Description
This Lemon Garlic Butter Cod with Crispy Skin is a restaurant-worthy dish made in under 20 minutes. It’s a perfect option for a quick dinner, a healthy lunch, or even a light weekend meal prep idea. With golden, crispy skin and a buttery, garlicky lemon sauce, this dish delivers fresh flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture with every bite. Whether you’re looking for new easy dinner ideas, a high-protein food idea, or a vibrant addition to your healthy weeknight recipe rotation, this one checks all the boxes. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and low-carb. Simple, fast, and so satisfying!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 skin-on cod fillets (about 6 oz each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon slices (for serving)
Instructions
- Pat cod fillets completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place cod fillets in the skillet, skin-side down. Press gently with a spatula and sear for 4–5 minutes without moving.
- Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Remove from pan.
- Lower the heat and add butter to the same pan. Once melted, add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute.
- Stir in lemon juice and a few lemon slices, cooking for another 30 seconds.
- Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the cod fillets.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.