Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod Recipe (2024)

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This crispy oven baked cod recipe is an easy 30-minute dinner. A light and flaky fish topped with a buttery crispy parmesan crust and then oven-baked until golden brown. It’s a delicious take on a batter coated fish and much healthier than fried. Enjoy on its own or as a filling for fish tacos and sandwiches!

My family loves a really good fish dinner. Cod with Tomato Basil Sauce and Pan Seared Salmon are two of our favorites. So flavorful, without feeling heavy. They’re both must-tries.

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Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod Recipe (1)

Making fish for dinner doesn’t need to be complicated. And comfort food doesn’t need to be heavy. This foolproof recipe uses a mild white fish such as cod, which is heart-healthy, high in protein, and lower on the mercury scale. It’s a delicate lean fish, but sturdy enough as a base for a delicious crunchy buttered cracker crumble on top.

Baking it rather than dredging it in oil, keeps it moist but still a lighter version of classic comfort food. And the crispy coating gives it a lovely texture! A crunchy cracker crust with a hint of parmesan and citrus from the lemon is melt in your mouth amazing.

This dish will become part of your rotation, especially if you’re looking to include more lean protein into your diet (or maybe less red meat). Fish taco Tuesdays anyone?

It’s a quick easy dinner ready in 30 minutes which makes it a great weeknight meal that can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd. If you crave fish every once in a while, this easy recipe will come in handy.

Serve it on top of a bed of rice or a side of vegetables. Use it as a filling for fish tacos, or a mouthwatering sandwich. For the best light version of fish and chips, serve it alongside french fries, wedges, or sweet potato fries!

Ingredients

  • Cod fillets
  • Butter crackers (Ritz or Club crackers)
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Butter (melted)
  • Lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley (optional garnish)
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How to Make Crispy Oven Baked Cod

Preheat the oven and place your pieces of cod on a prepared baking sheet. Use parchment paper to line it or grease it with oil or cooking spray.

Place your butter crackers into a zip lock bag and break into crumbs, using a rolling pin. You can also pulse them in a food processor. Keep in mind you don’t want fine crumbs, you want a bit of texture.

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In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs with parmesan cheese, melted butter, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

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A spoonful at a time, sprinkle the crumbs evenly over top of each filet of fish.

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Bake until the fish is opaque and flaky and the crust is golden brown!

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Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley if you’d like. This dish is best served immediately when the topping is the most crispy. In the event you need to reheat it, just pop it back in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through. Enjoy every bite!

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Tips and Variations

  • For a lower calorie option, use Panko bread crumbs instead.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap out any gluten free crackers.
  • A ½ teaspoon of garlic powder added to the crumbs adds another layer of flavor that works nicely.
  • If the fish falls apart easily when pulled at with a fork, you’ll know it’s done. A flaky fish is what you’re aiming for.
  • Finish off the dish with another final squeeze of lemon, before serving, for a little extra citrus.

Side Dishes to Serve with this Cod Recipe

  • Greek Potato Wedges
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Coconut Rice
  • Sauteed Spinach or Roasted Green Beans

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Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod Recipe (8)

Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod Recipe

This Crispy Oven Baked Cod Recipe is an easy 30-minute dinner. A light and flaky fish topped with a buttery crispy parmesan crust and then oven-baked until golden brown. It's a delicious take on a batter coated fish and much healthier than fried.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 401kcal

Author: Sherri Hagymas

Ingredients

  • 4 Cod fillets approx. 2 pounds
  • 35 butter crackers ie. Ritz or Club crackers
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley optional garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Place cod on a greased baking sheet or line with parchment paper

  • Place the crackers in a zip lock bag and break into into crumbs. (I use a rolling pin)

  • In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs with parmesan cheese, melted butter, lemon juice and salt & pepper.

  • Evenly spoon the mixture over top of each fillet.

  • Bake for approximately 25 minutes.

  • Remove and top with fresh parsley, if desired.

  • ENJOY!

Notes

Use panko bread crumbs for a lower calorie option

Use gluten free crackers or panko breadcrumbs if needed.

Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder to breadcrumbs.

You know when the fish is done when you insert a fork and it flakes easily.

Squeeze a little more lemon juice over top of cooked fish if desired.

This recipe is best served immediately from the oven when the topping is most crispy. If necessary, reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until heated

Nutrition

Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 456mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking technique for cod? ›

Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote. Both of these methods help to preserve Pacific cod's high moisture content and produce incredibly tender results.

How do you bake cod without it falling apart? ›

Additionally, make sure the heat isn't too high and you use enough fat (e.g. olive oil, butter)/liquid (e.g. white wine, lemon juice) to keep it from sticking to the pan. If cod separates in pieces, it is overcooked. The flesh should still be slightly tender and in one piece.

Why is my baked cod rubbery? ›

Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture. The proteins in the fish also begin to tighten, which can make the fish tough and rubbery. In addition, overcooked fish can have a severe lack of flavor, as the heat causes the natural oils in the fish to evaporate.

What temp should cod be baked to? ›

Bake for approx 12 minutes, or to an internal temp of 145 degrees.

Do you rinse cod before baking? ›

We recommend not rinsing unless you need to rinse off any scales. Pat dry with paper towels whether you rinse or not. Preheat the oven to 450°F for fillets and steaks or 350°F for dressed fish. Even thickness: Place the fish in a single layer in a greased shallow baking pan (like a baking sheet).

Do you bake fish covered or uncovered? ›

Do you bake fish covered or uncovered? Breaded and coated fish usually is cooked without being covered, but fillets and whole fish are covered for tender results.

Should I flip fish in the oven? ›

The answer to the equation is the ideal baking time for the fish you are cooking. For example, if you are making fish fillets that are ½ inch thick, the ideal baking time will be 5 minutes. Since fish can fall apart easily, you should only flip it once, halfway through baking.

Why does my baked cod taste bitter? ›

One of the reasons fish will taste bitter is due to incorrect manner of slicing the fish. Sometimes the gall bladder of the fish, which contains bile which of course is bitter, gets punctured when the fish is being cut. The leaked bile gets quickly absorbed in the fish body. This gives it a bitter taste.

How do you not overbake cod? ›

Dunlap suggests cutting thick, 2-inch cod fillets crosswise into 1-inch-thick pieces and cook on the cut sides. If the fillet is an inch thick, just cut the fish into 2-inch squares. “It's better to undercook cod than to overcook it, so test the fish after cooking 2 minutes on each side.

How do you cook cod without it being rubbery? ›

The secret to cooking perfectly moist and flaky fish is to avoid overcooking it. The use of fat and lemon juice in this Whole30 cod recipe locks in the natural moisture of the fish and helps it cook in a quick manner. As a result, you should never have dry, rubbery fish again.

Should cod be room temperature before cooking? ›

Another tip is to remove the fish from the fridge half an hour before cooking. The reason for this is that room-temperature fish loses less liquid during cooking than cold fish making it easier to avoid the fish becoming dry.

How long should you cook cod at 400? ›

Bake in 400 degrees F heated oven for about 10 minutes or until the cod is cooked through. The fish is ready when it turns a beautiful white opaque and flakes easily when you take a fork to it. Garnish and serve! I love adding some parsley for a pop of green!

Is cod better in the oven or pan? ›

But more importantly, pan frying yields that deliciously browned exterior on both sides of the fish. Baking or steaming won't accomplish that same golden “crust.” Pro Tips for pan frying cod: Let fish sit at room temp in a colander to drain any excess water, particularly if your fish was previously frozen.

What is the cod fish technique? ›

COD-FISH is a strand-specific modification of standard FISH technology which allows the hybridization of single-stranded probes to one, and only one, chromatid of a metaphase chromosome.

Should cod be soaked in milk before cooking? ›

To try this trick in your home kitchen, follow Cook's Illustrated's advice: before cooking, let your fish spend about 20 minutes sitting in milk to absorb any unwanted odors. Then, simply drain the fish and pat it dry. You'll be left with fish that has a clean, sweet flavor and none of the fishy edge.

Why do you salt cod before cooking? ›

Salting fish, like sea bass fillets, before cooking helps to firm up the flesh and improves the texture. If you've travelled much in Spain or Portugal you will no doubt of seen salt cod, or bacalao on the menu – this is where the fish is covered in salt for days to remove all the moisture.

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