Pan-Roasted Lemon Thyme Cod with Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Delicate cod fillets pan-roasted with fresh lemon and thyme, finished with a rich garlic butter sauce that highlights coastal regional flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 15 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 280 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.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (5 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the cod fillets skin-side down and cook for 4 minutes without moving, until the edges are golden and crisp.
  3. Step 3: Carefully flip the fillets and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 4 fresh thyme sprigs to the pan. Spoon the melted butter and garlic over the fish continuously for 3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
  4. Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tsp lemon zest, coating the fillets with the bright sauce.
  5. Step 5: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately with steamed vegetables or rice.

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