One of my favorite ways to cook cod is to coat it in a delicious panko-Parmesan breading and bake or air fry until crispy. The whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making for a very easy seafood dinner. Kid-friendly, easy, tasty—perfect! Try this Crispy Panko Crusted Cod recipe for dinner this week!
Below you'll find oven and air fryer instructions, so you can cook this breaded cod however you like!
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Crispy Panko Cod
In this recipe, the cod fillets are coated in a panko breadcrumb mixture that is seasoned with grated Parmesan cheese and herbs de Provence. The panko mixture sticks to the cod really well because I brush the cod with a mixture of mustard and mayonnaise before dipping into the panko. The mustard/mayo mixture also adds flavor and seals in the juiciness of the cod, preventing it from drying out while cooking.
Cod is a firm, flaky white fish. It is a great option for those who dislike other fish that is too soft or mushy. Cod is low in fat and high in protein. It's typically sold frozen in small 3-4 ounce fillets, with the skin already removed.
Cod is really easy to cook with, so I hope you give it a try!
More seafood dinners to try: Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 lb cod fillets (about 3-4 ounces each, thawed if frozen)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1.5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1.5 tablespoons mustard (regular yellow or Dijon)
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs (unseasoned)
- ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (the stuff from the green container is fine here!)
- 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence, or your favorite dried herbs, such as dried basil or dried oregano
- Oil sprayer with vegetable oil (I love this refillable one)
- Lemon wedges and fresh diced parsley leaves for serving
More panko-crusted protein dishes: Panko Breaded Pork Chops (In this recipe, I coat the pork chops with panko breading only on top, just like in this cod recipe.)
Equipment
- Large baking pan (one that is broiler-safe)
- Silicone baking mat (optional, for easier cleanup. Do not use this if you think you'll use the broiler, as silicone is not safe for high broiler temperatures.)
- Air fryer, if you decide to air fry
- Large plate
- Medium bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Meat thermometer (the USDA recommends cooking fish to 145F)
- Tongs
Related recipe: Pretzel-Crusted Chicken
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F. Spray or brush a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Do not use silicone mats if you think you will use the broiler.
If your cod was previously frozen, give the cod a gentle squeeze to squeeze out any extra liquid. The more you squeeze out, the crispier the panko topping will be. But be sure not to smush the cod fillets.
Combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. Season the cod with this mixture on all sides.
On a large dinner plate, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and dried herbs and mix well.
In a small/medium bowl, mix together the mayo and mustard.
Brush the mustard mixture on top of the cod fillets in a thin layer.
Press the cod fillets mustard side down into the breadcrumbs. If you want, you can also press the other side into the breadcrumbs, but it's not necessary.
Place the breaded cod fillets onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently spray the tops with vegetable oil.
Bake at 400F for 10-12 minutes, or until the cod is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 145F. If you are using broiler-safe baking equipment, you can turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown the top. Keep an eye on the cod to make sure it doesn't burn under the broiler!
Carefully remove from the oven, squeeze some lemon wedges and sprinkle fresh parsley on top. Serve warm.
More seafood recipes: Fish Wrap Sandwich with Mango Salsa
Air fryer cooking instructions
Follow the steps above to coat dip the cod in mustard/mayo and coat it in breadcrumbs.
If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 350F.
Place the breaded cod into the air fryer basket or tray. Gently spray the tops with vegetable oil.
Air fry at 350F for 10-12 minutes, or until the cod is cooked to an internal temperature of 145F. If you notice the breadcrumbs getting too brown halfway through cooking, lower the temperature to 320F and cook until the cod is cooked through.
Serve with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
More similar seafood recipes: Panko Crusted Perch
Recipe tips
→ Be sure to gently squeeze as much liquid from the cod as possible.
→ If you want to coat all sides of the cod in breading, be sure to use a baking rack under the cod to allow air flow during baking so that the breadcrumbs don't get soggy on the bottom. You don't need to worry about this for air frying, since an air fryer basket/tray has holes for circulation.
→ Depending on the thickness of your cod fillets, you might need more or less cooking time to cook it through.
→ If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can check if the cod is done by using a fork to flake the fillets in the center. The middle should flake into pieces and should not be opaque in the center. It should be fully white.
→ Try adding just a splash of hot sauce to the mustard/mayo mixture.
→ Don't like mustard? Use just mayo. Don't like mayo? Use just mustard.
What to serve with breaded cod
Cod goes great with pretty much any side dishes! It's great next to garlic butter spaghetti or your favorite pasta sauce. It's fantastic with mashed potatoes. I love serving it with instant rice or whole wheat couscous for a super quick and easy dinner. In the picture above, I serve cod with whole wheat couscous, which only needs to be soaked with boiling water and doesn't need to be cooked on the stovetop. This is the couscous I buy.
As far as veggies go, garlic roasted broccoli or an Italian chopped salad are great pairings. A brussels sprouts salad with bacon or simple kale salad are also a good side dish. Grilled avocado with your favorite toppings is also delicious if it's summer time or if you have a grill pan.
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Panko Crusted Cod (Oven and Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 lb cod fillets about 3-4 ounces each, thawed if frozen
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1.5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1.5 tablespoons mustard regular yellow or Dijon
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs unseasoned
- ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese the stuff from the green container is fine here!
- 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence or your favorite dried herbs, such as dried basil or dried oregano
- oil sprayer with vegetable oil
- lemon wedges and fresh diced parsley leaves x for serving
Special equipment
- Large baking pan (one that is broiler-safe)
- Air fryer optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Spray a large baking sheet with vegetable oil.
- If your cod was previously frozen, give the cod a gentle squeeze to squeeze out any extra liquid. The more you squeeze out, the crispier the panko topping will be, but be sure not to smush the cod fillets.
- Combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. Season the cod with this mixture on all sides.
- On a large dinner plate, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and dried herbs and mix well.
- In a small/medium bowl, mix together the mayo and mustard.
- Brush the mustard mixture on top of the cod fillets in a thin layer. Press the cod fillets mustard side down into the breadcrumbs. If you want, you can also press the other side into the breadcrumbs, but it's not necessary.
- Gently place the breaded cod fillets onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 400F for 10-12 minutes, or until the cod is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 145F. If you are using broiler-safe baking equipment, you can turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown the top. Keep an eye on the cod to make sure it doesn't burn under the broiler!
- Carefully remove from the oven, squeeze some lemon wedges and sprinkle fresh parsley on top. Serve warm.
- Follow the steps above to coat brush the cod with mustard/mayo and coat it in breadcrumbs.
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 350F.
- Place the breaded cod into the air fryer basket or tray. Spray the tops with vegetable oil.
- Air fry at 350F for 10-12 minutes, or until the cod is cooked to an internal temperature of 145F. If you notice the breadcrumbs getting too brown halfway through cooking, lower the temperature to 320F and cook until the cod is cooked through.
- Serve with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.