Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous
Delicate cod fillets baked in a tangy lemon-caper butter sauce, served over fluffy couscous infused with fresh herbs. This mediterranean-inspired seafood (gluten free option) ready in about 30 minutes pairs (5 oz each) cod fillets, unsalted butter, lemon zest for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (5 oz each) cod fillets
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp, drained capers
- 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 4 cod fillets (5 oz each) in a greased baking dish and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: In a small saucepan, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Stir in 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp drained capers, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Remove from heat.
- Step 3: Pour the lemon-caper butter evenly over the cod fillets and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Step 4: While fish bakes, bring 1 1/4 cups chicken broth to a boil in a small pot. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup couscous and 1 tbsp olive oil, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Step 5: Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley.
- Step 6: Serve the baked cod fillets over the herb couscous, spooning extra lemon-caper butter from the baking dish over the top.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (5 oz each) cod fillets from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Couscous gluten free option?
Yes — this recipe is tagged gluten free option based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
