30-Minute Pesto Baked Cod in Foil with Asparagus

This oven baked cod in foil with pesto and asparagus is the easiest healthy meal to make on a weeknight. Ready to eat in 30 minutes or less, protein-packed cod fish is topped with basil pesto on top of fresh asparagus in foil packets. Delicious, nutritious, and simple!

As a Registered Dietitian, I am all about easy healthy dinner recipes that don’t take a ton of time or effort to prepare. If you have a busy schedule with a lot of commitments, I’m sure you can agree! This oven baked cod in foil with pesto and asparagus is a quick healthy meal that is perfect for busy weeknights.

Baked fish in foil packets, or “en papillote”, yields a very moist, flaky, and tender piece of fish, because the fish will steam in the sealed off foil packet when it is in the hot oven. This recipe requires just four ingredients (besides salt, pepper, and olive oil) and takes 30 minutes or less to make. Cod loin is topped with store bought pesto and baked in a foil packet on a bed of fresh asparagus.

Serve this foil baked pesto cod recipe as is for a light meal, or with a side of roasted mini potatoes, air fryer fingerling potatoes, pasta, or a whole grain salad!

Looking for even more healthy fish recipes? Try my oven baked cod with lemon and capers, crispy air fryer salmon, salmon and farro bowls, or lemon dill salmon burgers.

Step-by-step video

Ingredients in baked cod in foil

Here is everything you need to make this recipe:

• Cod loin
• Asparagus
• Basil pesto
• Lemon
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

This recipe is pescatarian, gluten free, and serves two people.

What is cod loin?

Cod loin cuts come from the middle third of the fish, and usually come from larger fish. Compared to cod fillets, cod loins are thicker, moist, and flaky.

If you can’t find cod loin, you can use cod fillets in this recipe. You may just need to cut down on the cooking time by about 5 minutes, since cod fillets are thinner than cod loins.

Kitchen tools needed

To make this recipe, you need a roll of aluminum foil (tin foil), a baking sheet, a knife, and a cutting board.

How to make baked cod in foil with asparagus

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut cod into two equal sized pieces (alternatively, just ask the vendor at the fish counter to cut the fish for you when you purchase it).
3. Pat the cod dry with a paper towel and put the pieces on a plate.
4. Season the cod with salt and pepper on both sides. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the cod.
5. Wash and dry asparagus. Snap off the woody ends and discard them.
6. Take two sheets of aluminum foil, about 18 inches long.
7. Place half of the asparagus in the center of the each piece of foil.
8. Drizzle a little olive oil over the asparagus, and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
9. Place one piece of cod onto each portion of asparagus.
10. Spoon a dollop of pesto onto each piece of cod and gently spread it around.
11. Fold the foil over the cod and asparagus, and use your fingers to seal the foil into little packets where no air can escape.
12. Place the foil packets on a baking sheet.
13. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until cod is easily flaked with a fork or reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
14. Let foil packets cool for a minute or two then open them up. You can serve them on a plate in the foil, or use a spatula to move the asparagus and cod onto a plate. Serve with extra lemon wedges.

Internal temperature for cooking fish

To prevent bacterial infection, it’s important to cook fish to the proper internal temperature. Cook your fish until a meat thermometer reads 145° F.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check the doneness of your fish by its appearance. Properly cooked fish will be opaque in the middle and flake easily with a fork.

What to serve with pesto baked cod in foil

This cod recipe includes a full serving of vegetables, because the asparagus is baked right in the foil. This meal provides protein + non-starchy vegetables, so you can pair it with a starchy carb to make it a well-balanced meal. Here are some recipe ideas to pair with baked cod in foil:

• Roasted vegetable pasta salad
• Quick and healthy green sauce with pasta
• Kale pesto pasta
• Farro salad with butternut squash, kale, and goat cheese
• Mushroom & kale farro risotto
• Air fryer crispy fingerling potatoes
• Caprese orzo salad

Can I prepare this recipe in advance?

You can assemble the fish in foil packets up to one day in advance, except for adding the lemon juice. Acidic lemon juice will “cook” the delicate fish like ceviche if left on overnight. Add the lemon juice 10-15 minutes before cooking in the oven.

Store foil packets with cod and asparagus in the fridge.

Let me know if you love this post by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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