Perfect Ten Baked Cod

This baked cod gets its wow-factor from a lemony, buttery cracker topping that contrasts beautifully with the tender, flaky fish. It's an upscale dish that uses simple, affordable ingredients and is ready in under 40 minutes, making it equally appropriate for busy weeknights or fancy dinner parties.

What Makes This Recipe a “Perfect Ten?”

This recipe takes a mild, affordable fish like cod and transforms it into a salty, buttery, herbaceous seafood dish worthy of a restaurant menu. Cod loins are baked in melted butter, then topped with a lemon, wine, and cracker topping and then baked a final time. As it bakes, the buttery crumb topping incorporates into the melted butter, creating a thickened, rich sauce for spooning over the fish. No need to plate this dish — the crumb topping adds plenty of visual appeal. Serve it straight from the baking dish with lemon wedges, parsley, and green onions.

Cod Loins vs. Cod Fillets

Cod loin, considered the prime cut for cod, is cut from the middle section, or the thickest part of the fillet. When cooked, it's generally more moist and succulent, and cooks more evenly than standard cod fillets. Cod loins are also sold as smaller cuts, which makes them easier to work with. Cod fillets on the other hand are vertical cuts from the body, and can often be too big for a single portion. You can substitute cod fillets for loins in this recipe, just be sure to adjust the cooking time if your fillet is large.

How Long to Bake Cod?

Here, cod loins are baked at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for a total of 20 minutes. If you want, you can test the doneness of your fish using a meat thermometer; the USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) for fish. If you are using a large cod fillet in place of a cod loin, you may need to increase the cooking time depending on the size and thickness of your fillet.

Can You Use Frozen Cod?

Yes, you can bake cod directly from frozen. Increase the cooking time by about 50 percent (7-10 minutes), depending on the size of your cod.

What Is the Best Wine to Use?

We recommend a light, dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or an unoaked Chardonnay. These will bring out the dish's flavor without overwhelming it. Avoid rich, oaky white wines like an oaky Chardonnay. And no need to splurge on a fancy wine — as wine cooks, the subtle nuances of a more expensive wine will be lost.

What to Serve With Baked Cod

Unlike many seafood dishes, this baked cod is packed with flavor, so simple, mild side dishes are the way to go. Recipe creator Pam suggests serving this dish with rice pilaf and sauteed spinach. Other simple side dish ideas include roasted carrots, quinoa, potato wedges, and sauteed green beans.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“LOVED the buttery crumb topping and the wine really gave this a nice flavor,” says Cookdap Allstar Christina.

“I did use Italian seasoned bread crumbs in place of the crackers, because I didn’t have any crackers on hand, but they turned out fine,” says reviewer JulieH.

“The flavors were just the perfect combination — the lemon, butter, and white wine obviously the most important,” says reviewer Jubilee.