Cajun Baked Cod with Homemade Cajun Compound Butter creates juicy and tender cod fillets bursting with flavor. Crafted with a harmony of cajun spices, garlic, and lemon zest, this butter enriches the cod’s delicate flavor. Oven-baked to tender perfection in just 15 minutes, this dish stands out as the perfect weeknight dinner.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Prepare the Cajun Compound Butter
In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, roasted garlic, parsley, Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, lemon zest. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary. Set aside.
Prepare the Cod
If preparing as a sheet pan meal, drizzle your vegetables with avocado oil, and season with salt, garlic powder, and fresh cracked black pepper. I like to use fresh green beans, halved baby potatoes, and red onion, because it all cooks at the same rate. Cook in oven for ~ 15 minutes before adding the cod to the oven, to ensure it does not overcook. While the vegetables are baking for the first 15 minutes, prepare the cod.
Pat cod filets dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for helping the fish cook perfectly and for the compound butter to adhere well.
Place the cod fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Brush each fillet lightly with avocado oil, then season both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze juice of one lemon wedge over cod and sheet pan vegetables, if applicable. Add lemon wedges to bake along with the cod, to use when serving.
Place a generous amount of the Cajun compound butter on top of each cod fillet, spreading it out to cover the surface.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cod is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your fillets, so keep an eye on them.
Once the cod is cooked, remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
Serve the Cajun baked cod hot, garnished with fresh parsley and accompanied by lemon wedges for an extra zest.