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This easy pan fried cod recipe makes the best white fish you’ll have in 10 minutes! No flour, no batter—just a magical spice blend that transforms mild cod into the most flavorful weeknight dinner.
Here’s a deliciously easy dinner idea that’s full of surprises: pan fried cod! The first time I made it, I was shocked by how something so simple could taste so incredibly good. This Mediterranean-style preparation completely changed my mind about this white fish.
Coat the fish in paprika and a few other spices, then pan fry it until tender and juicy. It takes under 10 minutes to get restaurant-quality flavor! Serve it with the pan juices drizzled over the top and well—we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this one, too.
Why this pan fried cod recipe works
I’ll admit—when Alex first suggested pan-fried cod for dinner, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. “Fried cod” doesn’t sound particularly exciting, right? But man, was I wrong! Here’s what makes this recipe a game changer:
- No coating needed: Skip the flour, breading, and batter—the spice blend does all the work
- Extremely fast: From fridge to plate in under 10 minutes
- Foolproof technique: Even if you’ve never cooked fish before, you’ll nail this
- Budget-friendly: Cod is often more affordable than salmon or halibut
5 star reader reviews
Nothing makes me and Alex happier than hearing how this recipe has become a staple in your kitchens:
- “My husband said this is better than our favorite seafood restaurant. We’ve made it every Friday for a month!” – Nancy
- “I grew up landlocked and thought I hated fish. This recipe changed everything. Even my kids request it!” – Monty
- “From Nova Scotia where we know our cod—this is one of the best preparations I’ve ever had!” – Mary
Choosing your cod
Cod has a mild, pure flavor that’s not “fishy” at all—it’s even more mild than salmon. Because of its approachable flavor, cod is a great starting point for people who don’t think they like fish. It’s versatile and works great in fish tacos or grilled.
After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve learned that quality matters. Fresh is ideal, though frozen works too. Look for fillets about 1-inch thick for the most even cooking. The fish should smell like the ocean, never “fishy.” If you can find it, wild-caught is worth the extra dollar or two—it has better flavor and texture than farmed.
Pro tips for pan frying
Pan fried cod can seem intimidating if you’ve never pan fried a fish before. But don’t worry: it takes less than 10 minutes and is seriously easy to make. Here are a few tips to know:
- Use your largest skillet. This gives enough space for 4 fillets. You can use cast-iron, stainless steel or non-stick for this recipe.
- A combination of olive oil and butter adds flavor. Pan frying with both types of fat adds depth. (For dairy-free you can use all olive oil.)
- Cover with the magic seasoning blend. More on this below.
- Pan fry 2 minutes, then flip and fry 2 more. You’ll know when it’s done when it starts to flake when you prick it with a fork.
The best seasoning for fried cod
There’s no flour or batter in this recipe: just a blend of spices to bring out the beautiful flavor. Here are a few notes on the seasoning blend:
- Spice blend: The spices are a blend that’s based on our Magic Seafood Seasoning blend, but simplified.
- Smoked paprika is the key! This Spanish version of paprika brings a bright red color and a hint of smokiness into each bite. When you buy a jar, you can use it up with these Best Smoked Paprika Recipes. If you can’t find it, you can use standard paprika: but smoked is much better.
Seasoning variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try these delicious variations:
- Cajun-Style or Blackened Cod: Replace the spice blend with 1-2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning or Blackened seasoning for a kick (reduce the salt to ¾ teaspoon).
- Mediterranean Herb Cod: Add dried oregano and basil to the mix, finish with fresh herbs and capers.
- Asian-Inspired Cod: Finish with sesame oil and soy sauce instead of lemon.
- Garlic Butter Cod: Use extra lemon zest in the seasoning and finish with garlic butter sauce.
Sides to serve alongside
Not sure what to serve with this pan fried cod? Turn it into a healthy dinner by adding a few sides. Because it’s a Mediterranean style preparation, it’s goes with lots of different side dish ideas. Here are some we’d recommend:
- Broccoli: Try parmesan broccoli or roasted broccoli. Or, go even more elegant with roasted broccolini.
- Mixed vegetables: These sauteed vegetables are colorful and easy: a total treat!
- Asparagus: This baked asparagus with parmesan would pair nicely.
- Potatoes: Try it with baked potato wedges or parmesan potato wedges, a baked potato, or even dill potato salad.
- Salad: Crisp salads like celery salad, fennel orange salad or arugula beet salad work well.
More with cod? Try these 15 Cod Recipes Everyone Will Love.
Storing leftovers
While this cod is best fresh from the pan, leftovers keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing cooked cod—the texture suffers.
For reheating, the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until warmed through. The air fryer is great too at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Skip the microwave—it makes the fish too rubbery.
Dietary notes
This pan fried cod recipe is pescatarian and gluten-free. For dairy free, use olive oil (see below).
Perfect Pan Fried Cod
My easy pan fried cod recipe makes the best white fish you’ll have in 10 minutes! No flour, no batter—just a magical spice blend that transforms into the most flavorful weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds cod (4 fillets)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (also called pimentón)*
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil, for dairy-free)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Finely chopped Italian parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, and kosher salt. Pat the cod dry and sprinkle all sides with the seasoning.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the butter and olive oil. When butter is melted, add the cod and cook for 2 minutes.
- Flip the cod and pour the lemon juice over the fish. Cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the cod is tender and starts to flake when you prick it with a fork (adjust based on the thickness of the fillets). Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately, drizzled with the juices from the pan.
Notes
*If you can’t find it, you can use sweet paprika. But smoked paprika brings the best flavor with a hint of smokiness.
More Mediterranean diet recipes
This pan fried cod is a great example of a Mediterranean diet recipe. This healthy diet focuses on lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil, and fish and seafood. Here are some more great recipes with a Mediterranean diet theme:
- These Mediterranean Couscous Bowls are a fast weeknight dinner, with quick-cooking couscous, chickpeas, and a creamy tahini sauce.
- This Oven Baked Salmon and Salmon with Capers are two fantastic ways to cook this tasty fish.
- Our favorites Lentil Soup has only 7 ingredients for big flavor.
My husband and I love this recipe. He says it’s the best cod ever and we have it several times a month. It is so fast and easy to put together.
Love to hear this!
Nice recipe. Can’t wait to try it. I bought some cod from Costco. Alantic cod. Will try your stuff! Thanks!!!
I’m not a super fan of fish growing up landlocked as a kid. But I tried this recipe on some COD filet pieces. First, it tastes great. Second, super easy to make. It went over well at dinner with the family. Definitely doing this again! Thanks!
Thank you for making it!
YUMMY fast and easy loved it.
I tried this recipe tonight and it’s a WINNER! It’s quick easy and DELICIOUS- will definitely cook this again and again! Take Care!
I cannot believe how good this was/is. I am from the East Coast of Canada and I swear this is one of the best fish dishes ever. I could not stop eating it! I have prepped a jar of the spice mix so I will have on hand next week to redo this luscious dish. Thank you – thank you- thank you!
We love to hear this! Thank you for making it :)
I love how this recipe was written. It was easy to follow and I enjoyed making the recipe. Unfortunately though, the spice mix was too salty for me, so I would most likely cut down on the salt. Also, the cod I used was not great, so I might switch it up to a halibut or something besides cod. I am appreciative of the recipe and thank you for posting!
Thank you for making it! Did you use kosher salt when you made it?
I make this all the time! Very tasty and easy. I love it!
We’re SO happy to hear this! Thank you so much for making it!
I am so grateful to have come across your site. You two are gems! The recipes and tips have been very good and helpful. I have multiple sclerosis and have found new ways to prep vegetables (peppers, cauliflower, etc.) to make it a lot easier for me. In our house for our meals, I have to come up with a plan and do the prep. Then when my husband comes from work in the evening, he executes it. He says he’s the chef that just shows up and makes the magic happen. I am dairy free due to the MS and have a question about butter. Have you or anyone tried using drops of butter extract mixed in olive oil to replace the butter used in cooking? I’m sure it won’t be like using the real thing, but might give it a little more flavor. Thank-You!
Hi! Thanks for the comment — I love the meal prep idea :)
We haven’t tried butter extract ever so I’m not sure! For recipes like this, a quality olive oil can add a lot of flavor too. So I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
Best!
Love this recipe, and my family who are always a little cautious about fish, love it too. Ido cut the salt by a 1/3 or it’s a little overwhelming.