This pan-fried cod makes a delicious and easy weeknight dinner. If you're looking for a healthy dinner that comes together fast with little effort, you'll love this easy recipe for cod.
If you aren't familiar with cod, it's a mild white fish that's not fishy tasting, making it a great choice for those who don't already love fish. It's flaky, firm, and generally the fish choice for fish and chips.
Pan-searing cod is easy, and with a handful of simple ingredients, you can create a delicious main dish in minutes. The combination of seasonings, butter, and lemon juice enhances the cod's natural taste.
You can serve this easy fish dish as-is, as a main dish, in fish tacos or on top of salads.
I prefer easy cod recipes with a lot of flavor like this pan fried cod, Baked Parmesan Panko Cod or this easy Grilled Cod in Foil. Keeping cod recipes simple and choosing the right seasonings allows the delicious flavors to come through.
Cooking cod in a hot skillet is a great way to get delicious cod without using an oven or grill. It cooks in only a few minutes and you get a buttery piece of fish cooked to perfection.
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Ingredients
- Cod filets - I prefer fresh cod fillets for this recipe. You can use frozen, but you'll need to thaw them before cooking completely and try to squeeze out all the excess water you possibly can.
- Seasonings - Kosher salt, dried basil, garlic powder, dried oregano, and ground pepper perfectly season the cod.
- Cooking oil - I prefer olive oil for cooking, but you can use another oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- Butter - The cooking oil in this recipe is for the frying and the butter will add to the flavor of the fish.
- Lemon juice - You'll need the juice from one lemon to help season this cod and give it the acidity it needs.
- Optional Toppings - fresh herbs for topping, like chopped fresh parsley or dill
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Press firmly to squeeze out any excess water.
Combine the dried spices in a small bowl. Stir till mixed.
Sprinkle the seasoning blend over both sides of the cod fillets and pat it with your hands so it sticks to the fish.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the fish and let it cook for 3-4 minutes to get a nice sear. Flip the fish and add the butter to the pan and pour the lemon juice over the fish.
Let the fish cook for an additional 3 minutes, spooning the melted butter, oil, and lemon juice over the cod while it cooks.
The cod will be done when it easily flakes apart and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
Serve with optional topping of chopped parsley and lemon wedges.
How to Choose the Best Cod
If you're choosing cod in the grocery store or at a fishmonger, look for fish that looks firm and fresh. It shouldn't have any discoloration and shouldn't be dry on the edges.
Cod that smells fishy or sour is likely past its prime - cod will have a light smell, but it should be fresher, like the ocean.
Tips for Making this Recipe
Cooking Tips - Keep a close eye on your fish while it cooks, especially if you have thinner fillets - you don't want them to overcook and dry out. The easiest way to check doneness is with an instant-read thermometer. Fish are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Recommended Tools - If you are using a nonstick skillet to cook the fish, I highly recommend using a silicone spatula to flip the fish. My fish spatula is metal, so I never use it on a nonstick pan as I don't want to scrape it!
What to Serve with Cod
Check out our full post on Sides for White Fish or try one of these favorites!
- Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad - This salad is bursting with flavor from the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil.
- Corn Feta Salad - This sweet corn salad with feta, jalapenos, and fresh herbs is so easy to make and has a ton of flavor.
- Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - This savory versatile sauce pairs well with cod and you can also use it with your roasted vegetables.
- Dill Sauce for Seafood - This slightly sour, full flavor sauce is delicious with cod (and most seafood recipes). It's tangy, citrusy and so tasty.
Storage
The cooked cod will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
More Great Fish Recipes
Try any of our favorite pescetarian or seafood recipes, or try one of these delicious meals!
If you try this simple pan fried cod recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos, or leave us a rating.
Pan Fried Cod
This wonderful pan-fried cod recipe is an easy dinner. You'll cook the cod in oil, butter, lemon juice, and an aromatic spice blend for the perfect succulent fish!
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod fillets
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- optional toppings - chopped fresh dill or parsley, lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Press firmly to squeeze out any excess water.
- Combine the kosher salt, dried basil, garlic powder, dried oregano, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir till mixed.
- Sprinkle the seasoning blend over both sides of the cod fillets and pat it with your hands so it sticks to the fish.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the fish and let it cook for 4 minutes. Flip the fish, add the butter to the pan, and pour the lemon juice over it.
- Let the fish cook for an additional 3 minutes, spooning the melted butter, oil, and lemon juice over the cod while it cooks.
- The cod will be done when it easily flakes apart and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Serve with optional topping of fresh herbs and lemon wedges.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 427Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 544mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 53g
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