Sweet chili lime cod is bright, buttery, and glossy, with tender flakes of fish coated in a citrusy chili glaze. Garlic butter gives the cod a rich skillet-seared base, while lime, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, and optional sriracha keep every bite lively and balanced.
Quick Overview
- Flavor/texture: Buttery, garlicky, lightly spicy, citrusy, glossy, and flaky
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Weeknight seafood dinners, light meals, quick protein bowls, or a fresh 20 minute fish dinner
- Method: Skillet-seared cod finished with sweet chili lime glaze
- Time: Prep Time: 10 min . Cook Time: 10 min . Total Time: 20 min
- Servings: 4
- Approx.: 360 Calories | 32g Protein per serving
What This Is and Why You’ll Love It: Sweet Chili Lime Cod
- This sweet chili lime cod is fast, fresh, and full of glossy skillet flavor.
- The cod cooks in garlic butter first, so the fish gets a savory base before the glaze goes on.
- Sweet chili sauce brings gentle heat and shine without making the dish heavy.
- Lime juice and zest brighten the butter and balance the sweetness.
- The cod strips cook quickly and stay tender when pulled as soon as they turn opaque.
- It works with rice, noodles, crisp vegetables, salad, or tucked into seafood bowls.
- Love quick seafood dinners? Try this Garlic butter shrimp next for another buttery skillet meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
1 lb cod fillets, cut into strips
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Sweet Chili Lime Sauce Ingredients:
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
Juice of 1 lime
Zest of 1 lime
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sriracha, optional
Key ingredients
Cod fillets: Mild, tender, and flaky, cod is perfect for a sweet chili fish recipe because it lets the garlic butter and lime glaze stand out.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps the garlic bloom gently before the fish goes in.
Garlic: Gives the skillet sauce a warm, savory backbone.
Paprika: Adds color and a soft smoky warmth without overpowering the cod.
Sweet chili sauce: Creates the glossy glaze that clings to every flaky edge.
Lime juice and zest: Bring brightness, citrus aroma, and balance.
Soy sauce and sesame oil: Add savory depth and a lightly nutty finish.
Sriracha: Optional, but great for extra heat.
Substitutions
- Use another firm white fish of similar thickness, such as haddock or halibut, for future batches.
- Use salted butter only when needed, then season more carefully because soy sauce also adds salt.
- Use tamari in place of soy sauce for a gluten-free-style swap.
- Skip the sriracha for a milder sweet chili lime cod.
- Use cilantro instead of parsley for a more citrusy, herb-forward finish.