Pan-Seared Spanish Cod with Garlic and Paprika

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

A tender cod fillet pan-seared to golden perfection, accented with smoky paprika and a fragrant garlic butter sauce. This Spanish recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs cod fillets, smoked paprika, and garlic cloves 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 cod fillets, 6 oz each
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tsp smoked paprika.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Place cod fillets skin-side down in the skillet and sear for 4 minutes without moving, until edges are golden and crisp.
4. Step 4: Flip the cod and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Spoon the melted butter over the fish as it cooks for another 3 minutes until opaque and flakes easily.
5. Step 5: Remove the cod from heat, drizzle with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped parsley over the top before serving.