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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Parmesan Panko Crusted Cod

    Published: Mar 11, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    parmesan panko cod on a white platter and on a white plate with green beans
    Baked parmesan panko cod on a white plate with green beans
    Baked parmesan panko cod on a white plate with green beans
    Parmesan panko cod on a white platter

    Baked Parmesan Panko Crusted Cod is flaky and tender with a flavorful, crispy, crunchy topping. An easy recipe for a healthy meal you can make in about 30 minutes.

    Parmesan panko cod on a white platter

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    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Panko Cod Recipe
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Panko Parmesan Crusted Cod
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Delicious Dinner Recipe Ideas
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    Crispy oven baked cod with panko and parmesan is an incredibly delicious and easy weeknight meal the whole family will devour.

    I mean, who can resist tender, flaky fish with a crispy panko Parmesan topping baked to golden brown perfection?

    The best part is you don't even need an air fryer or a pan full of spattering oil -- your oven does all the work!

    This parmesan and panko crusted cod recipe takes just minutes to make, so it's the perfect easy weeknight dinner, but also special enough for date night or company. Serve with Caprese Salad and Roasted Sweet Potatoes for a complete meal.

    For another fast and easy fish dinner, be sure to try Air Fryer Salmon Bites!

    Why You're Going to Love This Panko Cod Recipe

    • Easy, healthy recipe you can make in the oven in about 30 minutes
    • Tender, flaky fish fillets with an irresistibly crunchy panko topping
    • Great recipe for busy weeknights or date night

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Panko Parmesan Thin Chicken Breasts
    • Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
    • Walking Taco Casserole
    • Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

    Ingredients

    Parmesan panko cod ingredients

    Cod fillets. Try to get four fish fillets of similar size and even thickness so they cook evenly and are all done at the same time. You can use fresh cod fillets or frozen and defrosted fish.

    Panko bread crumbs. Panko crumbs are also known as Japanese breadcrumbs. They have a super crunchy texture and are a great way to make oven baked cod with a crispy topping -- no frying necessary! You can also use regular breadcrumbs, but the topping won't be quite as crunchy.

    Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan adds delicious nutty flavor to the crunchy topping.

    Cajun seasoning. I use Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning, which is a delicious blend of salt, red pepper, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and dehydrated garlic. Use your favorite blend or a combo of these seasonings.

    Italian seasoning. Italian seasoning is filled with flavorful, aromatic herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and sometimes marjoram.

    Lemon zest. The zest is the most flavorful part of the lemon and tastes amazing in the panko mixture. Save the lemon juice for the finished dish. Adding moisture before baking can keep the topping from getting nice and crispy.

    Mayonnaise & Dijon mustard. A thin layer of mayo mixed with Dijon keeps the fish moist and gives the panko crust something to adhere to.

    How to Make Panko Parmesan Crusted Cod

    1. Prep the oven and pan.

    Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat to 425.

    Place a wire baking rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. If you don't have a baking rack, line the sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

    2. Prep the cod.

    Pat the fish dry with paper towels. This is really important to keep the bread crumb topping from getting soggy.

    Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

    3. Make the mayonnaise mixture.

    In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.

    Brush a thin layer of the mayo mixture on top of each piece of fish.

    brush spreading mayonnaise mixture on top of cod fillets

    4. Make the panko breadcrumb mixture.

    In a separate medium bowl, stir together the panko, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese.

    Place 2 heaping tablespoons of the buttery panko breadcrumbs on top of the fish. Gently press the breadcrumbs onto the mayonnaise coating.

    cod with parmesan panko on a wire baking rack

    5. Bake, serve, enjoy!

    Bake fish for 12-14 minutes or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees and the fish flakes easily with a fork. The actual cooking time will depend on the thickness of the cod filets.

    Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

    Baked parmesan panko cod on a white plate with green beans

    This panko parmesan baked cod recipe is delicious with healthy sides like rice pilaf, Zesty Quinoa Salad, and Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Squash.

    Expert Tips

    Choose fish fillets that are of similar thickness so they'll all cook at the same rate.

    Pat the fish very dry with paper towels. Especially if you're using frozen fish. This will help keep the bread crumbs from getting soggy.

    Spread the Parmesan panko bread crumbs evenly over the fish.

    FAQs

    Do you flip panko crusted cod when baking?

    No. The cod cooks through just perfectly in this recipe so there is no need to flip it. Plus, you don't want to disrupt that delicious crispy crust!

    Do I need to cover cod with panko and parmesan when baking it in the oven?

    No. Bake panko crusted cod uncovered in the oven to ensure the panko bread crumbs get nice and crispy and golden brown.

    How do you know when oven baked panko cod is done?

    Fish is done when it's opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The internal temperature of the fish should reach 145 degrees f.

    Baked parmesan panko cod on a white plate with green beans

    More Delicious Dinner Recipe Ideas

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    📖 Recipe

    Baked parmesan panko cod on a white plate with green beans

    Baked Parmesan Panko Crusted Cod

    Cara Lanz
    Baked Parmesan Panko Crusted Cod is flaky and tender with a flavorful, crispy, crunchy topping. An easy recipe for a healthy meal you can make in about 30 minutes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 302 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ to 2 pounds cod fillets 4 pieces
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard to taste
    • 6 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
    • ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest zest of one lemon
    • 3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan
    • 1 ½ tablespoons melted butter
    • lemon wedges, for serving
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    Instructions
     

    • Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425.
    • Place a wire baking rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
      If you don't have a rack, line the baking sheet with parchment or foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Pat the fish dry with paper towels.
      Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and place the fish on the rack.
    • Stir the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard together. Brush a thin layer of the mayonnaise mixture on top of each piece of cod.
    • In a small bowl, combine the panko, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese.
    • Place 2 heaping tablespoons of the panko mixture on top of each piece of fish. Gently press the breadcrumbs onto the mayonnaise coating.
    • Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145 degrees.
      Actual cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets.
      Serve with lemon wedges.

    Notes

    Choose fish fillets that are of similar thickness so they'll all cook at the same rate.
    Pat the fish very dry with paper towels. Especially if you're using frozen fish. This will help keep the bread crumbs from getting soggy.
    Baking the panko crusted cod on a wire baking rack allows the air to circulate under the fish and prevents it from being watery.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 34gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 353mgPotassium: 752mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 364IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Mimi5 says

      February 28, 2024 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious!! So easy, I have used this on cod, walleye and haddock filets it is such a treat.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 28, 2024 at 2:43 pm

        That's awesome, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the nice note :). Cara

        Reply
    2. Heidi Maus says

      June 01, 2023 at 8:13 pm

      I made this and it was sooo good! And easy! We loved it.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        June 01, 2023 at 8:46 pm

        Hi, Heidi! That's awesome, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the nice note :). Cara

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

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