Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod
Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod Recipe – How to grill perfect cod, halibut, grouper, or your favorite white fish for a healthy, light, and flavorful summer dish. You’ll love these easy tips for grilling cod in foil with lemon pepper!
I don’t think there is a more perfect dish for a light summer dinner, than grilled fish.
Simple to prepare and cook in just minutes, a good piece of fish is a terrifically healthy and hearty protein to have in your weekly menu rotation. Serve quick grilled fish for a last-minute busy weeknight meal, or as an impressive yet super easy dinner party star.
Plus, grilling fish outdoors during the warmer months helps to keep your kitchen much cooler. Yes, please!
Some of our favorite summer grilled fish recipes include this marinated Grilled Salmon and Grilled Grouper with Orange and Olives. These are wonderfully fast and delicious to make; however, I wanted to create a recipe that was so effortless that it doesn’t even require a simple marinade, but does include one of the most crave-worthy summer flavors: lemon pepper!
Easy Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod
This Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod recipe is bright, tangy, buttery seafood perfection.
Using just a few pantry staples and foil, it is simple to create incredible flavor and ultra-moist fish that doesn’t stick to the grill.
Start to finish this dish only takes about 15 minutes and a handful of basic ingredients. It will definitely be your new go-to, no-fuss guide for grilling tender and flaky fish every single time!
What Ingredients You Need for Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod
Here are the few ingredients used in this recipe:
- Cod – or preferred white fish
- Butter – or ghee to make paleo
- Lemon – to enhance the tangy, bright flavor of the lemon pepper seasoning
- Spices: lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika
While we use cod in this post, feel free to use grouper, halibut, or your favorite white fish. Lemon pepper seasoning goes well with all of these varieties! You’ll just want to slightly adjust cook times depending on the thickness of the fish filets you use.
How Do You Keep Fish From Sticking to the Grill?
The secret to incredibly moist, flaky fish is to grill Lemon Pepper Cod, Halibut, or Grouper in foil.
By sealing the fish filets in foil with butter and fresh lemon, the cod is gently steamed by the heat and is therefore much less likely to be overcooked by the grill.
Not only is grilling fish in foil more fool-proof for getting the perfect cook, this method makes clean up way easier. There’s no fish stuck to the grill grates to scrape off; you simply toss the foil in the trash when you’re done!
How to Make Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod in Foil
1. First, preheat the grill to medium. It will not take you long to prepare the fish!
2. Next, lay 4 large squares of foil on the countertop. Cut the butter into 4 sections and slice the lemon into rounds. Place one tablespoon of butter and one lemon slice in the center of each piece of foil.
3. Be sure to throughly yet gently pat each fish fillet dry with a paper towel. Then lay one fillet over the slices of butter and lemon on each piece of foil.
4. In a small bowl, mix the lemon pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sprinkle generously over the top of each fish fillet. Like so…
5. Pull the two opposite sides of the foil up over the cod, and fold the foil down twice to seal the top to make a pouch. Then flatten and fold the two ends together, twice, to make the foil packets airtight. You want to make sure all of the steam and flavor stays locked inside!
Get the Complete Printable Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod (Halibut or Grouper) in Foil Recipe Below. Enjoy!
6. Place the foil packets on the hot grill, and cover the grill for 8-10 minutes while the fish cooks.
Promptly remove the fish from the grill when done. Once the foil is cool enough to touch, open the packets and serve warm.
Perfect white fish should be slightly opaque and easily flake with a fork when done.
We hope your family enjoys this zesty, juicy Lemon Pepper Cod Grilled in foil all summer long!
Can I Grill Frozen Cod?
While fresh, non-frozen fish is preferred, it is not necessary to thaw frozen cod before grilling. Just add a few minutes to the cook time to ensure the filets are properly cooked through.
What Can I Serve with Grilled Cod, Halibut, or Grouper?
We love Lemon Pepper Cod served right on top of rice or lentils for a complete and healthy meal.
Enjoy as a low carb dish by serving with Roasted Cauliflower Rice, a green salad, or a side of grilled or roasted veggies.
Looking for More Summer Grilling Recipes?
- Sweet and Sour Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
- 4-Ingredient Magic Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Grilled Vegetable Kebabs with Fajita Butter
- Best Hamburger Patty Recipe
- Habanero Peach Grilled Chicken Wings
Lemon Pepper Grilled Cod in Foil
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets (or grouper or halibut)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 lemon sliced
- 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium, about 350-375 degree F.
- Lay 4 large squares of foil on the countertop. Cut the butter into 4 sections. Slice the lemon into rounds. Place one tablespoon of butter and one lemon slice in the center of each piece of foil.
- Pat each fish fillet dry with a paper towel. Then lay one fillet over the butter and lemon on each piece of foil.
- In a small bowl, mix the lemon pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sprinkle generously over the top of each fish fillet.
- Pull the two opposite sides of the foil up over the cod. Fold the foil down twice to seal the top. Then flatten and fold the two ends together, twice, to make the foil packets airtight.
- Place the foil packets on the hot grill. Cover the grill for 8-10 minutes. 8 minutes for fillets under 1 inch thick. 10 minutes for fillets over 1 inch thick.
- Remove from the grill. Once the foil is cool enough to touch, open the packets and serve warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
Can you omit paprika and just use the lemon pepper?
Hi Diane,
Sure! I like paprika for its color and mild flavor. However, you can substitute a dried herb like thyme or rosemary if you prefer, or just leave it out.
My boyfriend is not typically crazy about fish but he raved about it this time. Followed the recipe exactly. Delicious. And so easy!
This was DELICIOUS! My kids usually won’t touch fish unless they get to open their little parchment paper packets, but this was an exception. I served the cod over beluga lentils (which look startlingly like roe) and the whole family enjoyed.
This looks so delicious! Can’t wait to make this recipe this weekend! So excited!
Could this be baked in the oven? If so, what temp and approximate time.
Thanks!
Hi Deb,
Sure! Set the oven at 350 degrees F and bake for 8-10 minutes. :)
This is so good! Such an amazing meal!
What an amazing recipe sommer…and it looks soo yummy with full of flavor as well…i will make it this weekend…Thanks for sharing a beautiful recipe…!