Baked Parmesan Panko Cod Recipe

This delicious panko-crusted cod is the best way to make cod! It's easy to pull together and results in the tenderest, most flavorful baked cod.

The mixture of the mellow parmesan and crunchy panko will crisp up to golden brown perfection.

The savory and subtle flavors of the mild and buttery cod will win over the whole family. We also give you lots of delicious side suggestions to serve with cod. You don't want to miss this recipe!

Why You'll Love This Parmesan Crusted Cod

This panko parmesan baked cod is fantastic! Cod is a flaky fish that tastes great when cooked till tender and served straight from the oven.

Cod is a well-loved, mild white fish that benefits from a crispy coating. It's often used in fish sticks or fish frys. 

This fish recipe is great for a date night or a family weeknight meal. It comes together from start to finish in less than 30 minutes!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Parmesan Crusted Cod
• Crispy Baked Cod Ingredients
• Instructions
• Baked Cod FAQs
• More Delicious Fish Recipes to Try
• What to Serve with Cod
• Tips for Making Baked Cod
• Storage
• Parmesan Panko Baked Cod Recipe

Crispy Baked Cod Ingredients

• Cod - You'll need 2 pounds of skinless, fresh cod fillets.
• Seasonings - You'll use 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon dried thyme.
• Panko crumbs - You'll need 1 cup of panko bread crumbs.
• Parmesan - You'll use ⅓ cup of grated parmesan cheese.
• Butter - You'll need ¼ cup of melted butter.
• Optional - You can use several lemon wedges to squeeze for lemon juice or lemon zest and chopped fresh parsley for serving.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Lay the cod on a cutting board or clean surface and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.

Combine the panko, parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme in a small bowl.

Brush the melted butter on both sides of the fish.

Sprinkle both sides of the fillets with the panko breadcrumb mixture.

Place the fish on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Bake for 8 to 12 minutes until the crust is golden and fish is cooked through and the fish flakes apart. The fish should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.

Serve immediately with optional slices of lemon for squeezing and chopped parsley for garnish. 

Baked Cod FAQs

What temperature is cod baked at? Bake at 450 degrees F for 8-12 minutes. A higher temperature for a shorter amount of time helps to give this cod a crispy outer layer.

How long does cod need to be cooked? Bake the cod for 8-12 minutes at 450 degrees F, until the internal temperature is 145 degrees F.

Why is my baked cod dry? If you bake the cod too long, you'll have dry and rubbery texture. Keep a close on it as it bakes so you don't overcook it. 

Is cod better in the oven or pan? We love the simplicity of cooking cod in the oven! It gives this cod a perfect, not overcooked flavor and texture and requires very little hands-on cooking time.

More Delicious Fish Recipes to Try

We love easy fish recipes! If you do too, you'll want to try some of these favorites!

• Grilled Red Snapper - a fantastic, lightly spicy snapper recipe.
• Grilled Cod in Foil - another delicious way to enjoy cod fish fillets.
• Baked Sockeye Salmon in Foil - a tender lemon butter salmon recipe.
• Blackened Tilapia - a zingy recipe for another tender and flaky white fish.
• Baked Ocean Perch Recipe - topped with a delicious mustard spice blend, these tasty fish fillets are ready in minutes.

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What to Serve with Cod

Looking for a great side dish for this flaky white fish? These are our favorite sides to serve with! Try one of these dishes to make a complete, healthy meal.

• Asian Style Green Beans - these fantastic tangy green beans are so easy to make and have a zesty kick thanks to the chili oil.
• Sautéed Yellow Squash - this easy sauteed yellow squash recipe is ready in just a few minutes and topped with fresh herbs and lemon juice for a tasty, healthy veggie side.
• Roasted Parmesan Green Beans - make some crispy roasted green beans with parmesan flavor to compliment this panko baked cod perfectly.
• Tatsoi Salad - this delicious green salad with carrots is a perfect light accompaniment to white fish.
• Baked Curly Fries Recipe - not much is better with cod than some French fries, so why not take it up a notch with some delicious curly fries?
• Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - this tartar sauce is a delicious dipping sauce for the baked cod.

Tips for Making Baked Cod

• Cooking Tips - For the best results, keep an eye on your fish for the last 2 to 3 minutes of cook time. If the fish starts to split apart it's probably done. If the top doesn't turn golden brown, you can always turn the broiler on for 30 seconds to 1 minute (make sure not to burn the top of the fish though!)
• Specialty Ingredients - Cod should be available at your local grocery store. It may come frozen. You can defrost it in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. In general, fish should only be kept in the refrigerator for 3 days before cooking it.
• Recommended Tools - I highly recommend lining your sheet pan with parchment paper - this will keep the fish from sticking to the sheet pan and make clean up easier.
• Substitutions - You can use regular breadcrumbs in place of panko breadcrumbs, but your fish with have a slightly different texture. It's hard to get regular breadcrumbs to crisp to the same level. You may also need about a ¼ cup less of regular breadcrumbs since they're smaller and will more easily cover the fish.

Storage

You can save the cooked fish for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I highly recommend reheating it in the oven as this will help the breaded exterior crisp up again.

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