Crispy Baked Cod with Panko Recipe
Updated May 21, 2025, Published May 12, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Crispy Baked Cod with Panko is an easy, flavorful, and light dinner. Flaky cod fillets are topped with lemon, garlic, and parsley, Panko breadcrumbs, and baked to perfection! This recipe will save you on busy weeknights!
You’ll love my cod baked in parchment. Get ideas for what to serve with cod!

Why This Is The Best Recipe
This panko-baked cod is light, flaky, and easy enough for any night of the week. The best baked cod starts with fresh ingredients, a buttery lemon-garlic crust, and an oven technique that keeps every bite crispy and juicy. Serve with Tuscan roasted broccoli, Italian flat green beans, or quick steamed asparagus.
“This is a must try! My family loves this one and now have it weekly! We have used cod and rockfish with spectacular results!”
– DANA
Recipe Ingredients
The best part about this recipe is that it requires only a few good-quality, fresh ingredients. It deserves a spot on your list of weeknight dinners!

- Cod Fillets: Mild, flaky white fish that holds up beautifully under a crispy panko topping.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Light, airy Japanese-style breadcrumbs that create an ultra-crispy crust.
- Lemon Zest: Adds bright, fresh flavor that cuts through the richness of the buttery panko.
- Fresh Garlic: Infuses the breadcrumbs with aromatic, savory depth.
- Paprika: Adds a hint of warmth and color to the coating.
- Fresh Parsley: Brings a fresh, herby pop to balance the richness.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps toast the panko and adds fruity richness to the crust.
- Butter: Adds golden color and richness to the crispy topping.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasoning to enhance every flavor in the dish.
- Lemon Slices (for serving): A squeeze of fresh lemon at the end brightens the fish and brings it all together.
Substitutions and Variations
- Parmesan Cheese Crusted: Mix ¾ cup freshly grated Parmigiano into the breadcrumbs for extra flavor—always grate your own for the best taste! Serve with fettuccini Alfredo pasta!
- Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture. You’ll love my blackened cod recipe.
- Deluxe Crust: For a fun twist, swap panko for crushed crackers, regular breadcrumbs, cornflakes, pretzels, or hearty potato chips.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free panko—it works beautifully with this recipe. Try my baked flounder with lemon butter.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Panko-Crusted Baked Cod
Baking cod in the oven is a foolproof and easy method for tender, flaky fish. Here’s how to make it. It’s one of those fish recipes you’ll keep coming back to repeatedly.

Step #1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest, parsley, olive oil, and paprika. Stir with a fork to combine. Set the panko mixture aside.

Step #2: Place the fillets onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle 2 teaspoons olive oil and lemon juice over the cod fillets, then sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.

Step #3: Top each fillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of panko topping, and press down gently to ensure the topping stays on top of the fish.

Step #4: Add a slice of butter on top of each fillet. The butter melts into the topping and creates the perfect taste and texture.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is opaque in the center. An instant-read thermometer should read 145°F when inserted into the thickest part of the cod filets.

My Pro Tip
Recipe Tips For Crispy Baked Cod
- Pat cod fillets completely dry so the panko coating crisps up beautifully.
- Lightly season the cod before breading for full flavor in every bite.
- Toast the panko in olive oil for a richer, golden crunch.
- Gently press the breadcrumb coating onto the fish for the best crispy layer.
- Bake at 425°F for the perfect balance of tender cod and crispy topping.
- Use a wire rack so the hot air crisps the bottom as well as the top.
- Finish with a quick broil (1–2 minutes) for a gorgeous golden crust, but watch carefully!
- Serve immediately while the coating is hot and crunchy—crispy cod waits for no one!

FAQ’s
Cod is both a nutritious and flavorful fish loaded with lean protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. It is a great source of Vitamin B6 and B12. It’s also low in mercury and this baked cod fish is only 115 calories per serving. Cod is a healthy fish option to enjoy year around.
Crunchy panko crumbs provide a gorgeous golden brown topping to the fish fillets. Cod is so flaky and tender I enjoy the contrast with the buttery and soft flaky white fish.
Cod is a delicate, flaky, mild white fish. It works well with this recipe, but you can use other white fish varieties such as: Haddock, Pollack, Black Cod, Stripped Bass, Hake, Mahi Mahi, Grouper. You can even use salmon if that is easiest to find!
Make sure to dry your cod fillets. This will help create the nice crispy panko bread crumb coating.
If your fish turns out tough, it’s probably because it was overcooked. It’s an extremely lean fish that is very unforgiving when cooked for too long.
Storage and Reheating
Fish is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Freezing: Cooked fish can be frozen for up to 1 month, but texture may change once reheated—fresh is always best! Reheat in the oven at 350ºF for 10 minutes—add a splash of water to keep it moist. Avoid microwaving, as it can dry out the fish.

Serving Suggestions
Serve this recipe with Honey Glazed Carrots, Parmesan Orzo Pasta. You can also check out these What to Serve with Cod (50+ Best Side Dish Recipes)!
This delicate cod recipe is the perfect main dish for several side options! Make my Oven Roasted Potatoes and Crusty Bread with a side of Italian Orange and Fennel Salad.
Make a surf and turf dinner with these recipes- How to Cook Steak in a Pan (Perfect Recipe) and How to Cook a Small Prime Rib Roast Recipe.
If you want to serve appetizers, try Hot Mascarpone Spinach Artichoke Dip or Italian Stuffed Zucchini (vegetarian)!
Don’t forget dessert! Best Brown Butter Apple Pie, Classic Italian Tiramisu Recipe, Italian Apple Cake, or Creamy Frozen Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust.
More Seafood Recipes:
- Fried Butterfly Shrimp Recipe (Easy and Crunchy)
- Stuffed Calamari Recipe
- Crispy Calamari Air Fryer Recipe (Easy and Light)
- Best Italian Seafood Salad Appetizer (Insalata di Mare)
- King Crab Salad Recipe (Simple and Easy)
- Baked Salmon with Pesto Recipe (Easy)
- Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce
- Classic Lobster Bisque Recipe (Easy)
- Salmon Steak Recipe
- Seared Sea Bass With Lemon Butter Herb Sauce.
💙 MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💙 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love connecting with you! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Pinterest.
Panko Crusted Cod Recipe

Ingredients
- 3-4 6-ounce cod fillets
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil + 2 teaspoons
- 1 tablespoon butter, divided into slices (one for each fillet)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- lemon wedges, optional: for serving, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F, and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or tinfoil. Use paper towels to pat the cod fillets dry.
- In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest, parsley, olive oil, and paprika. Stir with fork to combine. Set aside.
- Place the fillets onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle 2 teaspoons olive oil and lemon juice over the cod fillets, then sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
- Top each fillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of panko topping, and press down gently to ensure the topping stays on top of the fish. Add a slice of butter on top of each fillet.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the fish flakes easily and is opaque in the center. According to the USDA, an instant read thermometer should read 145°F when inserted into the thickest part of the cod.
- Serve hot with lemon wedges, and a side of your favorite vegetable, and bread!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So easy and flavorful! I have a picky teen who doesnโt like lemon so I only did the zest and served lemon wedges on the side. My husband made it on our outdoor griddle and it was delicious!!! Server with steamed sugar snap peas, over a bed of pearled couscous!! Definitely will make again soon! Thank you, Elena!!
Happy you loved it. I love the pearled couscous as a side.
I fixed this recipe last night and it was delicious! We didn’t use as much (homemade) tartar sauce as we ususally have with cod, this way of cooking it was so flavorful! A new favorite!~ Thank you Elena!
I love the addition of the sauce. Sounds delicious. Happy you loved it.
Easy and so tasty! Our picky toddler even loved it!
Yay! Love a toddler approved recipe. win-win!
I made this tonight for dinner and it was so light and nice! Another one for the family recipe book!
So happy it turned out great!
Excellent recipe! I didnโt incorporate the lemon juice in the mixture but the flavor was very good. Great instructions and pictures!
Happy you loved it. So easy and fresh!
Made this last night & was a hit. Super simple recipe with great flavor! Will definitely make again. ๐
Thrilled you loved it! Easy and tasty for any occasion.
I recently discovered cod loins as a tasty fish.
This recipe is so easy to prepare and works well for just one or two people to eat.
Youcan always adjust the amount of lemon used. I find the original recipe perfect.
Thank you! We love it with the lemon this way too!
This is a very nice recipe. Perhaps a little too lemony for my taste so I would suggest being conservative with how much lemon juice and zest to use in the actual recipe and serving lemon on the side, so one can adjust the lemon flavor to one’s liking. But my persnickity 14yo daughter enjoyed it and had seconds, as did my significant other. Served it with a side of broccoli and whole grain harvest bread from Whole Foods. A nutritious and well-rounded meal.
I’m happy the family loved it! Yes, add lemon to your preference. Here’s to many more recipes. Enjoy!
The best crispy baked cod Iโve ever had. Super easy recipe. Great instructions.
We make this recipe often! It is easy and the kids love it too!
We love it!
It is a recipe we make often as well. Happy you love it!