Crispy Garlic Butter Baked Cod with Lemon Herb Breadcrumbs
A quick and easy baked cod recipe featuring a rich garlic butter base and a crispy lemon herb breadcrumb topping, perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets (6 oz / 170 g each), fresh or thawed
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- Zest and juice of 1 medium lemon
- 3/4 cup (90 g) panko breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional: 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking dish or rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and cook gently for about 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest and juice.
- Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- In a medium bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, chopped thyme, and optional grated Parmesan cheese. Drizzle olive oil over the mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- Place the cod fillets in the prepared baking dish. Brush each fillet generously with the garlic butter mixture.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly on top of each fillet, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the topping is golden and crisp. If needed, broil for an additional 1-2 minutes to brown the crust, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 1-2 minutes. Serve with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice on top.
Notes
For thicker cod fillets (over 1 inch), add a couple of minutes to baking time. Avoid overcrowding the pan for even cooking and crispness. To keep breadcrumb topping extra crispy when reheating leftovers, bake at 350°F for 10 minutes instead of microwaving. Fresh herbs are preferred but dried herbs can be used at one-third the amount. For gluten-free, substitute panko with gluten-free crackers or almond flour. For dairy-free, replace butter with olive oil and omit Parmesan or use vegan cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cod fillet (6 oz)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: baked cod, garlic butter cod, lemon herb breadcrumbs, crispy fish, easy dinner, weeknight meal, seafood recipe