Baked Cod with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

Short answer: Heat the oven to 400°F. Lay 4 cod fillets (about 6 ounces each and 1 inch thick) in a baking dish, spoon over 3 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with 3 minced garlic cloves, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, salt, pepper and paprika, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The cod is done at 145°F, or when it's opaque and flakes easily with a fork [1]. Finish with parsley and dill. It serves 4 in about 25 minutes.

This recipe was developed by Michael Gonzales from standard techniques and measurements.

Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 12 to 15 min Total time: about 25 min

What do you need for baked cod with lemon, garlic and herbs?

Serves 4.

• 4 skinless cod fillets, about 6 ounces (170 g) each and about 1 inch thick
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon), plus lemon slices or wedges to serve
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional)

A 9x13-inch baking dish fits four fillets with a little space between them. A glass one works well, such as the Pyrex Deep 9x13 baking dish (rated 4.7 out of 5 from more than 9,000 reviews on Amazon, checked Nov. 5, 2026). For the juice, a hand citrus squeezer like OXO's keeps the seeds out of the dish (rated 4.7 from about 4,500 reviews, checked Nov. 9, 2026).

How do you bake cod in the oven?

1. Heat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the middle.
2. Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Dry fish takes the seasoning better and doesn't sit in a puddle.
3. Brush the baking dish with a little of the olive oil and lay the fillets in it with some space between them.
4. In a small bowl, stir together the rest of the olive oil, the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper and paprika.
5. Spoon the mixture evenly over the fillets. Tuck a few lemon slices around them if you like.
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes for 1-inch fillets. Thinner pieces may be done in 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Check the thickest fillet. It's done at 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, or when the center is opaque and flakes easily with a fork [1].
8. Spoon the pan juices back over the fish, scatter with parsley and dill, and serve with lemon wedges.

How long do you bake cod at 400°F?

About 12 to 15 minutes for fillets about 1 inch thick. Thickness matters more than weight, so start checking a few minutes early with thin tail pieces. FoodSafety.gov lists 145°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for fish fillets, or cooking until the flesh is no longer translucent and separates easily with a fork [1].

Can you bake frozen cod?

You'll get the most even result if you thaw it first. Move the fillets from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before, then pat them dry well, because thawed fish gives off more water. Cooking from frozen takes longer, and the outside can overcook before the middle is done, so check the center with a thermometer either way [1].

How do you keep baked cod from getting dry?

• Don't overbake. Cod is lean. USDA lists less than 1 gram of fat in a 3-ounce cooked portion [2], so there's little fat to keep it moist once it goes past done.
• Use the oil. The olive oil and lemon mixture coats the top and turns into a quick sauce in the pan.
• Pick even fillets. If one end is thin, fold it under so the piece cooks evenly.
• Pull it when it just flakes. The fish keeps cooking for a minute after it leaves the oven.

How much protein is in baked cod?

About 19 grams in a 3-ounce cooked portion, according to USDA FoodData Central [2]. Here's what that portion of plain cod contains, before the olive oil in this recipe.

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central, Fish, cod, Atlantic, cooked, dry heat (FDC 171956) [2]. % Daily Values use FDA's adult Daily Values: protein 50 g, selenium 55 mcg, vitamin B12 2.4 mcg and sodium 2,300 mg [3].

Cod is on the FDA and EPA "Best Choices" list of fish that are lower in mercury [4]. For a fattier fish with more omega-3s, see our omega-3 foods table or the baked salmon with lemon and dill.

What goes with baked cod?

• Roasted broccoli with garlic and lemon, which picks up the same lemon and garlic flavors.
• A simple green salad with olive oil; our olive oil buying guide explains the labels.
• Brown rice, farro or boiled potatoes to soak up the pan juices.

Cod also fits the fish-forward pattern described in our Mediterranean diet for men guide.

Can you use other fish?

Yes. Haddock and pollock are both on the FDA "Best Choices" list [4] and work the same way. Go by thickness rather than the clock, and check the thickest piece for 145°F [1].

Sources

1. FoodSafety.gov. Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
2. USDA FoodData Central. Fish, cod, Atlantic, cooked, dry heat (FDC 171956), SR Legacy
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advice about Eating Fish

Photo: Overhead Shot of Slices of Lemon on Fish by Marina Leonova, via Pexels (Pexels license).