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A freshly cooked Lemon Garlic Butter Cod with beautifully crispy skin, garnished with herbs.

Lemon Garlic Butter Cod with Crispy Skin

This recipe delivers perfectly cooked cod with incredibly crispy skin and a bright, flavorful lemon garlic butter sauce. Choose between pan-seared or oven-finished methods for a delicious and quick meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 skin-on cod fillets
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 whole lemon zest and juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Paper towels
  • Small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
  • Large oven-safe non-stick skillet
  • Spatula

Method
 

Preparation (for both methods):
  1. Pat the cod fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels, especially the skin side, and season generously with salt and black pepper.
  2. Melt butter, add minced garlic, and cook gently for 1-2 minutes until fragrant; stir in lemon zest and half of the lemon juice.
Method 1: Pan-Seared Perfection
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large oven-safe non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  2. Place cod fillets skin-side down in the hot pan, pressing gently for 30 seconds to ensure full contact.
  3. Cook undisturbed for 4-6 minutes until the skin is deeply golden brown and very crispy.
  4. Flip the fillets, pour the lemon garlic butter sauce over the fish, and cook for another 2-4 minutes, spooning sauce over occasionally, until opaque and easily flaked.
Method 2: Oven-Finished Crisp
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large oven-safe non-stick skillet, and sear cod fillets skin-side down for 3-4 minutes until the skin is golden.
  2. Pour the lemon garlic butter sauce over the fillets in the skillet and transfer the skillet directly to the preheated oven.
  3. Bake for 6-10 minutes, or until the cod is cooked through and flakes easily, adjusting time based on fillet thickness.
Finishing (for both methods):
  1. Remove the cod from the pan, squeeze the remaining lemon juice over the fish, and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

Ensure your cod fillets are very dry for the crispiest skin. Do not overcrowd the pan if cooking more than two fillets; cook in batches if necessary.