Most tender, flakiest, and flavorful cod you will ever make! This tomato and herb butter compliments the mild tasting cod in the most delicious way ever. It will be the only baked cod with tomato recipe you will crave time after time.
Serve this baked cod over Cauliflower Mash with Ricotta and Roasted Garlic with a side of Roasted Garlic Green Beans for a complete meal.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.Baked Cod
Okay friends. So this recipe has been a long time in the making. Three months is a long time for me and don’t ask why it took so long to share.
But I came across a tomato and herb butter recipe beginning of the summer in the Cooking Light magazine and let me tell you, it was everything, plus more!
You guys know that I try to limit butter and processed foods on this blog but believe me when I say a little goes a long way here.
I can’t get over how flavorful the herb butter is, especially when paired with a mild and lean fish like cod.
BEST COD RECIPE
So I changed the recipe up a bit and put my own little spin and it’s seriously the best cod recipe out there.
It’s basically garlic, shallots, tomatoes, spices and broth simmered until tomatoes burst and release their juices. Then you stir in the butter and fresh herbs and OMG!
The result is velvety, thick, slightly spicy and sweet butter that you will want to eat by a spoonful. It truly is.
This melted butter sauce over baked cod is one delicious baked cod with butter dinner. Plus all those juices on the bottom of the pan…(my heart) ♥
To bake the fresh cod. All you need to do is pre-heat the oven to 400 F degrees. Toss the cod fillets with little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or so, depending on the thickness or until easily flakes with a fork.
You can serve it with rice, quinoa, or my favorite…crusty bread to soak in all the juices. I mean does it get better than that!?
I’m really hoping you give this baked cod with butter a try and even if you’re not a fish lover, I think it will change your mind.
MORE BAKED COD RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Cod in Creamy Roasted Pepper Sauce
- Baked Fish and Vegetables in Foil Packets
- Blackened Salmon Lettuce Wraps – you can easily sub cod for this recipe
- Bruschetta Baked Cod with Panko
Cod with Tomato and Herb Butter
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 4–6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Most tender, flakiest, and flavorful cod you will ever make! This tomato and herb butter compliments the mild tasting cod in the most delicious way ever. It will be the only baked cod with butter you will crave time after time.
Ingredients
Tomato and Herb Butter
- 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, sliced
- 3 Tbsp. fresh chopped herbs (basil, parsley, chives, cilantro), plus extra for garnish
Cod
- 2 – 2 1/4 pounds fresh cod fillets, cut into 6–8 oz. portions*
- 1 lemon
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
Tomato and Herb Butter
- In a small saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté shallot and garlic for 4-5 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally.
- Add tomatoes, chicken stock, sea salt, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 15-17 minutes or until tomatoes break down and release their juices and liquid has almost evaporated.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter and fresh herbs. The herb butter should be velvety and thick. Cover and keep warm while the cod is baking.
Cod
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Drizzle the bottom of a casserole dish lightly with olive oil. You want a dish big enough to fit the cod in a single layer with some room around or you will get too much juice during baking.
- Pat dry the cod really well and place in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper to taste but be generous. Drizzle the top lightly with olive oil and squeeze of fresh lemon. I used about 1/2 lemon. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 12-18 minutes or until easily flaked. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the cod.
- Remove from the oven and evenly spread the tomato butter over the cod. Cover back with aluminum foil and let stand at room temperature for 1-2 minutes before serving. You just want all the flavors to come together.
- Garnish with fresh chopped herbs, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
*I used about 2 1/4 pounds of cod that I was able to cut into six (6-8 oz.) individual portions
**This cod serves really well with cooked rice, quinoa, or crusty bread to soak up all the juices.
Keywords: seafood, family friendly, summer, easy
Laura Oakes says
Omg this recipe! Y’all, you NEED to try this!! I substituted my vegan butter and wow! It is delicious and the flavor levels – amazing! I felt like I was eating a recipe from Italy. Also for the herbs I just used parsley and basil and it was perfect! Please try this if you want to try a decadent recipe with an amazing flavor profile!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Laura for such a wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the cod.
AJ says
Made this exactly according to the recipe.
Sauce was fantastic— I could drink it.
My new favorite fish recipe!
★★★★★
Susan Hartnett says
Made this tonight with roasted cauliflower & it was wonderful & so easy! The only thing I added was a small amount of capers, only because the almost empty jar caught my eye when I was looking in the fridge. And, I put the fish into the sauté pan with the sauce (heat off) to hold for the final two minute rest instead of pouring the sauce over the fish while in the baking dish. Sheer perfection.
Nikki says
This was delicious! I added spinach to the sauce, added a bit of cornstarch slurry and heavy cream at the end. I served the cod on the spinach and then added the sauce. It was heavenly! AND easy!
Lindsay says
So good!! I must say, this is one of my new favorite meals, and my picky fiancé loved it. You have to try it, there’s no way to describe how good it is. I’ve been branching out cooking cod in different ways other than the basic New England style cracker crumb topping. So happy I found this
★★★★★
Katya says
So happy to hear that! Thank you for the feedback Lindsay!
Andrea says
Do I have to use sugar?
Katya says
Sugar cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes. You can substitute sugar with another sweetener if you like.
Sam says
This was delicious!!! I served this as a fish pasta for a good friday lunch this past easter and it was a huge hit!!
I’ve even made the herb butter as just a pasta base its that good. With some fresh crusty bread on the side, delish!
★★★★★
Debbie Peterson says
I have made this recipe three times in the last month and I am not one to frequently repeat recipes. It is wonderful and always makes my husband very happy besides being very easy to prepare. This one is a true winner.
Katya says
Thank you Debbie! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
J.S says
Would frozen cod be okay?
Katya says
Yes but you would need to thaw out the cod and pat dry before baking.
Danielle says
Can you make the sauce hours ahead then just reheat when the fish is cooking?
Katya says
It’s best served immediately just because fish, especially white fish can get tough when reheated.
Daniell says
Not make the fish ahead, just the sauce? Is the sauce ok to reheat
Katya says
You can make the sauce in advance but when reheating, I would heat over low heat to avoid the sauce becoming really oily.
Elaine Tsai says
This was soooo good. I made it exactly as written. Smooth, sauce that compliments the fish perfectly.
Thank you so much!!!
★★★★★
Katya says
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you.
Sue says
This recipe rocked the house on Good Friday. My husband loved it and I must agree, it was so flavorful. Thank you for this recipe. We will make it on a continuous basis. Yummy!
Katya says
Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear that.
S. Yates says
My husband and I haven’t been connecting lately. When I made this recipe he started to tear up, kissed me with a renewed passion and told me how much he loves me and my cooking. Will make again soon.
★★★★★
Katya says
I’m so happy to hear that!
Kelly says
AMAZING!! Wow the best fish recipe ever. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Katya says
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for the feedback Kelly.
Marya says
So delicious! Served it with roasted potatoes, a hit with the whole family, Going to try the sauce on roasted asparagus next time!
★★★★★
Katya says
Yum! That sounds good. So happy you enjoyed it.
Dawn Sonju says
This was incredible! So flavorful and easy. My family loved it!
★★★★★
Katya says
So happy to hear that Dawn! Thanks for the feedback.
Rose says
I plan to make this on Christmas Eve as part of the “seven fishes” tradition of my family. It would be great if I can make it the day before & heat it up the next day. Can I do that?
Katya says
You could but cod is best when served immediately. A lot of times when you reheat it, it can dry out a bit.
Glynis says
I cant find red pepper flakes. Can I use chilli flakes
Katya says
Yes you can.
Julie Reynolds says
This recipe is perfect! Simple to make and so delicious! I added a chopped yellow pepper to the onions & garlic (I didn’t have a shallot). I also put a pinch of ground fennel with the onions/garlic/pepper as it works really with fish. Thank you Katya, for providing such a superb recipe 🙂 We thoroughly enjoyed it, and ate it with roasted sweet potatoes. I will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Katya says
That’s so great! Thank you Julie.
Jonathan says
… forgot to mention we like it with gnocchi
★★★★★
Jonathan says
I’ve made this almost a dozen times, and I just had to leave a review because it is so simple, but so good. Thyme, basil and parsley FRESH herbs are my fave, but as the recipe states, almost any fresh herbs will work. I cook the fish on the grill in a cast iron pan with a little butter and lemon. I do add a splash or two of white wine to deglaze the pan after sautéing shallots/garlic. My wife and I are foodies, and this fairly simple recipe is one we keep coming back to. Thank you Katya!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you for feedback! Glad you are enjoying the recipe.
Heather says
Not a fish fan, can you use chicken instead?!
Katya says
I think it could be a topping for chicken but I would recommend you bake the chicken using your own method and then add the tomato mixture on top.
KK says
Excellent! I followed the recipe exactly and will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Trish says
Soooo good!! I’ve made this twice and loved it both times. Followed the recipe, it’s perfect.
Thank you.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you! So glad to hear that.
Melissa Aymond says
Delicious! The bright flavors of the sauce pair perfectly with this mild fish. This will become a regular in our household. My entire family loved it. Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Sarah says
Fantastic, super bright flavours! Will make again.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Alice says
Best recipe ever!
Alice says
Just wanted to add that I made this with orzo which I added olive oil & capers too & then asparagus tips – delish
Katya says
Gosh that sounds delicious!
Katya says
Thanks so much!
Sedalia says
This recipe was amazing, my son who is home from college due to covid-19 went back for seconds until it was all gone. I cant wait until covid-19 is over so I can prepare this for guest. Amazing!!!
★★★★★
Katya says
So happy to hear that! Thank you Sedalia.
Christy says
This recipe is amazing, my fiancé LOVES it! He wanted me to cook this when his friends came over.
★★★★★
Katya says
That’s so great! Thank you Christy.
Leah says
So so so good! This is going into my recipe file. There isn’t a thing I would change in the recipe 😊
Katya says
Thank you Leah!
charlyne friedman says
Big Hit. so easy and delicious. I w ill definitely do it again . I might add a little anchovy paste with the shallots and garlic to give it a bit more depth, but then I add anchovy paste to many things.
★★★★★
Katya says
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for feedback.
Lynn C says
I made this recipe tonight for supper. It was delicious. I used frozen pollock as that is all I had on hand. It is something to redo. Thank you.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Elerin Duggan says
Can I use a whole cod?
Katya says
You definitely can. You might just have to adjust the bake time.
Melissa Huber says
AWESOME! boiled sauce about 10 min then added a little cornstarch slurry to thicken it. Perfect!
★★★★★
Jan says
Excellent! We loved it and had all the ingredients on hand. It took forever for the stock to boil off. I was thinking to half the quantity next time, but maybe the tomatoes were just extra juicy?
★★★★★
Katya says
It could also depend on the size of the pan used. The more smaller the pan the longer it will take to cook-off. But glad you enjoyed the recipe. thanks for the feedback.
Amanda says
This is my go-to fish recipe!
I serve it with a side of Steamed Green Beans and Garlic Butter Couscous.
The butter sauce from the fish soaks perfectly into the Couscous😍
Katya says
It sounds delicious with couscous! Thank you for sharing and leaving feedback.
olga says
The butter sauce is so good over the side of rice. I love fish and this is a wonderful recipe for it. Thanks!
★★★★★
Anne says
I made this for a dinner party and it was amazing. I don’t usually experiment with guests but your recipe had so many nice reviews. I made it with orzo. I can’t wait to make it again. It really is a keeper. Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Katya says
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for feedback Anne.
Joan says
Wow! This was great. The sauce is superb. I used only about half the butter and it was still creamy velvety delicious. We can’t wait to have it again! Served it with brown rice and steamed green beans.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Joan!
jessica says
Can I use tilapia instead of cod? Thanks
Katya says
You definitely can. Just adjust the cooking time for tilapia.
Stephanie Jackson says
This is one of our favorite Cod Recipes. Perfect every time and that tomato herb butter sauce is amazing!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Ani says
I’ve made this recipe many times now. Once I even used it as pasta sauce and the combination was great! . It is delicious! For herbs, I only use fresh basil from my kitchen plants.
★★★★★
Winnie says
I thought I lost this recipe but I found it again! Hands down the tastiest, easiest, sauce to make. It is delicious. My husband couldn’t get enough of it, seriously, he barely left any for us. Haha
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Winnie! So appreciate your feedback and happy to hear that you loved this cod recipe.
Phyllis C says
Love this recipe! Scaled down the butter just a tad, subbed in wine for the broth, left out the sugar and forgot the lemon (which I really wanted), and the recipe still rocked! Best thing about this is how quick and healthy it is, yet elegant enough to serve to guests or on special occasions. Thanks, this one is going in my “favorites.”
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Phyllis! So happy the recipe was a success for you!
Mariann says
I would like to make this recipe just for 2 servings. How can I adjust the measurements of the rest ingredients to reflect 2 servings vs. 6?
Katya says
You can cut the cod recipe in half but make the entire recipe for the tomato herb butter and refrigerate the leftovers. It’ll last in the refrigerator up to a week and is good with pasta, chicken, and other mild tasting fish.
Sharon says
Awesomeness! So easy and so good. Made as is. My only thing was my tomatoes had not yet broken down and all my liquid was gone. So I added more broth and covered my pan for a few minutes and they softened up right away. I only used fresh basil.
★★★★★
Rj says
Tonight I am making this recipe for the second time. It feels light but luxurious. Our whole family loves the fresh flavors and it’s a beautiful dish. This is my current favorite fish dish- and I love all fish.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you! So happy to hear you’re enjoying this cod recipe.
Mary Raven says
Hi this recipe looks good. Can I use haddock instead?
Katya says
Definitely! I would just adjust the baking time as needed.
Eric says
Incredible recipe…thanks for sharing! Was looking for a different recipe for cod and this simply hit the mark. Despite the robust ingredients including fresh herbs from our garden, you still enjoy the fish, but get a ton of flavor too. Next time might sub in some white wine, reducing the butter just to experiment.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks Eric! So happy to hear you all loved it.
Shilajit Resin says
this was really great to know. i will surely try this out.
LaShawn says
The best fish dish ever!!! I didn’t use cod but I got amazing comments on the fish!!! This will be a regular staple in our home thank you!!!
★★★★★
Diane says
Wow, this was fantastic! I got rave reviews and requests to make it again, which I will soon. I followed the recipe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing. I had nice thick fresh cod and baked it about 18-20 minutes. I made it with jasmine rice. This dish looks fancy but really is easy….thanks so much for the recipe!
★★★★★
Katya says
I love that Diane! So glad to hear you loved this cod recipe. Thank you for feedback.
Megan says
Delicious and quick. I was looking for a recipe to use some cod and cherry tomatoes i had and this was fantastic. The fish was done perfectly and i used flat leaf parsley and tarragon from my garden for the herbs. Thank you for this recipe!
Katya says
Thank you!
Meredith says
This recipe sounds delicious. I like to use wine when cooking. Do u think I could sub white wine for the cooking stock?
Katya says
Totally! White wine will work too.
Anne says
It’s delicious hot, but I had some leftover cous cous, so the next day I combined the cod, tomato sauce (brought to room temp), and some asparagus. It was wonderful. Squeezed a little more lemon over the top
Stephanie says
Would this work with frozen portioned cod?
Katya says
Yes but you want to thaw out the cod ALL the way and pat dry really with few sheets of paper towel before baking.
LD says
Soooo delicious with any delicate white fish. I did not use sugar & made extra sauce.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you!
Kristy says
Delicious! The fresh herbs, tomato and butter make a wonderful sauce. I like that the sauce is cooked separately. I think I will try it with shrimp!
★★★★★
Amy McCord says
One word…EXQUISITE!
★★★★★
Susan says
This recipe is wonderful, both my husband and I love it. I must admit that I made the full sauce recipe for a little more than a pound of fish. We used it to spoon over rice or fine pasta as a side dish. Only used one generous glove of garlic and fresh basil from the garden. Delish! Looking forward to sharing with family and friends.
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Susan! Extra sauce sounds perfect. I appreciate your feedback.
Brenda Luckett says
Amazing! I’ve had cod before and it was not that great. This recipe with fresh fish was the best baked fish I’ve ever had!! I will be making it often!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you ! So happy to hear you loved it.
Rachael says
Do you have any recommendations for using frozen cod for this? Should I just thaw it in the fridge and proceed with the recipe? This sounds absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try it!
Katya says
I would definitely thaw it out first and pat dry with few paper towels. Frozen cod tends to store more moisture vs. fresh. And you should be okay.
Jennifer says
My husband and I loved it!!! It was absolutely delicious and I’ll definitely make it again. Highly recommend
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Jennifer! Appreciate your feedback.
Heather says
My husband found this recipe and asked me to make it. It was amazing! He “mmm’ed” with nearly every bite and told the kids “you don’t know how lucky you are!” I had fresh garden tomatoes so wedged them forthe sauce. They melded in perfectly. Thank you!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thank you Heather! So glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Malh says
This was delicious, restaurant quality. I only used fresh basil and parsley for the herbs. Instead of pouring the sauce over, I transferred the fish into the sauce pan. I will make this again! Thank you for sharing
★★★★★