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Baked Cod with Panko is an easy, flavorful, and light dinner dish. Cod fillets are topped with seasoned, buttery Panko breadcrumbs then baked to perfection!
Baked Cod with Panko
4.5 from 219 votes
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Author: Kim
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Breadcrumbs
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons parsley, freshly chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Fish
- 1 pound cod fillets, 3 to 4 pieces
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
For the Breadcrumbs
Preheat the oven to 425°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, parsley, lemon juice, melted butter, garlic powder, and paprika.
½ cup panko bread crumbs
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Fish
Use paper towels to pat the cod fillets dry. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of lemon juice over the fillets, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
1 pound cod fillets
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of panko topping on top of each piece of fish and press down gently so the topping sticks. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the cod flakes easily.
Serve immediately with a side salad or sautéed vegetables. We do not recommend storing the cod for later.
Suggested Equipment
Notes
*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1/4 pound of cod. Actual calories will vary.
*Skip to Frequently Asked Questions.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25poundsCalories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 21gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 519mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 536IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg
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Seafood is a blank slate. You can add a variety of seasonings, breadcrumbs, or toppings to enhance the flavor of the fish.
Whether it’s a simple seasoning blend like we used on our oven baked mahi mahi recipe, a lemon caper sauce like on our pan seared halibut, Chilean sea bass with dill, or baked flounder with lemon garlic and butter a little flavor goes a long way.
That’s the case with this baked cod with panko, too. We seasoned the panko breadcrumbs with butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, and paprika.
The seasoned panko adds a wonderful flavor and a crunchy texture to the light, flakiness of the cod. They make a great combination!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I make my panko crispy?
When you’re making panko crusted cod, the moisture from the fish has a tendency to make the panko topping soggy. There are a couple of ways to keep the panko nice and crispy.
The first thing is to add a little melted butter to the panko mix. Butter helps the panko brown nicely and hold it’s crunchiness.
The second thing is to cook the panko at a high heat. We bake the cod with panko topping at 425°F, because it cooks the cod nicely while crisping up the panko at the same time.
How to bake cod with panko and parmesan?
It’s really easy to add Parmesan cheese to this baked cod recipe for a little added flavor. Freshly grated (in a food processor) off the block Parmesan cheese, or grated cheese from a shaker container works best.
Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the grated Parmesan cheese with the panko breadcrumb mixture and follow the recipe as written.
What can I use if I don’t have panko?
There are several things you can use as a topping in place of the panko; however, the texture won’t be quite the same.
You can make baked cod with Ritz crackers, cornflakes, regular breadcrumbs, pretzels, or potato chips. Any of those will give a crunchy texture to the baked fish.
Some thin potato chips may not hold up well, so look for thicker, hearty chips if you decide to go that route.
Simply replace the panko breadcrumbs with your choice of other topping. Add it to the fish, bake, and you’ll still have a great crusted cod dish.
