This simple lemon butter cod with thyme is the perfect Spring meal. The lightness of the cod and lemon offsets the smooth butter and thyme.

Lemon is one of my favorite flavors for Spring time. It is light and tangy, and adds the perfect acidity to the meal. The butter in the sauce adds a soft and creamy texture. Firm white fish is a great protein to serve in the Spring and Summer, because it is so light! It also has great flavor and texture. I find it the perfect healthy protein too, since it is filling but still feels light!

What Do I Need to Make Simple Lemon Butter Cod with Thyme
While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips for you to make the best Spring cod in a lemon butter sauce!
- Fish: While I use cod for this recipe, any other firm white fish will also work. Alternatives such as Basa or tilapia would work great!
- Lemon: The key to getting the perfect lemon flavor in this sauce is to use fresh lemon juice. It is important because it takes the flavors in this meal to a whole other level!
- Butter: The butter is what makes the sauce in this recipe so delicious. Make sure you let the butter melt slowly into the sauce when you are cooking it. This is important, because it allows you to break the fat in the butter into tiny droplets that can be dispersed into the sauce. The smaller droplets help to create an emulsion, which basically describes combining fat and water or some other liquid.
- Thyme: Thyme is the key herb in this recipe, so it is important to use fresh thyme. If you do not have access to fresh thyme, you could substitute for fresh basil which would also be delicious.

Other Seafood Recipes You Might Enjoy
In the mood for fish, but don’t have the ingredients for this recipe? Try some of my other fabulous fish dishes!
- Sheet Pan Pesto Fish and Potatoes
- Baked Whole Wild Salmon
- Miso Sablefish (Black Cod)
- Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon
- Fresh Pesto Baked Salmon

Simple Lemon Butter Cod with Thyme
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Fish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Description
This simple lemon butter cod with thyme is the perfect Spring meal. The lightness of the cod and lemon offsets the smooth butter and thyme.
Ingredients
- 4 fillets cod or another firm white fish
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp butter
- Optional: lemon slices and extra thyme for serving
Instructions
- Season the cod with salt and pepper. Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium-high heat. Add oil and cod and fry on each side until cooked through, approximately 3 to 5 minutes per side.
- Once the fish is cooked through, remove and immediately add white wine and chicken broth to deglaze the pan, stirring to pull up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add lemon juice and thyme and let the sauce reduce to about half of its original volume. Reduce heat to low and add the butter to the pan, swirl the sauce in the pan until the butter is fully melted into the sauce.
- Serve the fish and pour the sauce over it. Add lemon slices and extra thyme for serving. Serve with your favorite potatoes or rice and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of yield
- Calories: 267
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 84mg
Keywords: Lemon Butter Fish, Lemon Butter Cod, Spring Meals, Spring Dinners, Easy Spring Meals, Healthy Spring Meals, Easy Lemon Butter Fish, Healthy Lemon Butter Fish
The nutrition information provided is an estimate generated using a third party online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
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