Pan-Seared Cod with Lemon Caper Sauce

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-seared to golden perfection and topped with a bright lemon caper sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 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 320 calories and feeds 2, 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: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Mediterranean cuisine 320 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + 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.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 2 cod fillets dry 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. Add cod fillets and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and opaque throughout. Remove and keep warm.
  3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp drained capers, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
  5. Step 5: Spoon lemon caper sauce over cod fillets and serve immediately.

Related recipes