Baked Cod Lemon Herb Butter (Printable)

Flaky cod fillets with a zesty lemon herb butter crumb topping, baked to golden perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless cod fillets (approximately 5.3 oz each)

→ Lemon Herb Butter Crumb

02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
04 - Zest of 1 lemon
05 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped (optional)
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

11 - Lemon wedges
12 - Extra chopped parsley

# How To Cook:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
02 - Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them evenly on the prepared tray or dish.
03 - In a bowl, combine melted butter, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, dill if using, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix until uniformly combined and crumbly.
04 - Evenly spoon crumb mixture over each cod fillet, gently pressing to adhere.
05 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until cod is opaque and flakes easily, and crumb topping turns golden brown.
06 - Remove from oven, garnish with additional parsley and lemon wedges if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crumb topping gets wonderfully crisp while keeping the fish moist and flaky beneath.
  • It tastes elegant but comes together in minutes with ingredients you likely already have.
  • The bright lemon and herbs make it feel light and fresh, never heavy.
  • Cleanup is a breeze since everything bakes on one tray.
02 -
  • Drying the fish thoroughly is non-negotiable or the crumbs will slide off and turn soggy instead of crisp.
  • Don't overbake or the cod will turn rubbery, so start checking at 15 minutes and trust your eyes.
  • Fresh breadcrumbs make all the difference, so pulse a few slices of bread in a food processor if you have time.
03 -
  • Let the fillets sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking so they cook more evenly.
  • If your crumbs brown too fast, tent the tray loosely with foil and finish baking through.
  • A light drizzle of melted butter over the crumbs just before baking guarantees extra crispness.

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