Let’s make a crispy baked panko parmesan cod recipe together! This easy weeknight meal is flavorful, delicious for the whole family, and is such a healthy meal! We love to pair this flaky white fish dish with salad and crusty bread. It’s even fancy enough for date night!

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Parmesan Panko Crusted Baked Cod Recipe

The crispy crust on these cod fillets is the best way to enjoy fresh cod!

We’re taking mild tasting white fish, and elevating it with a little olive oil, a crunchy topping on top of each fillet, and finishing them with a zest of lemon to brighten the meal – yum!

I have really enjoyed serving this fish recipe to my family. It kind of reminds me of elevated fish sticks, which is fun!

So if your kids like fish sticks, they will enjoy trying this parmesan crusted cod too!

Serve with your favorite dip – my kids love ketchup.

I’m a fan of kefir ranch or homemade tartar sauce.

What makes this such an easy meal for busy weeknights?

The beauty of this recipe is that it comes together with just a handful of ingredients. Fewer ingredients = quicker prep time!

The baked fish cooks quickly! There’s no searing in a pan needed. You simply prep the cod filets, then bake until done.

You can even prep the whole main course in advance.

Simply prep the cod with the crispy topping and all, cover, and store in the fridge until you need to get dinner in the oven.

Easy as that!

Simple ingredients you’ll need for crunchy panko cod

cod fillets
avocado oil mayonnaise
panko breadcrumbs
parmesan cheese
garlic powder
dried dill
sea salt
black pepper
lemon zest and lemon juice

How to make this baked cod recipe panko parmesan crusted

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If your fish has extra liquid on it, place it on paper towels to let them dry more.
In a small bowl combine the panko, parmesan, garlic powder, dried dill, sea salt, and pepper.
Place the fish fillets on the prepared baking sheet and spread the mayo on using a basting brush. On the top of the fish spread the panko breadcrumb mixture.
Bake for 13-15 minutes until the topping begins to get golden brown, and the fish flakes easily. Serve with minced dill and fresh lemon wedges.

Watch me make it

The full how-to video can be watched below or on my YouTube channel!

What to serve with this healthy recipe

As I mentioned above, our favorite sides are salads and homemade crusty einkorn bread.

My strawberry kale salad with poppyseed dressing goes really well with it, as does avocado mango salad, and kale crunch salad.

For some starchy sides, try crispy sweet potatoes or crispy potato bites.

Want even more ideas? Here are 50+ ideas of what to serve with baked fish!

How to store leftover baked cod recipe panko parmesan

Store leftover flaky fish in an airtight container once fully cooled.

You can reheat the cod in the oven until warm, transform it into fish cakes, or enjoy it flaked and served cold over a salad!

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this delicious fish recipe.

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Cod – This easy recipe will work well with many types of fish – try Mahi Mahi, tilapia, snapper, or even salmon for a non-white fish twist! Whichever type you choose you’ll end with flavorful fish.

Avocado oil mayo – Any type of mayonnaise will work in place of the avocado oil mayo. You could even substitute sour cream here for a tangy twist! Avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil work as great substitutes as well, as does melted butter.

Panko – Panko crumbs make this super crispy, but if you don’t have them available no worries! You can substitute any type of breadcrumbs you have, or even blend crackers in a blender until they are a breadcrumb-like texture. To ensure you have a crispy crust if not using panko, try spritzing a touch of oil on the top of the fish before baking.

Parmesan cheese – Romano cheese is a fantastic substitute for parmesan cheese. For best results substitute 1:1. If you need to keep this dairy-free, omit the cheese and sprinkle a little nutritional yeast on for a little cheesy flavor.

Lemon – Lemon brightens this dish, but if you don’t have lemon available, try a zest from an orange to elevate it in a fresh new way!

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