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    Home » What We're Eating » Crispy Baked Cod

    Crispy Baked Cod

    Published: Jul 20, 2020 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long collage image of Crispy Baked Cod
    Two pieces of crispy baked cod served with a side salad on a blue and white plate
    Crispy baked cod on a blue and white plate with salad and a text title at the top
    Crispy baked cod on a plate with text title box at top

    This Crispy Baked Cod is flaky, golden brown and ready in less than 20 minutes! Breaded in seasoned cornmeal and flour, then coated with butter, the oven baked fish is flavorful, tender and healthier than deep fried seafood. It's an easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love!

    Front shot of a fork taking a bite out of baked cod fillet

    While salmon is one of the most popular seafood options in our house, sometimes we like to mix it up with other types of fish, too. A simple Baked Cod recipe is a great way to add variety to our diet with a dish that's healthier than frozen fish sticks!

    How to make Baked Cod:

    Cod is a popular fish for feeding families, because it has a mild flavor and a dense, flaky white flesh. The two most common species of cod are Atlantic Cod, which lives in the colder waters and deeper sea regions throughout the North Atlantic, and Pacific Cod, found in both eastern and western regions of the northern Pacific Ocean. Haddock and Whiting belong to the same family as cod, and are sometimes sold as cod.

    Cod is often used to make the popular fried dish, "Fish n' Chips." This Baked Cod recipe achieves that same buttery, crispy texture without actually deep-frying the fish. Just coat with breading, toss with melted butter, and let the oven do the work! Let's get started...

    Ingredients for Crispy Baked Cod:

    • Cod fillets
    • Butter
    • All-purpose flour
    • Cornmeal
    • Seasoned salt
    • Garlic powder
    • Pepper

    Step 1: Melt Butter in a Baking Dish

    Place the butter in a baking dish and stick it in the 450-degree F oven for a few minutes -- just until it melts.

    Stick of butter in a baking dish

    Step 2: Prepare Breading

    I use the same flavorful breading to season the baked cod as I use to season my favorite Crispy Southern Fried Catfish. To make the breading mixture, combine flour, cornmeal, seasoned salt, garlic powder and pepper in a shallow dish.

    Breading and seasoning for baked cod recipe

    Step 3: Dredge Fish

    Dredge the fish in the flour mixture to coat on all sides. Shake off any excess breading.

    Dredging cod in cornmeal and flour breading mixture

    Step 4: Coat Cod with Butter

    Place the breaded fish in the dish, gently turning to coat with the melted butter.

    Breaded cod fillets in a baking dish with butter

    Step 5: Bake Cod in the Oven

    Bake the cod at 450 degrees F for about 7-8 minutes. Then place the fish under the broiler for the final 1-2 minutes to achieve that really crispy exterior.

    Horizontal shot of baked cod with butter in a baking dish

    How to know when cod is done:

    To know when the fish is done, gently insert the tines of a fork into the thickest part of a fillet. Twist the fork at a 45 degree angle. If the flesh of the fish flakes easily, it's done!

    You're also looking for a nice golden brown exterior on this crispy baked cod.

    What to serve with Crispy Baked Cod:

    This is a really basic cod recipe, which pairs well with almost any of your favorite sides. Garnish the fish with a lemon wedge and some chopped fresh parsley. Here are a few easy sides that go well with the cod:

    • Baked Potato Wedges {make Fish n' Chips!}
    • Tartar sauce for dipping
    • Skillet Cornbread or Jiffy Corn Casserole
    • 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits or Cheddar Bay Biscuits
    • Coleslaw
    • Southern Collard Greens or Sauteed Kale with Bacon
    • Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
    • A simple green salad tossed with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette {shown here}
    • Stovetop Mac and Cheese
    • Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
    Baked Cod with butter and lemon on a blue and white plate

    Nutrition -- Baked Cod with Butter:

    Baked cod is healthier for you than deep-fried cod because the baked version has much less saturated fat. You're cooking the fish in butter for flavor and a crispy exterior, but you'll only actually consume a small amount of that butter.

    Cod is a low fat white meat fish that is a good source of protein, phosphorus, niacin, and Vitamin B-12 (source). One serving of the crispy baked cod has about 282 calories, 7 grams of fat, 11 grams of carbohydrates and a whopping 39 grams of protein! This nutrition information is merely an estimate, as each fillet will vary depending on how much breading is used and how much butter adheres to the fish.

    Preparation and Storage Tips:

    • The cooked fish will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 days. If you need to store the fried fish longer, you can freeze the leftovers for up to 1 month. It's important to note, though -- this baked cod is best when served warm from the oven. The crispy exterior tends to get mushy as it sits in the refrigerator.
    • How to reheat Baked Cod: The oven is the best way to reheat your baked cod in order to keep that crispy exterior. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Allow the fish to come to room temperature on the counter while the oven heats. Place the fish fillets on a baking sheet and warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or just until heated through.

    Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:

    • Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half to prepare just two fillets. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
    • Make fried fish sandwiches by serving the fillets on hoagie rolls with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce.
    • Serve fish tacos by putting the fillets in taco shells or tortillas with fresh salsa, guacamole and all of your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings!
    • This is a mild fish. If you prefer some kick, you can add a dash of cayenne to the breading.
    • For a Parmesan Baked Cod recipe, try adding some grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
    • Air Fryer Cod: While I much prefer the oven-baked method, you can also prepare this recipe in the air fryer. Skip the melted butter and spritz the fillets with olive oil spray. Again, it won't be as buttery and flavorful as the baked version, but it does get nice and crispy. The full instructions for the air fryer method are included in the recipe below.
    Close up front shot of crispy baked cod with a serving spatula

    More baked cod recipes that you might enjoy:

    • 5-Ingredient Garlic Lemon Cod
    • 4-Ingredient Baked Cod with Tomato and Basil
    • Dump-and-Bake Italian Cod with Rice and Broccoli
    Front shot of a fork taking a bite out of baked cod fillet
    Print Pin
    5 from 3 votes

    Crispy Baked Cod

    This Crispy Baked Cod is flaky, golden brown and ready in less than 20 minutes!
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Baked Cod, baked cod with butter, crispy baked cod
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    0 minutes
    Total Time 18 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 282.2kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • 4 cod fillets (about 6 ounces each)
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup cornmeal
    • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • Garnish: fresh lemon wedges; chopped fresh parsley

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Add the butter to an 11 x 7-inch baking dish (or another similar size dish that easily holds all of your fillets). Place the dish in the hot oven, just until the butter melts (it will only take a few minutes).
    • In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornmeal, seasoned salt, garlic powder and pepper. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture to coat on all sides, shake off excess breading, and place in the hot dish. Very carefully turn the fish to coat with butter. You can also use a spoon to drizzle the melted butter over the top of the fish.
    • Bake for 7-8 minutes. Turn the broiler to HIGH and broil the fish for 1-2 more minutes, until the top of the fish is crispy and flakes easily with a fork. Keep a close eye on the fish while it’s under the broiler to make sure that it doesn’t burn.
    • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish and sprinkle with parsley just before serving.

    AIR FRYER METHOD:

    • Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F. In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornmeal, seasoned salt, garlic powder and pepper. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture.
    • Spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil cooking spray. Working in batches, arrange cod in the basket, leaving space between each piece so air can circulate. Spray the top of each piece of cod with olive oil spray.
    • Cook for 10-12 minutes, carefully flipping halfway through. The fish is done when it’s crispy and flakes easily with a fork.
    • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish and sprinkle with parsley just before serving.

    Notes

    • Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half to prepare just two fillets. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
    • Make fried fish sandwiches by serving the fillets on hoagie rolls with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce.
    • Serve fish tacos by putting the fillets in taco shells or tortillas with fresh salsa, guacamole and all of your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings!
    • This is a mild fish. If you prefer to some kick, you can add a dash of cayenne to the breading.
    • For a Parmesan Baked Cod recipe, try adding some grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
    • Air Fryer Cod: While I much prefer the oven-baked method, you can also prepare this recipe in the air fryer. Skip the melted butter and spritz the fillets with olive oil spray. Again, it won't be as buttery and flavorful as the baked version, but it does get nice and crispy. The full instructions for the air fryer method are included in the recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 282.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.4g | Protein: 39.4g | Fat: 7.4g | Saturated Fat: 3.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.8g | Cholesterol: 109.1mg | Sodium: 461.2mg | Potassium: 448.4mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 0.1g
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tess

      July 26, 2020 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      Yum this sounds really good & easy too! And I like the idea of being able to make fish sammies out of them! Thanks ! 🙂

      Reply
      • Blair

        July 26, 2020 at 12:22 pm

        Thanks, Tess! I hope you enjoy the sandwiches! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Regina

      March 03, 2021 at 8:53 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the quickest, simplest and yet most delicious cod recipe! I love white flakey cod, and your recipe delivered delicious tidbits in under 20 minutes!

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 04, 2021 at 5:12 am

        Excellent. I'm so glad to hear that, Regina. Thanks for your note!

        Reply
        • Erica Aittama

          March 14, 2021 at 8:16 pm

          5 stars
          So good! Used corn muffin mix instead of corn meal, didn't add flour since it's in muffin mix. Turned out great!!

          Reply
          • Blair

            March 15, 2021 at 5:15 am

            That's a great "hack," Erica! Thanks for sharing your tip. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the fish!

            Reply

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