Perfect Grilled Cod

This grilled cod recipe is a tasty weeknight dinner ready in 25 minutes! With a homemade blackened seasoning that packs each bite with smoky, savory flavor, grilling this fish makes an easy meal everyone loves.

I’ll be honest: cod wasn’t on my radar for years. When I thought about grilling fish, I reached for grilled salmon or grilled shrimp. Cod seemed too mild or, dare I say, boring—for the grill.

But after Alex and I created this pan fried cod recipe, I decided grilled cod might actually be…exciting? I decided to coat the cod with our homemade blackened seasoning and the results were fantastic. The mild fish tasted incredible with smoky, spicy flavors and had a moist, flaky texture. Now this often appears on our dinner table in the summer!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast weeknight dinner: 25 minutes, from start to finish: including pre-heat time! The cook time is only 8 minutes
Bold, complex flavor from a homemade blackened seasoning
Healthy meal that fits gluten-free, Mediterranean diet, and pescatarian diets

Ingredients for Grilled Cod

I love how this healthy grilled cod recipe is so easy and requires just a handful of ingredients. You’ll need to make a homemade seasoning blend, but once you make it you’ll have it on hand for several more batches. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

Cod fillets: You can use fresh or frozen. Wild caught is usually a sustainable option if you can find it! Cod has a mild, pure flavor that’s not fishy at all. In fact, it’s even more mild than fish like salmon. Because of its delicate white meat and neutral flavor, it’s sometimes called “chicken of the sea.”
Olive oil: Just a light coating to help the seasoning adhere and prevent sticking.
Homemade blackened seasoning or seafood seasoning: This is where the magic happens!

Tip: Cod is a great starter fish for people who don’t think they like fish! (Another starter fish that’s not too fishy is my favorite grilled ahi tuna.)

The Best Seasoning for Grilled Cod

The very best seasoning for cod, in my opinion, is blackened seasoning. Blackening is a Cajun style way of cooking fish in a cast iron skillet with a seasoning blend. Every chef uses their own mix for blackened seasoning, so there’s no official definition.

Most recipes have spices familiar to Cajun cuisine. My blackened seasoning includes smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, celery seed, allspice, cloves, and cayenne. You can adjust the cayenne to the heat level desired: this comes out mild to medium as written and my kids love it. If you want an even spicier version, try my Cajun seasoning instead.

If you prefer a milder option, try my magic seafood seasoning! It’s truly the best blend of flavors: a mix of savory, smoky and aromatic spices that makes for irresistible fish.

How to Grill Cod

You can make grilled cod right on the grill grates: no foil required! It infuses the cod with smoky flavor and a crispy exterior. Here are our tips for how to grill cod:

Temperature: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (375–450°F). Medium high heat makes for a perfectly cooked piece of cod.
Bring cod to room temperature: Let the fillets sit out for about 15 minutes before grilling. Cold fish straight from the fridge can cook unevenly.
Pat it completely dry and season: When the fish is dry, it gets a better sear.
Timing: Grill for 4 minutes skin side down, then flip and cook 2–4 more minutes. The best way to measure whether it’s done is using an internal thermometer. Stick it in the thickest part of the fish and it should read 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This should be right when the cod starts to flake when pulled with a fork.

How to Prevent Sticking

Some people complain about grilled fish sticking to the grill. Here’s our advice: Don’t try to turn it too soon! When the cod is cooked just enough, it releases from the grill grates, making it easy to flip.

But if you touch it before that time, it can stick and break apart. You don’t need to oil the grill grates. Just lightly oil the fish, and when cooking wait until the cod is easy to release (about 5 minutes). Then it’s easy to flip!

What to Serve with Grilled Cod

There are so many fantastic ways to accessorize grilled cod to make it a healthy dinner! Here are some of my favorite ideas for making it into a tasty spring or summer meal:

These colorful grilled peppers and onion or grilled zucchini and squash would be colorful alongside, or try our favorite grilled veggie kabobs.
Bring in a Cajun feel with grilled okra.
Our best coleslaw recipe is perfect alongside grilled fish, or try elote salad or grilled corn salad.
This squash and zucchini casserole would be perfection right alongside.

Storage

Grilled cod is best eaten fresh. But if you have leftovers, store refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of olive oil. I like making leftover fish into new things like these leftover salmon ideas.

Dietary Notes

This grilled cod recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and pescatarian.