Pan-Fried Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Garlic Green Beans
Tender cod fillets pan-fried to a delicate golden crust, topped with a bright lemon-caper butter sauce, served alongside garlic-sautéed green beans. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs cod fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp, drained capers
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1 lb, trimmed fresh green beans
- 3 cloves, thinly sliced garlic cloves
Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cod fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and the fish flakes easily. Remove and keep warm.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 2 tbsp drained capers. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring gently until butter melts and sauce thickens slightly.
- Step 4: Remove pan from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Spoon lemon-caper butter over the cod fillets.
- Step 5: In a separate skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1 lb trimmed fresh green beans. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until green beans are tender-crisp and garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Step 6: Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter to the green beans skillet and toss to coat. Season with a pinch of salt and serve immediately alongside the cod.







