Looking for an easy weeknight meal? This baked Parmesan Crusted Cod with panko can be prepared in less than 20 minutes, but tastes like a dish you’d get at a restaurant. A family favorite fish recipe!
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Parmesan-Crusted Cod Recipe
Are you prepared for the most tasty fish recipe EVER? Because that’s what this Parmesan Crusted Cod is. Absolutely mouthwatering.
The flaky fish is topped with a crunchy panko parmesan crust infused with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Does that not sound amazing?!
It’s a cinch to prepare and the fish tastes like something that you’d order at a restaurant.
It’s seriously good stuff and makes for such a light and healthy meal for busy weeknights!
For more tasty cod recipes, try this Blackened Cod Recipe!
Why this Cod Fish Recipe Should be Added to your Menu
- It’s such an easy recipe. Minimal ingredients are required to produce this super tasty fish.
- A source of lean protein. White fish just so happens to be naturally low in fat and is a great source of protein with 24 grams of protein per serving.
- A quick and easy meal. How many meals can you prepare in less than 20 minutes? Answer: Not many.
- Delicious. This baked fish recipe tastes like something you would get in a restaurant. The crust is so flavorful!
- It’s baked, not fried, making for a much heart healthier option. And the best part is, the baking still results in a nice crunchy topping!
- Beautiful presentation. Not only does this cod recipe taste good, but it also presents really well and looks plain tasty when it comes out of the oven. It would make a great option to serve to guests!
Ingredient Notes
This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients to make fish with one flavor-infused crunchy topping!
Cod fillets: You will need four 4-5 ounce cod fillets. Fresh cod is best, but frozen thawed fish works well too.
Panko bread crumbs: Provides a nice crunchy topping. You can use regular or whole wheat panko bread crumbs.
Parmesan cheese: For the best flavor, use freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Lemon zest: Adds a nice zesty flavor that pairs so well with the panko and parmesan. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice once the fish is cooked.
Fresh parsley: Fresh is best, but if you’re in a pinch, you can sub in dried parsley instead. Fresh dill would also work well here.
Seasonings: We keep the seasonings simple with garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
Olive oil: Is mixed in with the topping ingredients to help it get golden brown and crispy in the oven. You can use extra virgin olive oil or light olive oil.
How to Make Baked Cod With Panko and Parmesan
Step 1: Prepare the Topping
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a medium bowl, combine the panko, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper.
- Add the olive oil and toss to combine. The mixture should have a crumbly appearance.
Step 2: Place Topping on Cod Fillets
- Place cod on the sheet pan and season all over with salt and pepper.
- Divide the panko topping among the fillets, pressing lightly so that it adheres.
Step 3: Bake and Enjoy!
- Place the fish in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned and the fish is mostly opaque (just cooked through), with a trace of translucence in the center. Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite sides!
Expert Tip: I recommend cutting into a piece to double check the fish’s doneness. Keep in mind that the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish fillets. Thicker pieces will require longer cooking times. For best results, serve the fish up immediately while it’s warm and the crust is nice and crunchy.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Tips for the Best Breaded Cod Recipe
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels before adding the breadcrumb mixture to the top of each fillet.
- Depending on how much topping you use for each fillet, you may find that you have some extra topping leftover. You can either sprinkle it on any vegetables you serve the fish with, or save the remaining topping to sprinkle on chicken or salmon later that week. It’s delicious on both!
- If you’re looking for the ultimate simple weeknight meal, then I suggest making the panko parmesan crust mixture in advance so that it’s all ready to go. Just make sure that you store it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Then, when that busy weeknight rolls around, all that you have to do is distribute the topping on the fish fillets and bake. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
Recipe FAQs
Definitely! The panko parmesan crust mixture would taste delicious on any type of white fish.
If you don’t have cod on hand or prefer the taste of another fish, feel free to experiment with sole, halibut, haddock, tilapia, or your other favorite fish. This recipe would work well with any of those options!
Once again, you may have to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the fillet.
There are a few ways to tell if your cod is cooked. The most simple and reliable way is to check the internal temperature. The internal temperature of the fish should register 145°F when the thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the fish.
You can also grab a fork. Once your fish hits the right temperature, the collagen in the flesh loosens up, and the meat will easily flake when you poke it with a fork.
Take a close look at the center. It should appear nearly opaque, not translucent like raw fish.
Finally, give it a gentle press. It might sound odd, but if you lightly press on the fish with your finger, it should feel about as soft as the tip of your nose.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerator: You can store the remaining fish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
To reheat: It’s best to reheat any leftover fish in the oven. Place the fish on a baking sheet and reheat at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the fish is warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This fish recipe pairs well with so many different sides. Try out any of the following!
- Cranberry Walnut Coleslaw
- Cinnamon Sweet Potato Fries
- Healthy Roasted Potatoes
- Brown rice
- Steamed broccoli (or try this roasted broccoli with lemon and parmesan)
- Fresh green beans (we love these green beans with cranberries and almonds)
- Homemade tartar sauce
Recipe Variations
- To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs instead of regular.
- To make dairy-free: Sub in a vegan parmesan cheese.
- Switch up the seasonings: Try a bit of Italian seasoning, onion powder, sweet paprika, Cajun seasoning or a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat!
More Delicious Fish Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Baked Parmesan Crusted Cod
Video
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 four ounce cod fillets
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine the panko, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and toss to combine.
- Arrange the cod fillets on the baking sheet and season all over with salt and pepper. Divide the panko topping among the fillets, pressing lightly so that it adheres.
- Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned and the fish is mostly opaque (just cooked through), with a trace of translucence in the center (cut into a piece to check). Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Depending on how much topping you use for each fillet, you may find that you have some extra topping leftover. You can either sprinkle it on any vegetables you serve the fish with, or save the remaining topping to sprinkle on chicken or salmon later that week. It’s delicious on both!
- Leftover fish can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in February 2020 and was updated in October 2024 to include more helpful tips and photos.
So good!!! I had to add a little extra olive oil so the topping was moist enough to stick to the fish, but otherwise followed the recipe. it Is crazy good and is better than most restaurants. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Aw thanks for the glowing review! Your comment made my day! So happy you loved it :)
Excellent!! Easy and flavorful. Everyone in the family loved it!!
Awesome! So happy the whole family enjoyed it!
This recipe is really great and easy to make! Thank you!
Amazing! So happy you enjoyed it :)
Excellent go to fish recipe. Easy to make with a lot of flavor.
So happy you’ve been loving the recipe! Thanks so much for returning to leave a review :)
Delicious and easy recipe! I agree that the fresh lemon zest was really a flavorful touch. Followed the recipe with one small exception. I used to freeze dried parsley in place of the fresh. Fresh isn’t always readily available to me and had the freeze dried on hand. Same measurement and it was delicious. Family of four and every one agrees this is a keeper! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Great idea using freeze dried parsley…the perfect solution if you don’t have fresh on hand! So happy your family enjoyed the recipe :)
Excellent! My new favorite! My husband loved it too!
Thanks so much for your feedback! So happy you and your husband enjoyed the recipe :)
This has become one of my go to recipes. It is quick and easy, tasty and light. Love the lemon zest and toasty panko and cheese. I tried it with chicken, too.
That’s amazing! So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipe. I loved how you used the topping on chicken too…I’ll definitely have to try that!
Delicious and easy! My cod was pretty thick so I ended up cooking a little longer than 12 minutes. The Parmesan crust was very tasty and I will make this again!
So happy it was a winner! Thanks so much for reporting back :)
Excellent and very easy! Always looking for good and flavorful fish recipes! Loved the crunchy topping. My son, who’s leaving for college, says this is a must have recipe for him at his apartment!!! We will be making this often! :)
Don’t you love it when you find a recipe that the whole family loves? So happy it was a hit! That’s awesome that your son plans to continue making this recipe while away at college. Best of luck to him! :)
Best recipe I’ve tried! This will be my go to from here on. Easy, quick, has the crunch I wanted, and very tasty!
Yay!! Glad it was a winner! So happy you found a new go-to fish recipe :)
Easy and very tasty. Have made this several times and everyone loves it as much as I do.
So happy it was a hit with everyone! Thanks so much for your feedback :)
So simple and yet so tasty! So easy to make but tasted amazing. Was great with garlic hasselback potatoes . Thank you!
My pleasure — happy you enjoyed it! I bet it was delicious with the garlic hasselback potatoes!
This was incredible and each portion only had 245 calories!! Adding to the regular rotation – so much flavor and the crunch yummy
So happy you found a new recipe to add to your menu rotation! Always such a light and tasty option! Thanks so much for returning to share your feedback :)
Really easy to make and it tasted delicious. My family really liked it!
Yay!! So glad it was a hit! Thanks so much for providing feedback on the recipe :)
Excellent. Good enough to serve when friends are invited for dinner. Everyone enjoyed it. Even folks who aren’t fond of fish like it. Easy to find the ingredients in the grocery stores.
Thank you!! I agree — it’s a good recipe to serve to those non-fish lovers. Glad everyone enjoyed it! :)
Delicious and so easy to make. My family really enjoyed it!
That’s amazing — so happy you all loved the recipe!