Pan-Seared Cod with Lemon-Herb Butter 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 drafted and published.

Delicate cod fillets pan-seared to a golden crust and topped with a bright lemon and fresh herb butter sauce that enhances the fish's natural flavor. 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 290 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 290 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

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.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (6 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 non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Step 3: Add the cod fillets and cook without moving for 4 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy; carefully flip and cook for another 3 minutes until opaque and cooked through.
  4. Step 4: Remove the cod to a warm plate and reduce heat to medium-low; add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, cooking for 30 seconds until the sauce is slightly thickened.
  6. Step 6: Spoon the lemon-herb butter sauce over the cod fillets and serve immediately.

Related recipes