Ohhh these are dangerous in the best way 😄 Crispy edges, flaky cod, garlicky butter—and that cool lemon-herb dip to balance it all.
Garlic Butter Cod Bites
with Creamy Lemon Herb Dip
Ingredients
Cod Bites
- 1½ lb cod fillets, cut into 1½-inch chunks
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Creamy Lemon Herb Dip
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill or parsley, finely chopped
- 1 small clove garlic, grated
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the dip
Mix all dip ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
Cover and refrigerate while you cook—the flavor gets better as it sits.
2️⃣ Prep the cod
Pat cod dry (important for browning).
Toss gently with flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3️⃣ Cook the cod bites
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add cod in a single layer (don’t crowd).
- Cook 2–3 minutes per side until golden and flaky.
- Lower heat, add garlic, and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the pan and gently toss.
4️⃣ Finish
Remove from heat, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot with the dip.
Pro Tips
- 🧈 Butter browns fast—lower heat before adding garlic
- 🧻 Dry fish = crispy bites, not steamed
- 🔥 For extra crunch, swap half the flour for cornstarch
- 🌶️ Add chili flakes if you like a little heat
Serve With
- Roasted potatoes or fries
- Steamed green beans or asparagus
- Warm crusty bread to mop up the garlic butter 😏
If you want a baked, air-fryer, or keto/no-flour version, I can tweak it in seconds.
