Name: Easy Blackened Cod
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh cod fillets; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon kosher salt

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Blackened cod is a quick and easy recipe, made on the stovetop in under 15 minutes, using mostly pantry ingredients! The fish fillets are pan-seared and flavored with a blackening seasoning blend. My blackening seasoning only has a pinch of cayenne pepper, making it mild enough to serve to the entire family.

Blackened cod fillets on a round, blue plate, served with sautéed spinach. Blackening seasoning in the bottom left corner with a spoon. Top left corner has a white napkin.

Blackening is a cooking technique commonly associated with Cajun cuisine. The approach is incredibly easy to master and excellent for the beginner cook.

After you make my Blackened Cod recipe, you need to try my Blackened Pork Chops. The blackening cooking technique is also really similar to my Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast recipe.

If you're looking for more fish dinner recipes, then you have to try my Baked Panko Cod, Air Fryer Frozen Salmon, and Pesto Crusted Salmon recipes!

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⭐Recipe highlights
🥘Ingredients
🍽Equipment needed
📋How to make Blackened Cod
📖Substitutions
🥗 Serving suggestions
👩🏽‍🍳Storage
💭Top tips
📖 Recipe
🌡️Food safety
💬Follow me!

⭐Recipe highlights

This fish recipe is cooked in only 15 minutes!
Blackening blends are bold, smokey, and spicey. The amount of spice can be adjusted up or down to fit your preferences.
Cod is perfect for blackening because it's a meaty, firm, mild and flakey white fish. It holds up really well to high-heat, cast iron skillet cooking.
Protein-packed cod is super healthy and low in calories! This recipe is also low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free, paleo, keto, and dairy-free!

🥘Ingredients

Blackened cod recipes call for very few ingredients! That's another reason I love easy fish recipes like this one.

Cod fish fillets - Cod is a mild flavor, flaky white fish found in the fresh fish section of the grocery store. You'll want to use fresh cod fillets for this recipe.
Extra virgin olive oil - Olive oil is used to oil the cooking pan and also lightly rubbed on the fish before applying the spice blend. Olive oil could be substituted with melted butter or avocado oil.
Blackening seasoning blend - The blackening seasoning is a blend of several spices including smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried basil, dried thyme, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. All of these herbs and spices are commonly found in your spice cabinet! Any seasoning blend labeled as "Cajun seasoning blend," will most likely include the herbs listed above.

*See the recipe card for exact quantities.

🍽Equipment needed

Cast iron skillet or non-stick skillet - A large skillet is ideal. I use my 15" Lodge Cast Iron Skillet.
Measuring cups and spoons

📋How to make Blackened Cod

Making blackened cod is super easy with minimal steps! This entire recipe can be made in under 20 minutes, making it a great main dish option for a busy weeknight or a weekend lunch.

Step 1: Pat the cod fish fillets dry using paper towels.

Step 2: Mix the seasoning blend together in a small bowl.

Step 3: Lightly rub both sides of each cod fillet with extra virgin olive oil. Liberally season both sides of the fish with your seasoning blend. I like to use my fingers to really press the seasoning into the fish!

Raw cod fish fillets on a white plate, with blackening seasoning. — Seasoned fish on plate.

Step 4: Place the seasoned fillets into a hot cast iron skillet and cook both sides over medium-high heat, and until a blackened crust has formed. Thinner fillets only need to cook for 3-4 minutes per side. Thicker pieces of cod will need 5-6 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on how thick your cod filets are.

You'll know your fish is cooked through when it's white and has a flakey texture on the inside AND has reached an internal temperature of at least 145°F.

Step 5: Remove the fish fillets from the pan once they're cooked through and serve them immediately!

Hint: I like to use my digital meat thermometer to check for doneness. Make sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the fish.

📖Substitutions

This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy free. You don't need to make any substitutions to make it fit into a gluten-free or dairy-free diet!

Olive oil - I have tested this recipe using both butter and olive oil. I preferred the olive oil, but if you don't have olive oil then you can swap in butter instead. Any other mild, high-heat cooking oil would also work.
Seasoning blend - If you really want to save some time, then you can just use a premade blackening seasoning or a Cajun seasoning blend.

🥗 Serving suggestions

Cod is a versatile main dish that can be served with a variety of different side dishes. Cod would pair well with just about any rice, quinoa, pasta, garden salad, cooked vegetable, or potato.

Blackened cod is also perfect for fish tacos. I would serve it with any of my popular side dishes shown below!

👩🏽‍🍳Storage

Cooked fish will only last in the fridge for about 2 days. Store leftover blackened cod in an air-tight container, preferably glass.

Reheat cooked cod in the microwave or on the stovetop in a lightly oiled pan.

💭Top tips

Make sure your oil is nice and hot before adding the fish to the pan.
Place the fish top side down first.
Add extra oil to the pan if needed and scrape away any seasoning that comes off of the fish during cooking.
You will have seasoning blend left over. If you know that you will be cooking up to 2 pounds of fish, then you do not need to double the seasoning blend.

📖 Recipe