A simple yet incredibly flavorful Lemon Butter Cod recipe! Made with flakey cod fish, a simple seasoning, bright lemon, and ultra rich butter! It’s pan seared to achieve a light browning and flavor boost, and you can have it ready in just 25 minutes!
Cod is an easy fish to cook and there are several methods to choose from. You can bake cod, grill it, pan fry (sear) or even smoke it. My favorite is pan seared.
Why? The two biggest reasons are flavor and time. Pan searing adds more flavor than other options (think golden brown perfection) and it can cook in under 10 minutes on the stovetop!
This cod recipe is my favorite way to prepare cod! I’ve tried other options but they aren’t ever quite as delicious.
Cod can be pretty mild tasting and it’s a versatile fish that adapts well to various flavors. Here we enhance it by browning in a hot skillet and finishing with an impressive and well balanced sauce.
A classic seafood upgrade used to amplify flavor used here, is a tempting and welcomed trio of ingredients. Basic but bold – it’s lemon, butter and garlic.
And we don’t just use your typical everyday butter. We are making it top notch delicious with a special ingredient – Danish Creamery European Style Butter!
I am obsessed with this butter lately! It makes the best cookies, excellent cakes, the ultimate buttered toast, and it upgrades your favorite savory recipes too.
What’s superior about it? The extra fat and less water content. It is 85% butterfat (which is even higher than most European butters coming in at 82% to 83% butterfat, and traditional butter at only 80% butterfat).
It’s also slow churned in small batches offering a velvety texture, plus it’s preserved in foil so it maintains it’s fabulous flavor and doesn’t absorb any off flavors from the fridge.
It’s extra rich and extra creamy, just the way butter should be. And their recipe hasn’t changed since 1895, why change such a good thing?

Lemon Butter Cod Recipe

Made with flakey cod fish, a simple seasoning, bright lemon, and ultra rich butter! It’s pan seared to achieve a light browning and flavor boost, and you can have it ready in just 25 minutes!
Prep: 15min
Total: 25min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 315 kcal, Carbohydrate 4 g, Protein 31 g, Fat 19 g, Saturated Fat 10 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 111 mg, Sodium 658 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 4 (6 oz each) cod fillets, (skinless, about 1-inch thick)
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3/4 tsp salt, (or to taste)
- 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 5 Tbsp Danish Creamery Butter, (cut into 1 Tbsp pieces, divided)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instruction:
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together flour, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle and spread flour mixture over both sides of the cod fillets (use up all of the mixture).
- Melt 1 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add cod and sear until golden brown and cooked through on each side, about 3 – 4 minutes per side (fish should flake easily with a fork when done). Transfer to serving plates.
- Reduce burner temperature to medium-low. Melt remaining 4 Tbsp butter in same skillet.
- Add garlic and saute just until fragrant and just lightly deepened in color (but not browned), about 15 seconds.
- Remove from heat and carefully pour and stir in chicken broth and lemon juice (careful it will steam!).
- Immediately pour sauce over cod fillets. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
How to Make Butter-Basted Fish Fillets with Garlic and Thyme
FAQ
What is the best way to have cod?
How is cod supposed to be cooked?
What do you soak cod in?
- Southern Coleslaw.
- Baked Zucchini Fries.
- Lemon Butter Sauce For Fish.
- Roasted Okra.
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese.
- Buttered Peas and Carrots.
- Roasted Red Potato Wedges.
- Cajun Fries.
What does cod go well with?
