31 Cod Recipes for Delicate, Flaky Fish Every Time
Looking to eat more seafood? This roundup of our best cod recipes is here to inspire you. Often more economical than halibut and a nice change of pace from salmon, cod is a strong MVP in our fish rotation. From slow-roasted, meaty black cod to quick-cooking Baja fish tacos, you’ll find that cod is not only versatile, it’s also very delicious. Entertaining? Set up a nice loin of cod over some vegetables in a cocotte and pop it into the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Cod’s delicate flakiness also makes it an excellent choice for slipping into brothy fish stews at the last minute (it’ll cook quickly). For chowder lovers, there are some nice spins on your average cup of soup here. And if you’re simply in the market for an exciting fish dish on an average Wednesday night, we’ve got you covered.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne1/31Sour Cream and Onion Fish
We love baked cod recipes with a little trick up their sleeve. In this easy weeknight dinner, the fish is the chip. You’ll coat fish fillets with sour cream and panko breadcrumbs, then bake them until crisp and golden brown.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova2/31Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille
This classic but flexible French bouillabaisse recipe is the only one you’ll need to bring the iconic seafood stew of Marseille to your table. Pro tip: don’t skip the rouille—the spicy, garlicky sauce makes the dish truly pop.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Mira Evnine3/31Easy Fish Tacos
Fish tacos are said to come from Baja California, Mexico's northernmost state. While there are delicious versions made with fried or grilled fish, this recipe calls for sautéed cod.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell4/31Sweet and Salty Fish Collars
Baste fish collars—an often discarded but very satisfying cut of seafood—with a sweet and salty combination of briny kombu and dark sweet prunes. P.S.: The sauce is easy to make ahead and store in the refrigerator.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova6/31Salt-and-Pepper Fish
One of our most popular fish recipes is inspired by a classic Cantonese preparation, which is traditionally battered and deep-fried. Here, the cod is pan-seared in hot oil for a streamlined approach, but it still gets plenty of texture and flavor from ginger, caramelized scallions, and lots of freshly ground black pepper.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/31Italian Fish and Vegetable Stew
With the near year-round availability of zucchini and cherry tomatoes, this gut-friendly dish brings color and flavor to the table any time you’d like. The fish marinates in a flavorful fresh lemon juice and olive oil dressing that doubles as its simmering liquid.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/31Cod With Miso–Butternut Squash Sauce
Pair mild, flaky cod with a flavorful miso-ginger squash sauce. As a bonus, the sauce uses the same purée as our Miso–Butternut Squash Soup recipe, so feel free to double up and make both.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell10/31Spring Pea Fish Chowder
Sweet peas, pea shoots, and lemon zest give this bright, lightly creamy chowder a dose of freshness. Use really good bottled clam juice to make it sing.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou11/31Saucy Spiced Cod With Corn
Nothing against pan-frying fish to get that crispy skin, but cod shines brightest when nestled into a bed of rich aromatics and steamed to tender flakiness.
12/31Chard-Wrapped Fish With Lemon and Olive
For this all-star Mediterranean-inspired recipe, you'll smother white fish in a garlicky olive paste, then wrap the fillets in chard leaves before simmering them in a lemony, cilantro-laced sauce. Any mix of pitted olives will do fine here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Anna Stockwell13/31Old Bay–Spiced Fish Sticks With Creamy Celery Root and Carrot Slaw
Photo by Kyle Johnson14/31Seared Cod With Potato and Chorizo Foil Pack Dinner
Seafood recipes for camping? Sure. This easy foil-pack dinner can be prepared over a grill or campfire. Make this your night one camp-out dinner, when the fish is freshest.
