Delightful Easy Boston Baked Cod with Crispy Panko
New England-style Boston baked cod with a buttery, lemony parmesan panko crust. Flaky, tender fish ready in about 25 minutes.
By Dora Ortiz
Boston baked cod is New England comfort food at its simplest: tender, flaky white fish under a buttery golden crumb topping with lemon and herbs. This version uses panko and parmesan for an extra-crispy crust, and it’s on the table in about 25 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
- Fast: 10 minutes of prep, 15 minutes in the oven.
- Mild and kid-friendly for people who don’t usually love fish.
- Crispy and buttery without frying.
Tips for Perfect Baked Cod
Dry the fish well. Moisture is the enemy of a crispy crust.
Choose thick fillets. Fillets about 1 inch thick stay moist while the topping browns. Thin pieces will cook faster, so start checking at 8 minutes.
Don’t overbake. Cod goes from perfect to dry quickly. Check early.
What to Serve With It
Roasted potatoes, rice pilaf, coleslaw, buttered peas, or steamed green beans with lemon.
Storage
Baked cod is best fresh. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 2 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes.
Recipe
Delightful Easy Boston Baked Cod with Crispy Panko
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 310
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly butter a baking dish just large enough to hold the fish.
- Prepare the cod. Pat the cod fillets very dry with paper towels. Arrange them in the dish and season with salt and pepper.
- Make the crumb topping. In a bowl, mix the panko, parmesan, melted butter, garlic, lemon zest, paprika and half the parsley until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
- Top the fish. Press the crumb mixture evenly onto the top of each fillet.
- Bake. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork (145°F / 63°C) and the crumbs are golden. For extra color, broil for the last 1 minute, watching closely.
- Serve. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- For the classic New England version, swap the panko for crushed Ritz crackers.
- Haddock, pollock or halibut work the same way.
- Frozen cod: thaw overnight in the fridge and pat very dry, or the topping will turn soggy.
Nutrition is an estimate per serving: about 310 calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boston baked cod?
It's a New England classic: mild white cod baked under buttery cracker or breadcrumb topping with lemon. Simple, quick and very comforting.
How do I know when cod is done?
It turns from translucent to opaque white and flakes easily with a fork. The center should reach 145°F (63°C).
Can I make it in an air fryer?
Yes. Cook at 380°F (195°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness.
