This baked cod is hands-down my favorite fish dish. It turns out perfectly flaky every time. The flavorful, creamy sauce puts it over the top!
Baked Cod in Cream Sauce
Fish is often overlooked when planning dinner, though we have no idea why. When prepared well, fish is incredibly delicious. It pairs well with rice and potato side dishes.
This baked cod is one of the easiest fish dishes you can make, and easily one of the most delicious! You get perfect, flaky cod every time and the cream sauce kicks it up to the next level. Even your pickiest eaters will love this dish! Cod baked in cream sauce loses all traces of fishiness. You are going to love it!
How to Buy Fish
About 10 years ago I took a cooking class from a renowned chef in Salt Lake City. The entire class was all about how to cook fish. The chef gave some excellent pointers on how to find and buy the best fish. For instance, if you must buy fish from a grocery store (rather than a fresh fish market), always buy it FROZEN.
Don’t buy the fish that has already been thawed and sitting in the case. If you go home and freeze the fish for later, the fish will be frozen twice. That is not ideal. When you request fish at the seafood counter, ask them to wrap up fish that is still frozen. Or to simplify things, just buy the frozen cod at Costco. It’s delicious!
Substitutions for Cod
For this recipe you can use any kind of mild white fish, not just cod. Halibut, tilapia, mahi mahi… these will all work great! Just be sure that when you are cooking them to check for doneness. Tilapia will typically cook faster than, say, halibut because it is usually not as thick of a cut. Use whatever fish is “in season” and you won’t be disappointed! Click this FRESH FISH AVAILABILITY CHART to see which fresh fish is in season any month of the year.
Can I reheat baked cod?
Yes, if done correctly. The best way I have found to re-heat fish is to put it in a frying pan with a lid and bring it up to temperature on the stove (slowly). If you heat it on too high of heat it will burn, so watch it closely. You definitely don’t want to throw it in the microwave. Fish does NOT re-heat well in the microwave! It will turn rubbery and the flavor will just not be there.
What goes well with baked cod?
Easy Lemon Rice Sweet Sautéed Asparagus Baked Potatoes Green Peas
We like to serve this particular dish with a rice or potato side dish and steamed vegetables. Try one of these simple, yet delicious recipes for a side dish.
How to Make Baked Cod in Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 cod fillets
- 1 tsp. kosher salt or to taste
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 c. breadcrumbs seasoned
For the cream sauce:
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 2 c. whipping cream (or half and half)
- 1 c. milk
- 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400-degrees.
- Prepare cream sauce (see instructions below) and set aside, keeping warm.
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and place cod fillets in the dish. Sprinkle with salt.
- Combine melted butter and garlic and brush over fillets, reserving any leftover butter mixture.
- Sprinkle seasoned breadcrumbs over fillets and pour remaining butter mixture over the top.
- Pour cream sauce in the spaces between the cod fillets so it fills up the baking dish and just the tops of the fillets are visible.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cream sauce starts bubbling.
- When the sauce starts bubbling up, set oven to “broil” and broil for about 3-5 minutes or until the fillets start to turn golden brown.
- Keep a CLOSE eye on it to make sure it doesn’t start to burn.
- Remove from oven and serve with potatoes, rice, or vegetables.
For the cream sauce:
- Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat.
- Slowly add the cornstarch and stir for about 1 minute.
- While whisking constantly, slowly add whipping cream and milk until well combined. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Reduce heat to low and whisk occasionally for about 10 minutes until sauce becomes rich and creamy, adding more milk, if needed. You want it to be the consistency of a thin gravy.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
