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Baked Cajun Garlic Butter Cod is a tender and juicy cod filet baked in a buttery cajun seasoning with garlic cloves and olive oil making this cod a flavorful and delicious dinner. Baked to perfection in 15 minutes!
Baking is simple and easy to let the oven do the work. If you love baked seafood try this Tilapia and Roasted Veggies, Walnut Crusted Maple Salmon or Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp.
The Best Cajun Garlic Butter Cod Recipe
This is the best baked cod fish recipe that is melt in your mouth delicious! Cod is a mild, sweeter fish. It doesn’t have the fishy taste that most people try to avoid. I am a lover all things fish and knew that I needed to make a baked cod recipe soon. This baked cod came out so tender and juicy with all the flavoring. I love cajun seasoning and knew this was going to be a simple meal with the perfect combination.
It is easy to make and comes together within minutes. I couldn’t believe the results I got after baking this delicious cajun garlic butter cod recipe. It is quick and easy with simple ingredients. This cod turns out to be a sweet, spicy and savory meal that is just what is needed on a busy weeknight. My family loved the tender pieces of skin that just melted in our mouths. It was the perfect way to end a busy day.
What is Cod?
Cod is known to be a sweeter white fish. Because of the sweetness cod usually doesn’t have the fishy taste to it. A cod filet is full of flavor and tastes delicious with any seasonings. Cod can also be cooked several different ways. Cod is very nutritious and is known to have lean protein, minerals and vitamins. The good thing about cod it does contain less mercury compared to other white fish.
Baked Cod Ingredients
This tender and juicy cod fish is delicious and full of flavor. It has minimal amount of ingredients with the maximum amount of flavoring. It is AMAZING and one of the best cod recipes I have made!
- Cod Filets: It is best if the skin is off
- Salt and Pepper: Just to season the cod filets with.
Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce:
- Butter: Melt the butter before whisking it the sauce together.
- Olive Oil:Â Helps bake the cod filets and gives extra flavor plus a crispy outside.
- Garlic Cloves:Â Garlic adds in more flavor to the cod.
- Cajun Seasoning:Â AÂ little spicy seasoning that gives the cod a rich, strong flavor.
How to Bake Cod in the Oven
Simply add the cod to a baking pan and lightly season it with salt and pepper. This will add more flavoring as it is baking. Whisk together cajun garlic butter sauce together. This is a simple and easy sauce that only has four ingredients. Those four ingredients become a masterpiece leaving this cod one of the best baked cod recipes out there. Within 15 minutes you will have an amazing baked cod recipe that is to die for.
- Prepare the cod:Â Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9×13 inch baking dish add the cod and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- To make the Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic and cajun. Spread evenly over the fish.
- Bake the cod:Â Bake for about 15 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
What Temperature should Cod be Cooked at
Any cooking method that is used for making cod, it will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to use a meat thermometer for the most accurate internal temperature. Once cod reaches the proper cooking temperature the color of the fish will become opaque and flakey. If you do not have a meat thermometer by looking at the cods color can help.
The Recipe Critic Pro Tip:
Stick a fork in the thickest part of the fish and gently twist the fork at a 45 degree angle. If the fish comes along with the fork and has flaky, opaque color to it, it has reached its cooking temperature. Undercooked fish will not be translucent and it will resist flaking.Â
Is Baked Cod Healthy?
Yes! That is what I love about cod and most fish recipes. Cod is nutritious with a lot of hidden flavor. It is known to have lean protein, vitamins and minerals. This is perfect to eat while maintaining a healthy diet.
What to Serve with Cod
A nice fruit salad with loads of colors, a side salad and many vegetable sides are all great ways to complete this meal. This cod recipe is perfect for a lighter meal but also can add in mashed potatoes or skillet potatoes to make it more filling.
- Asparagus:Â Perfectly Grilled Parmesan Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Rice:Â Cheesy Zucchini Rice
- Green Beans:Â Garlic Parmesan Green Beans with Bacon
- Brussel Sprouts:Â Maple Roasted Brussels sprouts and Butternut Squash or Roasted Maple Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
- Side Salad: Summer Corn Salad
- Carrots: Glazed CarrotsÂ
- Corn: Grilled Mexican Street Corn
FAQs for Baking the Best Cod
- Why is my cod tough? This usually entails that your cod was overcooked during the baking process. To avoid this, try using a meat thermometer or my fork test to ensure the best cooked cod.
- Can you eat undercooked Cod? It is best to have a cooked fish to avoid any parasites in your body.
- Should I cover fish in the oven? You do not need to cover the fish while it is being cooked.
- What is the difference between cod loin and cod fillet? A loin is the prime cut of the fish. It is a section cut from the fillet. A fillet is the entire part of the fish.
- Is salmon or cod healthier? Both fish are known to be healthy just in different ways. They do hold many nutrients, vitamins and are both a lean meat.
How to Store Baked Cod:
- Making ahead: This baked cod is simple to make and only has 4 ingredients for the sauce. Making the sauce ahead of time is easy to do.
- Refrigerating: Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- Can you freeze baked cod: Yes! Once the baked cod is served, let it cool completely before storing. Once cooled off place in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store flat in the freeze for up to 1 month.
- Warming up: Place back in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes or gently warm up in the microwave with less time intervals.
More Delicious and Healthy Seafood Recipes:
- Smoky Paprika Fish Tacos with an Apple Slaw
- Brown Butter Lemon Salmon
- Seared Ahi Tuna
- Garlic Butter Herb Scallops
- Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp
Baked Cajun Garlic Butter Cod
Ingredients
- 3 cod filets cut in half
- salt and pepper
Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9x13 inch baking dish add the cod and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- To make the Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic and cajun. Spread evenly over the fish.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
Video
Nutrition
Serves: 6
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
This fish is SO good. It is now part of my dinner rotation 🙂 It is savory and full of flavor and healthy! I made it with some steamed broccoli (which I drenched with the sauce afterwards) and we dipped our bread in it! Thank you for posting this!
Really good & easy recipe. Will def keep on rotation.
Nice recipe! One tip people should know that most store-bought Cajun spice brands are ridiculously oversalted. If theirs has 150mg or more per serving (Some have up to 350mg!), probably best to use less, or skip the extra salt, depending on taste.
Also, you say 130°, but literally every source I’ve ever seen says 145°for cod to be safely done.
Made this yesterday and my partner and myself absolutely loved it, served it with mini roasties and green beans.
My husband absolutely loves this recipe. He asks for it at least twice a week. It is easy to throw together & it has great flavor. Made it as stated except I added more garlic because we love garlic in everything.
Thanks for sharing
Made it as instructed. It was very good and easy to make.
Will definitely make it !
Followed the recipe exactly. My family loved it. Thank you for sharing!
First time baking cod. It was delicious. Your recipe and instructions were followed to a T without a question about cooking time ( always a question of mine). Thank you. My husband absolutely loved it. We buy our fish fresh from Alaska…how could it be better?
First time making cod. I skipped the initial salt and peppering since it was in the Cajun mix. Super yummy! Thank you!
This recipe was great. I just love cod. It was quick and easy to prepare. I do think it was just a bit salty.
I had some leftover sundried tomatoes in olive oil which I substituted for just olive oil, and I added 1/4 C of half and half to give it a little more substance to serve with our side of couscous and baked green beans. It was rich and we ate about 1/2, but the base recipe was the perfect starting point. We’ve never cooked fresh cod before. Absolutely perfect! Thank you!
The pictures show green herbs and lemon slices but there’s no mention of them in the ingredients 🙈😂 Is there?
Anyway… I’ll pop those on my shopping list too before I make this one!
Hi! Since those are just garnishing, I didn’t add them to the recipe card! But feel free to add them! It’s parsley and lemon slices.
This was quick and tasty! I opted to follow the recipe for the homemade Cajun seasoning since I didn’t have any on hand and I think it made all the difference. Definitely adding this to the rotation!
Excellent flavor with the Cajun seasoning. Instead of using the oven I did it on top the stove in a non stick pan, on med low to low with a cover. This is a keeper.