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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner » 30-Minute Baked Cod with Tomatoes and Pesto Orzo

    ★★★★★ from 4 reviews

    30-Minute Baked Cod with Tomatoes and Pesto Orzo

    Published May 2, 2022 · Modified Apr 6, 2022 · by Alexis Joseph · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Thirty-minute Baked Cod with Tomatoes and pesto goat cheese orzo! The ultimate easy and healthy dinner that's super satisfying.

    far out white plate with tomatoes and fish and basil

    You've probably seen a good number of baked cod fish recipes. Some with panko breadcrumbs, some with lemon, but let me introduce you to our go-to easy weeknight meal!

    I realize not everyone and their broth know how to bake cod, but this cod recipe is legit the simplest. We're talking easy peasy dump and bake situation! What's better than that? I always keep a two-pound bag of wild cod in the freezer for this reason.

    If I don't have orzo or pesto, I'll use Trader Joe's frozen sweet potato gnocchi as a simple no-fuss side. Or roasted potatoes. Or baked cauliflower! No limits here, good people.

    white dish of tomato cod

    How to make oven baked cod

    What's fab about cod is that it's super mild and doesn't have a strong fishy flavor. It's a good introductory fish! It's also pretty affordable. Winning!

    1. Pat thawed fish dry well with paper towels. Drizzle olive oil in a large baking dish. Add fish and season liberally with kosher salt, fresh black pepper and garlic powder. Top with a can of tomatoes and bake at 400F for 25 minutes.
    2. Meanwhile, cook orzo in salted boiling water for 6 minutes. Drain and toss with pesto and goat cheese.
    3. Serve cod atop pesto and dig in!

    pink pot of peso orzo with wooden spoon

    Key ingredients

    • Cod: I like frozen wild cod, but if you live near an ocean and can get fresh, great!
    • Diced tomatoes: A super simple way to infuse flavor into the cod.
    • Orzo: I love orzo because of the soft, fluffy texture. It also cooks up really fast. You can use brown rice or quinoa for gluten free, or whatever you fancy! I used regular orzo but they also make whole wheat.
    • Pesto: Store bought or homemade pesto works great! The lemony pesto pairs so well with the tomato cod.
    • Olive oil: A good drizzle to add more flavor.
    • Seasoning: I like oregano on the cod but fresh thyme is also stellar. We're also using plenty of kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder to season up that mild fish.

    fork with tomato fish

    Can you use frozen cod?

    Absolutely! I do this all the time when it's 7pm and I've done nothing to prep dinner, ya know? Simply follow the recipe as written and don't thaw it. How long to bake cod, you ask? Cook for 35 minutes, or until flakey and opaque.

    There will be more liquid in the dish but it'll still taste amazing.

    Storage tips

    Store leftover fish in its tomato mixture separately from the orzo in air tight containers for up to three days in the fridge.

    More amazing healthy weeknight dinners

    • Sheet Pan Pesto Salmon with Broccoli and Potatoes
    • Easy Vegetable Teriyaki Stir Fry
    • Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
    • Peanut Noodles with Broccoli

    plate with tomato cod and orzo

    Print
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    far out white plate with tomatoes and fish and basil

    Baked Cod with Tomatoes Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Meals
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Thirty-minute Baked Cod with Tomatoes and pesto goat cheese orzo! The ultimate easy and healthy dinner that's super satisfying.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 pounds wild cod (I used thawed from frozen)
    • 1-15oz can diced tomatoes
    • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • kosher salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to taste
    • 1 ½ cups orzo
    • ¼ cup pesto (store bought or homemade)
    • 3 oz goat cheese, crumbled

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.
    2. Pat fish dry with paper towels. Drizzle olive oil in a 9x13 baking dish. Add fish. Season liberally with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Top evenly with tomatoes. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until cod is flaky and opaque.
    3. Once the pot of water is boiling, add orzo. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until tender. Drain and return to pot. When fish is just about done, stir pesto and goat cheese into the cooked orzo. Season to taste with a pinch of salt and pepper.
    4. Plate the orzo and top with cod. Serve with a yummy green salad and enjoy!

    Notes

    FROZEN COD: No time to thaw? No problem! Simply follow the recipe as written and don't thaw it. Simply follow the recipe but cook for 35 minutes. There will be more liquid in the dish but it'll still taste amazing.

    Keywords: baked cod with tomatoes, baked cod recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

     

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Langworth Abigale says

      May 11, 2022 at 3:14 pm

      I made this for supper last night, and it was a big success with everyone. Thank you very much! https://krunkerio.io

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Robin Lucas says

      May 09, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      Alexis, I just made this since I happened to have all the ingredients so didn't need to go to the store. This was absolutely yummy! I'm always on the hunt for cod recipes that have great flavor and this surely didn't disappoint 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 10, 2022 at 3:17 pm

        Amazing! Isn't it so easy?! I'm thrilled you loved this cod, Robin. And thanks so much for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Dylan says

      May 09, 2022 at 11:54 am

      Yum I made this last week and it was so delish! Very fresh flavors and easy enough to make on a weeknight!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 09, 2022 at 6:54 pm

        SO delish, right?

        Reply
    4. Kelly S. says

      May 03, 2022 at 7:02 pm

      Made this for dinner last night and it was a hit with the whole family. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Well HELLO there, pal! I'm Alexis. Welcome to Hummusapien, a fantastical food blog brimming with nourishing (always delish!) recipes from a Registered Dietitian plus life tidbits to inspire you to live your most joyful, balanced life. Grab a super hot cup o' joe and let's get cookin'.

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