The sweet and smoky flavor of the bacon pairs so nicely with flaky and meaty cod, and Bacon-Wrapped Cod is an easy way to get in extra protein with extra flavor.
Tucked inside that parcel of bacon-wrapped goodness is a filet of light and flaky cod. Wrapping the cod in bacon keeps the fish moist and tender, and the bacon’s crispy edges are the perfect contrast to the soft fish.
Not only is this dish tasty, but there are hardly any ingredients to bother with in this keto seafood recipe! Hungry? Read on and I’ll show you just how to make this keto Bacon-Wrapped Cod!
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What You Need to Make Bacon-Wrapped Cod
- Oven-safe skillet OR a skillet and a sheet pan
- Digital meat thermometer
- Bacon – cod wrapped in bacon needs a good quality bacon
- Cod – bacon and cod go hand in hand, but you can use other fish – see my notes below
- Old Bay seasoning
What Kind oF Fish Can I use to Wrap in Bacon?
Most white, flaky fish will work well with this recipe. The key is to find a fish with thicker filets. Cod, haddock, pollock, sea bass, and halibut are all fine. Tilapia, sole, and catfish are too thin and won’t work well with this dish.
Use your favorite fresh fish fillets to make this keto fish recipe.
What Kind of Bacon Should I Use to Wrap Cod Fillets?
I use good-quality low-sodium bacon for this recipe. There’s already plenty of salt even in low-sodium bacon, and there’s a bit of salt in the Old Bay. Regular bacon might be too salty for this delicate fish.
I also just use regular cut bacon. Thick-cut is too thick and makes it difficult to eat this keto cod recipe. Regular-cut bacon is just fine.
How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Cod
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the end of this page.
- 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!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
This is probably my family’s favorite way of eating fish, and after making it a bajillion times, I’ve got some tips to help you make bacon-wrapped filets of fish perfectly, every time.
- Fresh or previously frozen fish works fine. Just blot it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Wrap the fish with the bacon fairly tightly. The fish will shrink a bit while cooking and you don’t want the bacon to get loose and flappy.
- Choose similarly sized fillets or cod loins so they all cook at the same time.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to help you know when the fish is cooked.
- Usually I advocate low and slow for cooking fish, but the bacon needs high heat. Don’t walk away while cooking the fish – it can overcook really quickly.
What To Serve With This Bacon Wrapped Fish Recipe
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
That depends on the thickness of your cod and how cold they are when they go into the oven, but I’d start checking them at the 10-minute mark. Use a good digital thermometer to make sure you get them cooked properly.
Yes! A handful of ingredients, a quick fry in the pan, and then into a hot oven for a few minutes, and you’re done!
You can use frozen cod filets, yes, but thaw them fully first, then blot them dry with paper towels before seasoning them.
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Step By Step Process To Make Bacon-Wrapped Cod
Keto Bacon-Wrapped Cod Fish
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cod filets about 6 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 12 slices bacon
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!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
This is probably my family’s favorite way of eating fish, and after making it a bajillion times, I’ve got some tips to help you make bacon-wrapped filets of fish perfectly, every time.- Fresh or previously frozen fish works fine. Just blot it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Wrap the fish with the bacon fairly tightly. The fish will shrink a bit while cooking and you don’t want the bacon to get loose and flappy.
- Choose similarly sized fillets or cod loins so they all cook at the same time.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to help you know when the fish is cooked.
- Usually, I advocate low and slow for cooking fish, but the bacon needs high heat. Don’t walk away while cooking the fish – it can overcook really quickly.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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.
OMG! This bacon wrapped cod was so delicious!! Why have I never thought of this before!!
YUM! This is probably the best way to enjoy cod!!
Two of my favorite things in one recipe! This turned out so well.