Description
Garlic Butter Cod is a quick and elegant dish featuring pan-seared cod fillets bathed in a rich, garlicky butter sauce with herbs and lemon. Perfect for weeknight dinners or a cozy dinner party, this 20-minute meal is light, flavorful, and effortless.
Ingredients
4 cod fillets (about 5 oz each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Pat cod fillets dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Sear cod for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and flaky. Transfer to a plate.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
6. Add chopped parsley and return cod to the skillet.
7. Spoon garlic butter over cod and warm through for 1–2 minutes.
8. Serve hot with extra sauce and garnish with more parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes
Use thicker, center-cut fillets for even cooking and better texture.
Don’t overcook the garlic—it should be fragrant, not browned.
For extra richness, deglaze the pan with a splash of white wine before adding lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: cod, garlic butter, weeknight dinner