Add the best Baked Cod to your must-try-dinners list! This homemade fish dinner is flaky, perfectly seasoned, and a really good option that the entire family will enjoy. Not only is this a simple recipe that anyone can master, but it’s also incredibly versatile, perfect for a quick weeknight meal or impressing guests at a dinner party.
I present you with the best Baked Cod recipe. It makes a bold claim, but I firmly believe this fish dinner will live up to the hype because my picky eaters love it! This recipe has earned rave reviews, proving it’s the best way to pack much flavor into your main course. Our readers can’t get enough of it, making it a standout choice for anyone looking to impress at the dinner table. It is a great cod recipe that is deliciously flaky and well-seasoned with sweet paprika and several other spices. I top it with feta cheese and tomatoes, which adds a whole new level of flavor, resulting in a healthy meal that’s also tasty and delicious.
Why We Love This Baked Cod Recipe
- Filling. A cod fillet is just as meaty as salmon or baked tilapia and holds up well in a variety of recipes.
- Juicy and Saucy. The delicious sauce with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese makes one unbelievably flavorful and nutritious dinner.
- Quick. Baked cod is so quick to make; it only needs about 15 minutes of cooking time. The rest of the recipe is dedicated to the tasty tomatoes and feta—perfect easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gather these simple ingredients for our baked cod recipe, which combines the freshness of cherry tomatoes and herbs with the richness of olive oil, white wine, and feta cheese. This dish is as delicious to eat as it is easy to prepare, perfect for serving up a satisfying meal for the whole family.
- Olive Oil: Other cooking oils like canola oil or avocado oil will work, too.
- Onion: I used 1 small yellow onion, diced. Shallots can offer an equally delicious flavor.
- Garlic Cloves: Use freshly minced garlic, but you can also use about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Cut the cherry tomatoes in half before starting. Diced regular tomatoes can work if cherry tomatoes aren’t available.
- White Wine: I recommend using a dry white wine like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Chicken or vegetable broth can be a non-alcoholic option, with a splash of lemon for acidity.
- Seasoning: I suggest seasoning the fish with dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sweet paprika.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Also for cooking the vegetables in. It introduces a tangy brightness, balancing the dish’s richness.
- Cod Loins: I used four cod fillets. Other white fish like haddock or halibut can be used as alternatives.
- Cheese: Grab some crumbled feta cheese to sprinkle over the top of the cod.
- Fresh Herbs for Garnish: I normally use chopped fresh basil or fresh parsley for serving.
How to Bake Cod
Preparing this flaky fish will only take about 30 minutes, making it an easy dinner for those busy weeknights. Follow these easy steps to enjoy one of the best cod recipes ever.
- Preheat Oven to 400˚F: Set a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and heat it up. Add the olive oil and swirl it around.
- Cook the Onion: Add the chopped onions to the skillet and cook until soft. Stir in garlic.
- Cook the Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes and season with oregano, salt, and black pepper; continue to cook for a minute. Stir in the white wine and vinegar; bring to a simmer and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Bake the Cod: Pat dry the fish with paper towels and then season them with the remaining oregano, salt, and pepper, plus paprika. Remove the skillet from the heat. Nestle the cod fillets in the tomato mixture and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the feta cheese over the fish and continue to bake until cooked through and the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Bake Until Flaky: If you take a fork to the edges and pieces flake off, the cod is done! For best results, use a meat thermometer to help you get a more accurate read. Cod is cooked through when its internal temperature registers at 145˚F.
- Oven-Safe Skillet: For this recipe, using an oven-safe skillet allows you to seamlessly transition from stovetop to oven. If you don’t have one, simply transfer the sautéed mixture and fish into a baking dish before placing it in the oven.
- Cheese: If feta cheese isn’t your thing or you don’t have it on hand, feel free to top your dish with grated Parmesan cheese instead.
- Add Lemon Juice: Squeezing some lemon juice or adding a sprinkle of lemon zest over your fish enhances the flavor even more – you could slice up some lemon wedges to serve on your plates so that people can do it individually.
- Remove the Skin: I prefer to make this recipe with no skin on the cod – it’s easier to season and serve this way.
- Use Frozen Cod: If fresh cod isn’t available, you can use frozen fillets. If you can’t get cod, use any other white fish fillets, like tilapia or haddock, to make this recipe.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve almost anything with this cod dinner, but I like to make something like this Brown Rice Pilaf and Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce to go alongside it. These Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables are also great! You can keep it simple with this Mediterranean rice recipe or pair it with a light Mediterranean Cobb Salad.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days or freeze for 1 month. Reheat it in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes or until warm.
Delicious Seafood Dinners
- San Francisco Cioppino
- Grilled Salmon Kabobs with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Roasted Mahi Mahi with Veggies
- Garlic Butter Scallops
- Maryland-Style Crab Cakes
- Honey Garlic Sauce Salmon
Baked Cod
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, divided
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- 4 cod fillets
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
- Set a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and heat it up. When the skillet is hot, add olive oil and swirl it around the skillet.
- Add the diced onions to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes or until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds.
- Add tomatoes and season with ½ teaspoon oregano, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper; continue to cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the white wine and vinegar; bring to a simmer and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
- Season the fish with remaining oregano, remaining salt and pepper, plus paprika. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Nestle the fish in the tomato mixture and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle the feta cheese over the fish and continue to bake for 5 to 8 more minutes, or until cooked through and the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
- Remove from oven.
- Garnish with basil or parsley and serve.
Notes
- Cod Fillets: Cod is a white, mild-flavored fish, and it can be baked, broiled, grilled, fried, or poached. Feel free to use other white fish fillets, like tilapia or haddock, to make this recipe.
- Season Well: Cod has a delicate flavor, so don’t be afraid to season it well. Salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and a drizzle of lemon juice are basic starts. Feel free to experiment with other herbs and spices.
- Don’t Overcook: Overcooked cod can become dry and lose its delicate texture. The fish is ready when it easily flakes with a fork, and the internal temperature registers at 145˚F on a meat thermometer.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
This cod is on a whole other level! I loved every bite, and it was so easy to make!
That’s fantastic to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed every bite and found it easy to make. It sounds like the cod was a real hit! Thank YOU! 🙂
I have mobility issues. My husband is the cook. He loves your recipes and has made them all
It’s wonderful to hear that your husband enjoys the recipes and has made them all! I’m glad they’ve been a source of enjoyment and delicious meals for both of you. Thank YOU!! 🙂
Such an incredible meal! I’d love to make this again!
Thank YOU! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sounds Great,. I am in Sri Lanka and will get back to UK in April. I am definitely going to try this interesting recipe.
That sounds like a wonderful plan! Enjoy your time in Sri Lanka, and I hope you have a fantastic experience trying out the recipe once you’re back in the UK. Thank YOU! 🙂
I have to say, your recipe lives up to its name as The Best Baked Cod I’ve ever made! The fish was so flaky and moist, and the seasoning was spot on.
I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the baked cod so much and found it to be the best you’ve ever made! Thank YOU! 🙂
This was a fast and easy dinner last night! It was perfectly cooked and flavorful!
I’m so glad to hear that your dinner was not only quick and easy but also perfectly cooked and full of flavor! It’s always great when a meal comes together so well. Thank YOU! 🙂
Light and refreshing flavor – this was excellent!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I love the zippy flavor of this cod. The lemon and tomatoes work so well with the spices.
I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the zippy flavor of the cod! It’s great that the lemon, tomatoes, and spices complemented each other so well in the dish. Thank YOU! 🙂
I’ve been craving some fish lately – this was exactly what I was looking for! So flaky and the flavor was amazing.
I’m glad to hear the recipe satisfied your fish craving perfectly! It’s wonderful that you found it flaky and the flavor amazing. Thank YOU! 🙂
Thos was amazing! I did add some spinach but everything else was by the recipe. We will definitely make this again!!
So glad to hear it was amazing! Adding spinach sounds like a tasty twist. Excited that you’ll be making this again! Thank YOU! 🙂
So tasty! Tangy with the lemon and acidic with the tomatoes, and I added dill instead of oregano and it was a bit of a softer taste- could have upped the seasonings. Used goat cheese instead of feta and it was extra creamy when mixed together! Added spinach for some greens and it went super well with the flavours. Can’t wait to make again! I used pretty thin fillets and it still took about 14-16 mins to cook in the oven
Very tasty and easy to prepare. With the Feta cheese, it becomes a bit too salty so next time I will cut down on the salt.
Do I need to defrost the cod before cooking? What is the best way to defrost?
The recipe looks great and I have frozen cod fillets in freezer.
Thank you
While you can use frozen cod, I would suggest to defrost just so you don’t end up with a watery sauce. Best and fastest way to defrost fish is to keep it in a sealed bag and put it in cold water.
Can I use something instead of feta. Not my favorite
Any crumbled, soft cheese will work. You can use goat cheese, cotija, bleu cheese, etc… Or you can just leave out the cheese. 😊
Thank you for the healthy recipes!!! I love them.
I’m very glad you enjoy them! Thank YOU! 🙂