Keto Bacon-Wrapped Cod (Low-Carb Pan-to-Oven Fish Dinner)

This is the fish dinner I make when I want something that feels like more effort than it actually is. Bacon wrapped tight around cod keeps the fish moist in the oven, and it’s a keto dinner ready in under 25 minutes.

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I start it in a hot skillet to crisp the bacon before it ever hits the oven, since bacon alone in the oven never gets properly crisp. Cod is what I reach for most, but any thick, flaky white fish works the same way.

Chef Jenn’s Takes on Keto Bacon-Wrapped Cod

Most bacon-wrapped fish recipes go straight into the oven and call it done, and the bacon comes out limp because oven heat alone isn’t enough to crisp it in the time it takes the fish underneath to cook through. Fish overcooks fast, so you can’t just leave it in the oven longer to fix soft bacon.

The fix is starting in a hot skillet first. A quick sear on each side crisps the bacon exterior before the fish ever sees the oven, and the short oven finish is just there to bring the fish up to temperature without drying it out. Wrap the bacon tightly around the fish, since it shrinks as it cooks and a loose wrap leaves gaps that let the fish dry out on the sides. Pull it at 140°F on a thermometer, not by eye, since cod goes from perfectly cooked to overdone in about a minute.

What You’ll Love About Keto Bacon-Wrapped Cod

• The skillet sear before the oven means the bacon actually crisps up instead of coming out soft the way it does in most bacon-wrapped fish recipes.
• It’s a genuine weeknight dinner, ready start to finish in about 25 minutes with a short ingredient list.
• It works with whatever thick, flaky white fish you have on hand, so this isn’t a one-time recipe tied to a single type of fish.

Ingredients

• Bacon – Cod wrapped in bacon needs a good quality bacon.
• Cod – Bacon and cod go hand in hand, but you can use other fish.
• Old Bay seasoning

How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Cod

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Season your filets with a generous sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. You can also use your favorite fish seasoning. Lay the bacon in front of you on a clean work surface. Overlap the slices by a wee bit.

Place the seasoned cod at one end of the bacon and roll it up, jelly roll-style. Don’t worry about covering the ends.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and fry the bacon-wrapped cod for 1-2 minutes per side. You just want to give the bacon a bit of heat to start cooking.

Pop the skillet into a preheated 400-F oven and bake the fish for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature is about 140-F. The USDA recommends 145-F as the temperature for the safe consumption of fish, and it’ll cook a bit more once you take it out of the oven.

Serve and enjoy!

Make It A Meal

There’s so much flavor in this baked cod recipe that you don’t want to overpower it with really flavorful sides. Some of my favorites include: Green Beans Almondine with Bacon (can’t have too much bacon!), Crack Cauliflower, or just a nice salad with fresh ranch or blue cheese dressing. I also love this fish dish with keto bacon coleslaw, but whatever you serve it with, don’t forget the lemon wedges!

Frequently Asked Questions

Want Even More Easy Keto Recipes?

These are some of my current favorites:

• Crack Cauliflower
• Beefy minestrone soup
• Grilled vegetables
• And this dump-and-go Instant Pot classic

Having trouble counting carbs? Check out this handy calculator.