Wild Alaskan Pacific cod is a lean, mild white fish that pairs beautifully with rich garlic butter. This recipe is as simple as it gets: season, top with garlic butter, and bake at 400°F until perfectly flaky. It is gluten-free, family-friendly, and on the table in under 30 minutes. Explore our complete seafood cooking guide for more techniques.

Ingredients

• 4 wild Alaskan cod portions (6 oz each), thawed
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and half of the chopped parsley.
3. Season Cod: Pat cod portions dry with paper towels. Place on prepared baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
4. Top & Bake: Spoon garlic butter mixture evenly over each portion. Bake for 12–15 minutes until cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork (internal temp 145°F).
5. Serve: Transfer to plates, spoon any pan juices over the top, garnish with remaining parsley and lemon wedges.