Dinner in about 20 minutes? It’s totally possible! This fish with cream sauce combines perfectly cooked pan fried cod and a lush, garlicky cream sauce with lots of fresh dill and a touch of lemon. Sure to be a favourite for easy weekday dinners or entertaining with friends and family.
While fresh cod is still plentiful around here, I had to share one of our all time favourite ways to enjoy it.
Oh cod, how I love thee…from cod in tomato sauce to cod au gratin to curried cod and fish burgers, it’s just simply delicious and so versatile.
This recipe for fish with creamy sauce takes simple pan fried cod up a notch with the addition of a lush creamy dill sauce.
I basically prepare the cod in much the same way as I would for a pan fried version (but left out the flour dredge).
Then, after the cod fillets are cooked, use the same pan to make the most delicious creamy sauce with garlic, plenty of fresh dill and lemon. Sounds good, right?
I’m pretty confident that I could just drink the sauce straight outta the pan it’s that good. I won’t, but I could. Don’t tempt me 😉 I can be persuaded…
Why We Love Fish with Creamy Dill Sauce
- Made in one pan for easy clean up (hello minimal dishes…woot woot!)
- Made in about 20 minutes (great for an easy weekday supper or a fuss free meal for entertaining)
- Low in carbs
- Gluten free
- Of course, it tastes delicious!
How to Make It
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Pat your fish fillet dry of excess moisture with a brown paper towel and season on both sides with a little salt and pepper.
- Add olive oil and butter to a pan and heat up until the butter has melted.
- Add your fish fillets and cook…
- Flipping to cook other side. Then, remove the fillets from the pan.
- Add some minced garlic and give that a little cook.
- Pour in cream, broth, salt and pepper.
- Simmer until the sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon.
- Once the sauce has reached the consistency that you like, stir in dill, lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Pour the delicious creamy dill sauce over the fish and dig in! There ya have it…fish with cream sauce is easy peasy delish!
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What Type of Fish Should I Use?
I love cod for this recipe, but other delicious options are haddock, halibut or a similar white fish.
Just keep in mind that cook time may vary, depending on the density and thickness of your pieces.
Can I Bake The Fillets Instead?
Absolutely!
Pan frying cod keeps this a one pan recipe. However, if you’d rather oven bake the cod, you certainly can (like I did in this oven baked cod recipe).
Keep in mind that when you pan fry the fish fillets, you’ll get some little delicious brown bits in the pan (which add to the sauce). So, if you do oven bake, you won’t get this, but no biggie.
If you do opt to bake the fish, just add a little less butter and oil to your pan to cook your minced garlic and finish your cream sauce.
More Recipe Tips
Ensure your fillets are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
If your fillets are super fresh (especially fresh cod fillets) be careful when flipping. They’re super delicate. Best to use a large fish spatula here.
This recipe calls for lemon zest and juice. Always zest your lemon before juicing as it’s difficult to do so after the lemon is cut.
Mix up the herb! Try fresh tarragon instead of dill for a twist!
Taste the sauce for seasoning after it has reduced. If you want to add a little more to your taste, go for it!
I made this creamy sauce for fish but, honestly, it would work great with chicken too!
Sides to Serve with Fish
Enjoy this cod recipe with –
- Celeriac Puree – Celery (or celery root) is a delicious alternative to mashed potatoes. These are super creamy too!
- Mixed Green Salad – Always a classic paired with fish!
- Garlicky Green Beans – Garlic, chili and fresh green beans. Tasty and made in minutes.
Hope you love this recipe for fish with cream sauce as much as we do!
If you try this easy cod recipe, please leave a comment below. Love to hear how you enjoyed! Thank you!
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Fish with Creamy Dill Sauce (made in about 20 minutes!)
Ingredients
- 4 boneless/skinless cod fillets (about 5 ounces each)
- ½ teaspoon salt , divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper , divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large garlic clove , minced
- ½ cup heavy cream (also known as 'whipping cream', 35% milk fat)
- ⅓ cup unsalted vegetable broth (or chicken broth or seafood broth)
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh dill (or 1 to 1.5 teaspoons dried dill)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Pat cod fillets dry of excess moisture with brown paper towel and season with ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- In a non-stick pan on medium heat, add olive oil and butter.
- Once butter has melted, add cod fillets. Cook 3 to 5 minutes per side or until cooked through, is opaque and the fillets flake easily with a fork. Time can vary, depending on the thickness of your fillets.
- Once fillets are done, carefully remove with a spatula and lay onto a plate. Be careful, especially if using super fresh fish, as they are quite delicate.
- Add garlic to pan and cook 1 minute.
- Pour in cream, broth and remaining ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- Simmer, stirring, and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until sauce has reduced/thickened and coats the back of a spoon when you draw your finger through it. Taste for seasoning and add more, if necessary.
- Once sauce has thickened to your liking, stir in dill, lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Pour sauce over fish and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure your fillets are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- If your fillets are super fresh (especially fresh cod fillets) be careful when flipping. They’re super delicate. Best to use a large fish spatula here.
- This recipe calls for lemon zest and juice. Always zest your lemon before juicing as it’s difficult to do so after the lemon is cut.
- Mix up the herb! Try fresh tarragon instead of dill for a twist!
- Taste the sauce for seasoning after it has reduced. If you want to add a little more to your taste, go for it!
- I made this creamy sauce for fish but, honestly, it would work great with chicken too!
Nutrition (estimate only)
Oh man, that dill cream sauce looks amazing, Dawn! It’s still early in the morning here, and I’m craving fish with dill sauce – that’s how good these photos look! Hope your week is off to a great start, my friend!
Awww, thanks so much, David! Have a wonderful week ahead 🙂
You make the best fish dishes, Dawn! So excited to try this!
You’re so kind! Thanks Marissa 🙂
We LOVE fish and enjoy it at least once a week at our house Dawn. And this creamy dill sauce looks like something we’d really enjoy!
Same here! Thank you Mary Ann 🙂
YUM! I’m with Kathy! Loving that sauce with dill and lemon! This will be a perfect week night meal! Happy weekend, my friend! XO
For sure! Thanks Annie! XO
Dawn – I love that cream sauce. All that fresh dill and lemon! This looks amazing and is perfect for topping on pan fried fish. I love how quickly this dish comes together!
Thank you Kathy!! It’s such a delicious, easy dinner for busy nights!