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This Easy Blackened Cod Recipe is an excellent option for a busy weeknight! The buttery cod and slightly spicy blackened crust provide the ultimate flavor and texture. The cod is cooked to perfection in a cast iron skillet with olive oil and butter to give extra flavor. Ready in 20 minutes!
Easy Dinner Idea
This healthy meal is ready in 20 minutes, and the whole family will love it. For this recipe, I make my cajun spice blend. It only takes a few minutes to whip up, and it is worth it. If you prefer, you can use your favorite creole or cajun seasoning blend from the grocery store.
The spice rub adds a smokey, slightly spicy kick to anything you use it with, and it won’t overpower the recipe’s flavors.
Check this What to Serve with Cod (50+ Best Side Dish Recipes) post!
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
Made with only a few simple ingredients, this seasoned cod is an easy recipe that you will make repeatedly.
COD
- Fresh or Frozen Cod fillets
- Butter
- Olive oil
SPICE BLEND
- Sweet or smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
See the recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
What fish can I use instead of cod?
Cod is a delicate, flaky, mild white fish. Cod works well in this recipe, but you can use other white fish varieties:
- Haddock, Pollack, Black Cod, Stripped Bass, Hake, Mahi Mahi, Grouper. You can even use salmon if that is the easiest to find!
Variations: Sweet – Add a little honey to the fish before adding the seasoning for sweetness. Add a bit of brown sugar to the blackened seasoning mix if preferred. Extra spicy – Add red chili flakes to the spice mix for added heat.
What is Blackened Cod?
Don’t be fooled- “blackened” does not mean burned fish! Blackened fish is a Cajun cuisine cooking technique where the fish is coated in a spice mixture and seared quickly on a hot cast iron pan. It is sometimes grilled or made in the oven.
The seasoning crust turns a very deep brown, even black, color, which is where it gets its name. The fish looks dark when finished. This doesn’t mean it is burned and doesn’t taste burned in any way.
The delicious spice blend from the homemade cajun seasoning is one of the easiest ways to flavor a flaky cod filet. You can also try these Baked Cod with Lemon and Herbs, Cod Baked in Parchment, and Baked Cod with Roasted Tomatoes! If you love this flavor combo, try Crispy Brussels Sprouts Recipe.
How to Make Blackened Cod
This recipe comes together quickly and is packed with delicious flavors! It makes a quick and easy go-to fish recipe.
In a small bowl, mix all of the blackening spices until combined. Make sure they are blended evenly.
Thoroughly pat the fish dry with a paper towel.
Add oil to the cod fish.
Rub each side with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
Coat both sides of the fish fillets with the blackened seasoning mix, shaking off any excess spices.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large heavy-bottomed or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the rub turns black. Add butter to the pan (butter can burn at high heat, which is why we add it later in cooking).
Flip the fish fillet and cook another 1-2 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flaky.
Serve warm with a side of rice and a simple green salad.
Is cod healthy?
Cod is a nutritious and flavorful fish with lean protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates.
It is a great source of vitamins B6 and B12. It’s also low in mercury, and this baked cod fish is only 115 calories per serving. Cod is a healthy fish option to enjoy year around.
Can I make blackened cod on the grill or in the oven?
You can make blackened cod on the grill or in the oven. Oven-baked cod won’t produce the same blackened color, but it will still taste delicious! Bake in the oven: turn the broiler high and place the oven rack on the top shelf. Broil the fish for 3-4 minutes. Flip the fish and broil for 3-4 minutes or until tender and flaky. Grill the fish for several minutes over high heat, flipping halfway through.
And if you’re into grilling, you might love this Homemade Taco with Grilled Pork.
How to Store and Reheat
Leftovers.
As with all fish recipes, it is best eaten fresh on the day it is cooked. Leftover cod will keep well in the fridge for a couple of days when stored correctly in airtight containers.
Reheating leftover cod.
For best results, reheat the cod in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350ºF. I don’t recommend microwaving as it tends to overcook the fish and dry out the topping.
TIP: to avoid dry fish, add a splash of water on top of the filet before putting it in the oven
Freezing leftover fish
Generally, cooked fish can be frozen for up to one month. I don’t particularly like freezing leftover cooked fish since it changes the consistency when reheated.
What to Serve with this Recipe
This delicate cod recipe is the perfect main dish for several side options! Make Shredded Zucchini and Cheese Pasta (easy), sauteed frozen green beans, or Best Italian Oven Roasted Potatoes and Easy Soft Italian No Knead Bread with a side of Italian Fennel, Citrus, Pomegranate, and Salad.
Try with green beans and roasted potatoes or rice and an orange fennel salad. For dessert, pair it with strawberry tiramisu recipe!
Make a surf and turf dinner with these recipes- How to Cook Steak in a Pan (Perfect Recipe) and How to Cook a Small Prime Rib Roast Recipe.
More easy fish recipes: Crispy Baked Cod with Panko Recipe, Best Baked Salmon with Pesto Recipe (Easy), BEST Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce, Salmon Steak Recipe, and Orzo Pasta with Shrimp, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes.
Also, Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass With Lemon Butter Herb Sauce and
Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce.
Top Tips
- Make sure to dry your cod fillets. This will help the fish sear and not steam in the pan.
FAQ’s
Blackened fish can sometimes look burnt, but it doesn’t taste burnt. Blackening is a cooking technique that yields significant char on the surface of the food. From the appearance, it may look u0022burnt.u0022 The spice combination and cooking in a hot pan give the food an intense and deliciously unique flavor.
Cooked cod should be an even opaque white color throughout when cooked. The white flesh should flake easily when you twist a fork in the thickest part of the fish. The internal temperature reaches 145°F when a thermometer is inserted into the thickest part for the perfect flaky white fish.
More delicious recipes you will love
- Roasted Portabello Mushrooms Recipe (with Balsamic and Thyme)
- BEST Salmon Piccata (Lemon Butter Caper Sauce)
- Broccoli Pasta with Sausage Recipe (Italian)
- Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
- Creamy Ricotta Roasted Red Pepper (No Cook Sauce)
- Italian Pink Sauce Pasta Recipe (Tomato Cream)
Try these …
Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce
Easy Blackened Cod Recipe
Stuffed Calamari Recipe
Classic Lobster Bisque Recipe (Easy)
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Easy Blackened Cod Recipe
Ingredients
COD
- 4 cod fish fillets, 5-6 oz each
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for rubbing on fish
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Blackening seasoning, homemade or store-bought
SEASONING MIX
- 1 tablespoon paprika, smoked or sweet
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix all of the blackening spices until combined. Make sure they are blended evenly.
- Thoroughly pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Rub each side with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
- Coat both sides of the fish fillets with the blackened seasoning mix, shaking off any excess spices.
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the rub turns black. Add butter to the pan (butter can burn at high heat, which is why we add it later in cooking).
- Flip the fish fillet and cook another 1-2 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flaky. Serve warm with a side of rice and a simple green salad. Enjoy!
Notes
Top Tips
- Make sure to dry your cod fillets. This will help the fish sear and not steam in the pan.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is easy and so delicious. I used the blackened seasoning on halibut and my husband and I loved it. I paired it with a tomato peach salad for a healthy dinner.
YUM! I love halibut and I want to try with this seasoning. YUM! I am happy you and your husband loved it.
You need to try my grilled peach and burrata salad next- I think you’ll love that for summer.
Making this for dinner tonight!
Blackened Cod with mashed red potatoes with skins on…. warm milk, butter garlic and onion powder. broccoli on the side
Thanks for the recipe!
You will love this recipe! Yes, those sides to pair sound like a winning combo!
Excellent!
Thank you. I’m happy you loved it.
Easy to make and tasty..
Thanks! Enjoy.
The cod is super flaky and flavorful! Absolutely delicious.