These easy-to-make recipes are perfect for what to serve with Cod. From pasta and potato side dishes to salads, veggies, and sauces, you’ll find everything you need to serve this tasty fish for dinner. All the recipes listed here are naturally gluten-free with many dairy-free options.
Cod is one of my favorite types of fish because it’s relatively affordable and mild enough to pair well with so many flavors. Cod is a thicker white fillet that bakes up flaky and moist.
Wild-caught cod tastes the best, and don’t be afraid to look for frozen fish if you live in a land-locked state, especially in a small town. Of course, if you have a good source of super fresh fish, go for it!
But the ‘fresh’ fish at your local grocery store usually isn’t worth the price tag over frozen fish fillets.
Pasta Side Dishes
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- One Pot Mac and Cheese
- Creamy Tomato Pasta
- One Pot Caprese Pasta
- Lemon Cream Sauce tossed w/1 pound of pasta
These 5 pasta side dishes are all perfect for the mild-mannered cod. My lemon cream sauce tossed with pasta is extra perfect with my Lemon Herb Baked Cod. A bit of lemon in both dishes works well together, and the creamy pasta adds the perfect richness to the lighter fish.
Potato Side Dishes
- Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Potatoes & Carrots
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes
- Pan-Fried Rosemary Potatoes
- Grilled Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potato
- Roasted Sweet Potato
All these potato side dishes work well with cod or my Lemon Herb Baked Cod. The cheesy mashed potatoes are my favorite make-ahead option. And the grilled potatoes are always on the menu during the summer months.
I’ll even make my baked cod on the grill by placing the baking dish on a grill on medium heat after making the potatoes. The potatoes are perfect at room temperature, so there’s no need to keep them warm while the cod cooks.
Fresh Salads
- Apple Spinach Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Easy Green Salad
- Caesar Salad (made w/o the chicken)
- Best of Summer Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Best Broccoli Salad
- Bacon Kale Caesar Salad
- Citrus Spinach Salad
There’s a little something for every season in this list of salads. If you’re entertaining, it’s nice to pick a pasta or potato, then add a salad and a veggie from below.
If you’re looking for a super light supper, try my Lemon Herb Baked Cod with a seasonal salad and enjoy.
Vegetable Side Dishes
- Roasted Broccoli
- Garlic Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Maple Sage Carrots
- Roasted Green Beans
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Garlic Butter Mushrooms
- Lemon Herb Zucchini
- Sautéed Green Beans
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Roasted Asparagus
- Sautéed Spinach
- Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
- Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
- Prosciutto Asparagus
- Mashed Butternut Squash
Choose 1-2 of these veggie side dishes depending on what is in season for you. I especially love asparagus with fish, but I love asparagus with just about anything. My Sautéed Green Beans are the easiest and most accessible year-round side dish everyone loves.
Add a saucy side
If you make a plain baked cod recipe, these sauces are my favorites for white fish. The Lemon Cream Sauce is especially good paired with asparagus.
But the Mushroom Cream Sauce is cozier for the winter months with a potato option and Mashed Butternut. These 5 sauces are perfect with the oven-baked veggies for endless combinations for what to serve with cod.
FAQ’s
Cod is a mild mannered white fish that pairs well with almost any flavor you can think of. We love it for fish tacos or a fancy meal with lemon cream sauce and asparagus.
Any veggie goes well with cod. Mashed potatoes, salads, and roasted veggies are all a good choice.
Menus for what to serve with cod
- Spring: Cod + Lemon Cream Sauce + Roasted Asparagus + Strawberry Spinach Salad and/or add my Creamy Mashed Cauliflower + Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Honey Ice Cream for dessert.
- Summer: Cod + Garlic Butter Sauce + Grilled Potatoes + Italian Chopped Salad + Peach Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert.
- Fall: Cod + Garlic Parmesan Pasta + Maple Sage Carrots + Broccoli Salad + Apple Crisp and Maple Ice Cream for dessert.
- Winter: Cod + Mushroom Cream Sauce + Mashed Potatoes + Roasted Broccoli + Apple Spinach Salad with Death by Chocolate for dessert.
These menus are written with entertaining in mind, but you can easily scale them back by making 1-2 side dishes instead of 3-4. My Death by Chocolate is great year-round and can be made ahead, so it’s perfect for easy entertaining.
I really hope you enjoy these ideas for What to Serve with Cod! If you do get a chance to make these recipes, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.