Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this Oven Fried Fish tastes like a decadent deep-fried meal. Flaky white haddock or cod is coated with a mayonnaise mixture and dredged in breadcrumbs and Corn Flakes for a super-crunchy coating. Serve the fish with baked potato wedges for healthy Oven Fried Fish and Chips. Best of all, the easy dinner recipe is ready for the table in less than 30 minutes!
Crunchy Oven Fried Fish
If you love the taste of classic fried fish, but you don't want the hassle and added calories of deep-frying, this easy oven fried fish recipe is the perfect solution! You get the rich, crispy, golden brown texture and white, flaky inside that we all love -- without the grease. The healthy baked fish recipe appeals to kids and adults, and pairs nicely with almost any of your favorite sides -- from hush puppies to "chips," green beans to coleslaw -- and don't forget the tartar sauce!
Which fish can be fried?
You need a sturdy white fish that won't fall apart when breading and baking. This recipe calls for cod or haddock, which are popular varieties for feeding families because they have 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.
How to get Breadcrumbs to Stick to Fish
This recipe calls for a thicker egg coating than many other fried fish or chicken recipes. I learned this trick from America's Test Kitchen -- creating a blend of egg, mayonnaise, flour and a bit of Dijon -- to help the breadcrumbs really adhere to the fish. This thick wet layer keeps the inside of the fish moist and tender, adds flavor, helps the coating stick, and allows the outside of the fish to get super-crunchy in the hot oven. It tastes like it's deep-fried!
Ingredients
- Sturdy, firm, white fish: cod or haddock are both great options
- All-purpose flour
- Old Bay seasoning
- Kosher salt and pepper
- Mayonnaise
- Eggs
- Dijon
- Dry breadcrumbs
- Corn Flakes crumbs
- Vegetable oil
How to Fry Fish in the Oven
The fish gets nice and crispy in the oven thanks to a double-dredge in dry ingredients -- first in flour, then in an egg and mayonnaise mixture, and finally in a breadcrumb and Cornflake coating. This baked fish is tender but firm, doesn't get mushy, and has the most flavorful, crunchy exterior.
- Pat fish dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat fish lightly with seasoned flour, dip in the egg-mayonnaise mixture, and dredge in the breadcrumbs.
- Arrange the breaded fish on a wire rack set on top of a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake the fish in a 450° F oven for 8-11 minutes, or until the outside is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
What to Serve with Crispy Oven Fried Fish
This is a really simple and healthy baked fish recipe, which pairs well with almost any of your favorite sides. Garnish the fish with a lemon wedge and some chopped fresh parsley, and offer tartar sauce on the side for dipping. Here are a few easy sides that go well with the oven baked fried fish:
- Baked Potato Wedges (for the classic combination of Oven Fried Fish and Chips)
- Hush Puppies (another classic side with fried fish)
- Coleslaw
- Skillet Cornbread or Corn Muffins
- Buttermilk Biscuits, Drop 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
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
- Grilled Potatoes
- Classic Pasta Salad
- Easy Potato Salad
- Green Bean Salad
- Southern Macaroni Salad
- Southern Succotash
Storage
The cooked fish will keep in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days. If you need to store the fish longer, you can freeze the leftovers for up to 1 month. It's important to note, though -- this oven fried fish is best when served warm from the oven. The crispy exterior tends to get soggy as it sits in the refrigerator.
How to Reheat Fried Fish in the Oven
The oven is the best way to reheat your oven fried fish 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.
Recipe Variations
- I love the combination of the plain breadcrumbs and Corn Flake crumbs, because the Corn Flakes add extra crunch and flavor that you can't get from the breadcrumbs alone. I prefer the finer texture of regular breadcrumbs here, but you can substitute with Panko breadcrumbs if that's all that you have.
- Instead of the breadcrumbs, add extra flavor to the breading mixture by using finely crushed Ritz crackers with the Corn Flakes.
- For a special touch, add a couple of tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
- This is a mild fish. If you prefer some kick, you can add a dash of cayenne to the breading.
- Turn this recipe into fish sticks by cutting the fish into strips before breading and baking.
Tips for the Best Oven Fried Fish Recipe
- Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half to prepare just two pieces. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
- The oil in the breading helps the fish turn crispy and golden brown in the oven -- no frying necessary! Don't skip the oil, or the end result won't be nearly as good.
- Thin pieces of fish will be done within about 8 minutes, while thicker pieces of fish may require closer to 10-11 minutes in the oven. You'll know that it's done when the outside is crispy and golden brown and the inside flakes easily with a fork.
- 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!
More Fish Recipes to Try
- Crispy Fried Fish Sandwiches
- Oven Fried Fish with Cornmeal
- Crispy Southern Fried Catfish
- 5-Ingredient Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
- Salmon Burgers
- Perfect 15-Minute Grilled Salmon
Oven Fried Fish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ - 2 lbs. haddock or cod fillet, cut into 4 pieces
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Dash of black pepper
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup dry plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Corn Flakes crumbs (about 3 cups of whole cereal measured before crushing)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- Optional, for serving: tartar sauce, fresh parsley, lemon wedges
Optional Homemade Tartar Sauce:
- 1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons capers, optional
- 1 tablespoon Dijon or stone-ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or parsley, optional
- 1 ½ tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Optional Homemade Tartar Sauce:
- Stir together all of the sauce ingredients. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
For the Fish:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl, combine ½ cup flour, Old Bay, salt and pepper. In a separate shallow dish, whisk together remaining ¼ cup flour, mayonnaise, eggs and Dijon. In a third dish, combine breadcrumbs and Corn Flakes crumbs. Drizzle the breadcrumb mixture with oil and mash with a fork until the oil is thoroughly incorporated.
- Pat fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a time, coat the fish lightly with flour mixture; dip in egg mixture; and dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Transfer to prepared wire rack and bake until crumbs are golden and fish is cooked through, 8-11 minutes.
- Serve with tartar sauce and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.
Notes
- I love the combination of the plain breadcrumbs and Corn Flake crumbs, because the Corn Flakes add extra crunch and flavor that you can't get from the breadcrumbs alone. I prefer the finer texture of regular breadcrumbs here, but you can substitute with Panko breadcrumbs if that's all that you have.
- Instead of the breadcrumbs, add extra flavor to the breading mixture by using finely crushed Ritz crackers with the Corn Flakes.
- For a special touch, add a couple of tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
- This is a mild fish. If you prefer some kick, you can add a dash of cayenne to the breading.
- Turn this recipe into fish sticks by cutting the fish into strips before breading and baking.
My favorite market had a sale on fresh Alaskan cod so I got a craving and found this recipe. Along with the cornflakes, I used crushed Ritz crackers for my breadcrumbs and added a T of parmesan to the mix. My large lovely cod filets took about 18 minutes to cook perfectly, and by then the crust was browned and crunchy - yum! Thanks for a tasty way to enjoy fish.
That's wonderful! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the meal. It's on our menu for tonight! 🙂