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These best cod recipes will please everyone around the table! Here are easy and healthy ways to make this fish taste exciting.
We admit, “We’re having cod for dinner!” doesn’t have the sexiest ring to it. But here’s the thing. Cod has a mild, pure flavor that’s not fishy at all: it’s even milder than salmon! Because of its approachable flavor, cod is a great starter fish for people who don’t think they like fish. Bake it coated in spices for Fish Tacos, or fry it and top it with crunchy coleslaw as a Fish Sandwich.
Here are all the best healthy cod recipes to make this versatile fish please everyone around the table! Along with recipes from this website, we’ve got recipes from experts Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes, Imma Adamu of Immaculate Bites, Gina Homolka of Skinnytaste, and Jessica Merchant of How Sweet Eats.
And now…cod recipes everyone will love!
Here’s a healthy cod recipe that’s full of surprises: pan fried cod! Cod is a beautifully mild and buttery-flavored fish and this preparation couldn’t be easier or more stunning. Coat it in paprika and a few other spices, then pan fry it until tender and juicy. It takes under 10 minutes to get restaurant-quality flavor! Serve it with the pan juices drizzled over the top and well…you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one.
Looking for a home-run weeknight dinner? Try this incredible Baked Cod! We’ll admit, cod wasn’t always a fish on our radar. But this fish is truly special. It’s mild, tender, and buttery in flavor. The best part? It’s swimming in a zesty lemon garlic sauce that makes you want another bite before you’ve finished chewing.
Meet these quick Cod Fish Tacos! Crust the cod in spices and throw it in the oven. Then whip up a creamy taco sauce while the fish bakes. Add crunchy vegetable garnishes and it’s a meal! This one is bursting with flavor.
Here’s the a cod recipe you didn’t know you needed: Perfect Grilled Cod! This fish is bursting with flavor and one of our favorite things to come off of the grill this season. Perhaps grilled cod doesn’t sound like something to wax poetic about. But cover it in homemade blackened seasoning and it’s got massive savory and smoky notes, with a hint of underlying intrigue from cloves and allspice.
Here's a fun spin on fish tacos...fish taco bowls! These tasty bowls are a burst of flavor, with tender baked fish and sweet and spicy mango pico de gallo. Top it all off with a chipotle crema drizzle, and you won't be able to stop taking bites.
Crispy, beer battered fish meets crunchy, creamy kale coleslaw in this incredible cod recipe! There's nothing more satisfying than perfectly beer-battered fried fish. Top with with a super creamy, tangy coleslaw and it makes the cod absolutely irresistible. via How Sweet Eats
This cod recipe pairs spicy Cajun seasonings with juicy blood oranges, lots of cabbage slaw, and tons of lime. An easy healthy dinner idea, it comes together in just 30 minutes: perfect for weeknights or impressing dinner guests. Via How Sweet Eats
A classic way to cook cod? Crust it with breadcrumbs! This cod recipe features a crunchy panko coating with bright lemon zest. It's a perfect healthy meal idea for weeknights. via Grandbaby Cakes
This Moqueca (Brazilian Fish Stew) is savory and comforting with cod, creamy coconut, tomatoes, lime and spiced peri peri seasoning. The stew, called Moqueca Baiana, originates from the Bahia state of Brazil, the heart of the African descended population in Brazil. Recipe by Global Kitchen Travels via Grandbaby Cakes
Cod is one of the traditional white fish used in a classic comfort food recipe: Fish Sticks! These homemade baked fish sticks come out with a crunchy and flavorful coating that wraps the tender fish. via Grandbaby Cakes
Another classic way to cook cod? Beer battered! Dust and dip the fish in a well-seasoned flour and beer batter, then fry it until golden perfection. It's light and crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside! via Immaculate Bites
Another classic fried cod recipe? Fish and chips! Try this tender cod fillet, encased in a light and mellow beer batter served with crisp homemade fries. via Immaculate Bites
This easy cod recipe requires just 7 ingredients and comes together in 25 minutes! Cajun spices, tomatoes, onions and peppers give any white fish pizazz and a little kick, and cod is the perfect option here. via Skinny Taste
Last up: a fusion fish taco! Try these Greek Tzatziki Fish Tacos, tacos with a Mediterranean flair. These crisp breaded fish filletsare topped with tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers and fresh herbs. via Skinny Taste
Last up: a way to make cod taste creamy and dreamy: Fish Florentine! This healthy spin on on the chicken version might taste even better. Serve pan seared cod on a creamy bed of spinach: it tastes restaurant style in just 20 minutes. via Skinny Taste
There’s something about cod baked in an herbed cream sauce that feels like a meal you would order at a restaurant. It's just as easy to make at home! Try this simple recipe for an irresistibly delicious crowd pleaser. via Modern Proper
Got an air fryer? Make this easy cod recipe seasoned with olive oil, onion powder and parsley. Seafood lovers will adore this way to cook cod and it's ready to serve in just a few minutes! via Recipes from a Pantry
Bake up a tender fillet of cod and add tapenade for the best zippy, briny flavor! The buttery, flakey, mild but hearty fish is the perfect canvas for this olive-based sauce. Say goodbye to boring and plain fish recipes and hello to your new, simple oven baked cod recipe. via The Modern Proper
Puttanesca sauce is not just for pasta! This briny, savory, easy white fish puttanesca recipe is so gorgeous and delicious, you’d never guess that it only takes about 30 minutes to make. It works with any white fish, but cod is one of the best. via The Modern Proper
Last up in our cod recipes: this rice bowl with macadamia nut crusted cod! There's nothing like a good rice bowl, and this one has a few flavor secrets. Once you make this coconut macadamia nut crusted fish, you’ll be hooked! via The Modern Proper
More of the best healthy fish recipes
Love eating seafood? Us too. Here are a few more resources for healthy and easy fish recipes:
- Try 30 Easy Seafood Recipes
- Opt for 25 Easy Fish Recipes or 10 Grilled Fish Recipes to Try This Season
- Go for 30 Shrimp Recipes Perfect for Dinner or 15 Healthy Shrimp Recipes
- Mix up 17 Tuna Recipes for Easy Meals or 15 Easy Salmon Recipes
- Try 12 Easy Scallop Recipes
Easy Pan Fried Cod (& More Recipes!)
This pan fried cod is the best white fish you’ll have! Flavored simply with spices and olive oil, it’s healthy, stunning and irresistible all at once.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Seafood
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds cod (4 fillets)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (also called pimentón)*
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil, for dairy-free)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Finely chopped Italian parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, and kosher salt. Pat the cod dry and sprinkle all sides with the seasoning.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the butter and olive oil. When butter is melted, add the cod and cook for 2 minutes.
- Flip the cod and pour the lemon juice over the fish. Cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the cod is tender and starts to flake when you prick it with a fork (adjust based on the thickness of the fillets). Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately, drizzled with the sauce.
Notes
*If you can’t find it, you can use sweet paprika. But smoked paprika brings the best flavor with a hint of smokiness.
Made this tonight and we both raved at how good it was!!!
Amazing super fast dinner. Paired with blanched asparagus and carrots. A win for my picky 18 year old. “Next time you make that, can you make more”….
Hi, I tried the cod fish recipe tonight and I am so glad I did. I was perfect in every way. It was a very fast prep, cooked in 10 minutes and one pan. We had mash potatoes and I did fry an onion in the pan after I took the fish out. I would tell anyone to try this, it was delicious!
So glad you enjoyed!
hi Sonja & Alex
I’ve always liked to experiment with fish recipes.
But I find that most of the recipes for cod are lemon. Why is that?
They complement each other. Cod doesn’t have a strong, bright, fresh flavor but lemon does. Lemon is both a light and bright without overpowering the qualities of the fish.
Another herb, spice, or vegetable (dill, cayenne, tomato, etc.) might go well with it, but overpower it as the main ingredient.
Lemon also has a way of removing unpleasant odors (use to wash hands after touching garlic or onions) so it maybe also makes fish taste less “fishy”.
Let us know if you have any questions!