Lemon Pepper Baked Cod (Printable Version)

Flaky cod baked with bright lemon and aromatic pepper for a quick, healthy dinner.

# Ingredient List:

01 - 4 (6-ounce) cod fillets, skinless and boneless

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

03 - 1 large lemon, zested and juiced

04 - 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

05 - 1 teaspoon sea salt

06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

07 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)

08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

09 - 4 lemon wedges

01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil.

02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and paprika (if using).

04 - Brush the mixture evenly over both sides of the cod fillets.

05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

06 - Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.

01 -

The lemon and pepper create such bright flavors that nobody believes it took 25 minutes start to finish
It's the kind of healthy dinner that actually feels like a treat instead of a compromise

02 -

Overcooking cod is the biggest mistake and turns delicate fish into something dry and disappointing
The fish continues cooking slightly after leaving the oven so pull it when it's just barely opaque throughout

03 -

Room temperature fish cooks more evenly so take it out of the fridge 15 minutes before starting
A meat thermometer is your friend and 145°F is exactly where you want to be for perfectly cooked cod