Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon

This recipe for Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon uses an easy and delicious fish marinade that’s good on any type of firm white fish.

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Recently I shared the recipe for Kalyn’s Lake Powell Fish Marinade, and you can’t go wrong with that recipe for grilled fish. But this delicious recipe for Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon uses another tasty fish marinade I often served when I was catering houseboat trips.

Back in the Lake Powell days I made this grilled fish recipe most often with halibut, but now a small package of frozen halibut is $40 at Costco, which seems like a lot for most food budgets. And right next to the halibut I found Wild Alaskan Pacific Cod, which was much less expensive and absolutely lip-smacking good in this recipe!

The grilled cod in the photos is served with easy Cucumber Caesar for a perfect summer dinner. I do realize that grilled fish can be tricky to cook, and Cod is a bit more delicate than halibut, so I encourage you to pay attention to my tips to prevent the fish from sticking when you try this recipe. 

The idea of garlic and basil with fish may seem unusual, but please trust me on this. Normally I love fresh basil, but for a marinade I prefer dried herbs, and I’ve made this fish marinade many, many times with dried basil with great results. 

And be sure not to marinate the fish too long, or the lemon juice will start to “cook” the fish. Below you will also find suggestions for more types of fish you can use for this garlic-basil marinade.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• pieces of Cod or other firm white fish
• olive oil
• fresh-squeezed lemon juice, I used my fresh-frozen lemon juice
• coarse ground black pepper
• Spike Seasoning (affiliate link) or other all-purpose seasoning blend
• garlic puree or Minced Ginger (affiliate link) from a jar
• Dried Basil (affiliate link)

What other kinds of fish are good for this Grilled Cod recipe:

You can make this recipe with any firm white fish, especially Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, or Tuna.

How can you prevent grilled cod or other fish from sticking?

1. Be sure your grill grates are completely clean.
2. Before you heat the grill, spray grill grates well with a non-stick spray like Pam for Grilling (affiliate link) or rub with a high smoke-point oil.
3. After you drain the marinated fish, let fish come to room temperature and brush the side that’s going on the grill first with olive oil (or any oil you prefer.)
4. Preheat the grill to high, then immediately turn to medium-high when you put fish on the grill.
5. Brush the second side with oil after you put fish on the grill.
6. Be gentle and careful when you’re rotating and turning the fish; use a Fish Spatula (affiliate link) if you have one. 

Can you cook Grilled Cod without an outdoor grill?

If you don’t have an outdoor grill (or it’s not grilling weather), grilled cod or other grilled fish like this can easily be cooked on a stove-top grill pan with ridges (affiliate link) or a George Foreman Grill (affiliate link) with good results. Remember that the George Foreman Grill cooks both sides at once so grilling time will be a lot shorter!

How to Make Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Thaw frozen cod overnight in the refrigerator and drain in a colander.
2. Combine ingredients to make the marinade.
3. Put the fish in a Ziploc bag with the marinade and marinate in the fridge for about 2 hours (not longer).
4. When you’re ready to cook, take fish out of the fridge, drain off the marinade, and let it come to room temperature while you preheat the grill, which you have generously oiled or sprayed with non-stick spray made for the grill. I start heating on high and then turn the grill down to medium-high when I put the fish on. 
5. Brush the top side of the fish well with olive oil or a high smoke-point oil. 
6. Put fish on the grill with oiled side down, and cook without moving about 3 minutes. Then g-e-n-t-l-y lift the edge to see if you have grill marks. 
7. Use a Fish Spatula (affiliate link) to slide under the fish if it’s sticking a bit.
8. When you have grill marks, rotate fish so it’s going the opposite angle on the first side and cook about 2-3 minutes longer.
9. Brush the top side of the fish with oil before you turn it over, and turn gently.
10. Cook about 3 minutes more on the second side. Cod only needs to be cooked to 130F/54C to be done, so if you have one I’d use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link) to check the temperature. Cod is tough when it’s overcooked, so watch it carefully and check often.
11. Serve hot for a perfect summer meal!

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

The grilled cod in the photos is served with easy Cucumber Caesar. For a delicious low-carb meal, this cod would also be delicious with something like Air Fryer Asian Green Beans, Al’s Famous Hungarian Cucumber Salad, Loaded Cauliflower Mock Potato Salad, or a perfect summer tomato salad.

More Fish or Seafood on the Grill:

• Grilled Halibut with Cumin and Lime
• Grilled Salmon Burgers with Caper Mayonnaise
• Grilled Mahi Mahi with Korean Dipping Sauce
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Maple Glaze Salmon

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Yield: 4 servings

Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes

Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon is a perfect main dish for summer, and this recipe is really delicious and extra low in carbs.

Ingredients

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces cod or other firm white fish

Marinade Ingredients:

• 6 T olive oil plus a bit more for brushing fish
• 2 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper ( or less, to taste)
• 1 tsp. Spike Seasoning (see notes)
• 1 T garlic puree or minced garlic (see notes)
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried basil

Instructions

1. Thaw the fish completely in refrigerator if frozen. Drain the fish well in a colander placed in the sink.
2. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, Spike Seasoning (affiliate link) or other all-purpose seasoning blend, garlic puree, and dried basil.
3. Put fish in Zip-loc bag or plastic container with a snap-tight lid, arranging it in a single layer.
4. Pour marinade over and marinate in refrigerator for about 2 hours. Turn it over a few times if you’re home. Don’t marinate it much longer than this or the marinade will start to “cook” the fish.
5. When you’re ready to cook, take the fish out of the fridge, drain off the marinade, and let fish come to room temperature.
6. Oil the grill grates generously with oil poured on to a paper towel, or use a non-stick spray made for the grill. Then turn grill on to high and preheat.
7. Brush the top side of the fish well with olive oil or a high smoke-point oil. 
8. Turn the grill to medium-high when you are ready to put the fish on (or for a charcoal grill, you can only hold your hand there for a few seconds when it’s hot enough to cook fish.)
9. To get grill marks, lay the fish diagonally across grill grates; after 3 minutes gently lift the edge to see if the grill marks are dark enough. You may need to use a Fish Spatula (affiliate link) to slide under the fish if it doesn't lift easily.
10. After first grill marks appear rotate fish so it’s laying diagonally the other way. Wait for the second set of grill marks, and then brush the top side with oil before you turn it over.
11. Very gently and carefully turn fish over to cook about 3 minutes the other side. Cod only needs to be cooked to 130F/54C to be done, so if you have one I'd use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link) to check the temperature.

1. Cod is tough when it's overcooked, so watch it carefully and check often. Don't overcook! Serve hot.

Notes

If you don't have Spike Seasoning (affiliate link) use any all-purpose seasoning blend. I use garlic puree or minced that comes in a jar; you can substitute slightly less garlic powder but I think the garlic puree from a jar gives better flavor.

Remember that when you're using ingredients in a marinade, you're not eating all of that in the finished dish. I'm assuming only about one-fourth of the oil will be eaten, so I adjusted that in the nutritional information.

I made this recipe for years at Lake Powell but I don’t remember if I created it or saw the recipe somewhere; if anyone recognizes it please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 256Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1.3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6.5gCholesterol 99mgSodium 521mgCarbohydrates 1.8gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 41g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon is a great recipe for any type of low-carb eating plan, including Keto, and it’s also perfect for for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Grilling Recipes for more ideas like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2011, using Halibut for the fish. After I discovered beautiful cod fillets at Costco the recipe was updated with that cheaper option and new photos in 2021, and the recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.

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