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 blackening seasoning blend. My blackening seasoning only has a pinch of cayenne pepper, making it mild enough to serve to the entire family.
One of the many reasons I love cooking fish for dinner is that it cooks really quickly. Fish is one of my go-to proteins when I know I will be short on time.
When I need a fast dinner, I bake fish. When I need an ultra fast dinner, I blacken fish on the stovetop!
Blackening is a cooking technique commonly associated with Cajun cuisine. The technique is incredibly easy to master and excellent for the beginner cook. Basically, all you do is season your fish with blackening seasoning and sear it in a cast-iron skillet until cooked through.
Blackened seasoning blends traditionally include paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano and basil. Any seasoning blend labeled as "Cajun seasoning blend," will most likely include the herbs listed above.
If you love eating fish for dinner as much as I do, then you have to try my Baked Panko Cod recipe and my Air Fryer Frozen Salmon recipe with lemon butter sauce!
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⭐Recipe highlights
- Fish is cooked in 15 minutes or less!
- The amount of heat in the recipe can be adjusted up or down to fit your preferences.
- This recipe is high in protein, low in fat, low in carbohydrates, 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.
- Blackened 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!
*See 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
📋Instructions
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!
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. I would also 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 the comes off of the fish during cooking.
- You will have seasoning blend leftover. 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
Easy Blackened Cod
Blackened cod is a quick and easy dinner recipe, made on the stovetop in under 15 minutes, using mostly pantry ingredients! The fish fillets are pan-seared and flavored with blackening seasoning blend. My blackening seasoning only has a pinch of cayenne pepper, making it mild enough to serve to the entire family.
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh cod fillets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Pat the cod fillets dry with a paper towel.
- Make your blackening seasoning blend by mixing all of the herbs and spices together in a small bowl.
- Lightly rub both sides of the cod with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil total.
- Liberally season both sides of the cod fillets with the seasoning blend. Use your fingers to really press the seasoning onto the cod fillets.
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet (or other nonstick skillet) over medium heat. Place the cod fillets into the cast iron skillet, top side down.
- Blacken both sides of the fish fillets for 3-6 minutes per side. Thinner portions of fillet will only need 3-4 minutes per side. Thicker fillets will need 5-6 minutes per side. Do not try to move the fillets around in the pan while they are cooking. Use a metal spatula to gently flip the fillets. Add more oil to your pan as needed.
- The fish will be done cooking when it has reached an internal temperature of at least 145°F and is white and flaky on the inside.
- Remove from the pan and serve immediately.
Notes
- You will have some seasoning blend leftover. Store leftover seasoning in a glass jar.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: lunch, dinner
- Method: blackening, pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Keywords: blackened cod
🌡️Food safety
- Cook cod fish to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F.
- Always use clean utensils.
- Wash hands after touching raw fish.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods of time.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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