In a large pan, heat the olive oil over high heat. Once oil is sizzling hot, add fish fillets to pan (you may want to do 2 at a time to avoid crowding) and cover with lid ajar, allowing steam to escape. Cook until browned on one side, about 3-4 minutes. Do not move fish around.
- Use a thin but wide metal spatula to gently flip fish fillets over to the other side for another 3-4 minutes just until nicely browned and center is just-cooked. The key to tender fish is to avoid overcooking.If your fillets are less than 1-inch thick, shorten cook time.
- While your last fish fillets are cooking, heat up small pan of prepared lemon-garlic mixture over medium-high, stirring just until bubbly. Immediately turn heat off and keep warm.
- Once fish is done, plate fillets and spoon lemon butter mixture over the fish, including any leftover juices from your frying pan. Garnish with lemon slices and enjoy.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Be sure to use coarse kosher salt, not fine table salt. Kosher salt is much milder and less salty per volume.
- The actual cook time varies, depending on thickness, starting temp of fish, and type of pan used. I typically cook about 3-4 minutes per side. I check for doneness by lightly pressing fillet centers for firmness. Once it feels somewhat firm, it’s usually done.
- Serve with Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice or Best Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipe for a healthy meal that happens to be gluten-free.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give a rating ♡
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
490kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
161g
(322%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
410mg
(137%)
Sodium
332mg
(14%)
Potassium
3746mg
(107%)
Fiber
0.2g
(1%)
Sugar
0.3g
(1%)
Vitamin A
656IU
(13%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Calcium
155mg
(16%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 490
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 490kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 161g | 322% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 410mg | 137% |
| Sodium | 332mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 3746mg | 80% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 0.3g | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 656IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 155mg | 16% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.