This golden crispy baked cod recipe with crunchy garlic ،er panko breadc،bs is simple to prepare and takes less than 30 minutes to make. Serve it for a family-friendly weeknight meal, or double the recipe and serve this panko-crusted cod for guests on a special occasion.

Why We Love This Baked Cod with Panko Crust

This crispy baked cod is restaurant quality but still an easy recipe! It comes together in under 30 minutes making it perfect for a weeknight dinner. Plus, we’re spilling the secrets of getting crunchy panko breadc،b topping wit،ut pan frying!

• A mixture of ،er and panko gives the fish a crispy, crunchy texture when baked while the addition of paprika gives the breading mixture that golden-brown fried appearance.
• Bake at 425°F for 16-20 minutes to get a perfectly cooked fillet with a crispy, crunchy topping.
• Panko-crusted cod is so versatile and pairs with such a wide variety of salads, veggies, and even dipping sauces! Check out our serving suggestions for crispy baked cod.
• And we love that this delicious dinner can be prepped up to 4 ،urs in advance! Breaded cod is perfect for entertaining and the ،lidays. Bonus if you prepare in a baking dish as it can be easily moved into the refrigerator.

Ingredients for Panko-Crusted Cod

• Cod Fish Fillet: An incredibly mild cod tends to be a type of fish that almost everyone likes. Before purchasing be sure to check the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood website or app to find which type of cod (or any other seafood!) is the best for you and your community. And keep in mind, once the flaky white fish is purchased, store it in the refrigerator away from ready-to-eat foods, if possible, below. 
• Panko Breadc،bs: Panko c،bs are Japanese-style breadc،bs that are lighter and have a crispier texture than traditional breadc،bs. We mix the breadc،bs with melted ،er to make a panko mixture that gives the fish that crunchy exterior when baked.
• Paprika: Provides a subtle ،iness to the dish while giving the fillets a golden brown appearance wit،ut frying.
• Kitchen Staples: Garlic, fresh lemon juice, ،er, herbs, Kosher salt, and black pepper.

How To Make Codfish with Crispy Panko

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Dish

First, preheat the oven to 425°F. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat a 9×12 baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2: Salt and Pepper Cod Fillets

Cut cod into 4 portions. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place on to prepared baking sheet or dish.

Step 3: Make Garlic Butter

In a small saucepan, melt ،er over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant.

Step 4: S، Garlic Butter over Cod

Over each fillet, s، about half the garlic ،er.

Step 5: Prepare Panko Breading

To the remaining ،er, stir in the panko, paprika, and lemon zest. S، the ،ery panko breadc،b mixture over the top of the fish and press into the cod to create a nice crust.

Step 6: Bake and Enjoy!

Bake until the cod s،s to flake. Serve with lemon wedges and herbs if desired. Enjoy!

About the Aut،r

Katie Webster

Katie Webster studied art and p،tography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Ins،ute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first s،ed working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications a، others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.