Description
A rich and flavorful creamy baked cod recipe featuring tender cod fillets baked in a luscious homemade cream sauce with garlic butter and seasoned breadcrumbs, finished under the broiler for a golden crust. Perfectly flaky and ideal for a comforting weeknight dinner served alongside potatoes, rice, or vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish and Topping
- 6 cod fillets
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
Cream Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups whipping cream (or half and half)
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Sauce: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Prepare the cream sauce by melting butter and whisking in cornstarch, then gradually adding whipping cream and milk. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Keep warm once done.
- Arrange Cod in Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Pat the cod fillets dry and place them in the dish. Sprinkle with kosher salt for seasoning.
- Brush Fish with Garlic Butter: Combine the melted butter with minced garlic and brush this mixture generously over each cod fillet, reserving any leftover butter for later.
- Add Breadcrumbs and Butter: Sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs evenly over the fillets, then pour the remaining garlic butter mixture over the breadcrumbs to ensure a flavorful crust.
- Pour Cream Sauce: Carefully pour the prepared cream sauce into the spaces between the cod fillets, filling the baking dish so the tops of the fillets are still visible.
- Bake the Cod: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cream sauce starts bubbling and the fish is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 145°F and flaking easily.
- Broil for Golden Finish: Switch the oven to broil and broil the dish for 3-5 minutes to brown the tops of the fillets. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve immediately with your choice of potatoes, rice, or vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- This recipe consistently yields flaky, tender cod with a rich and creamy sauce.
- Use half and half in place of whipping cream for a lighter sauce.
- Keep a close eye during broiling to avoid burning the breadcrumb topping.
- Perfect to serve with simple sides like steamed vegetables or mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 531 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 764 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 157 mg
