Description
Meet your new go-to seafood dinner! This Boston-inspired baked cod delivers flaky, tender fish crowned with a golden, crunchy breadcrumb topping. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but tastes like a restaurant favorite — no fancy techniques required.
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz each), roughly 1-inch thick
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Extra butter (or spray) for greasing the pan
Instructions
-
Heat the oven & prep the pan
Set your oven to 400°F so it gets nice and hot. Butter a 9×13 baking dish — just enough to lightly coat the bottom. -
Season the fish
Pat the cod dry with paper towels — seriously, go for bone-dry. Moisture = soggy topping!
Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. -
Lay out the fillets
Arrange the cod in the dish, leaving a little breathing room between each piece so they bake evenly. -
Make the crunchy topping
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it starts to foam (about 2 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in panko, parsley, garlic powder, and lemon zest. You’re looking for a texture like slightly wet sand — crumbly but coated. -
Top the fish
Spoon the breadcrumb mix over each fillet, gently pressing so it sticks. -
Add citrus & oil
Drizzle lemon juice and olive oil evenly over the tops — this helps the crumbs crisp up beautifully. -
Bake
Pop the dish in the oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the breadcrumbs turn golden and crisp. -
Rest & serve
Let the fish sit for a couple of minutes before serving so all those flavors settle in.
Notes
- Aim for an internal fish temp of 145°F for perfect doneness
- Dry the fillets well — it’s the secret to a crunchy topping
- Extra-thick pieces? Add a few extra baking minutes
- Leftovers keep in the fridge up to 2 days
- Reheat low and slow (350°F) to keep the crust crisp
- Avoid freezing — the fish turns watery
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg