Baked Cod Buttery Cracker Topping (Printable)

Tender cod fillets baked under a golden, buttery cracker crumb topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz each), skinless and boneless
02 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Crumb Topping

05 - 1 cup buttery crackers (such as Ritz), crushed
06 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Optional Garnish

10 - Lemon wedges
11 - Chopped fresh parsley

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
02 - Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Arrange fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with lemon juice and season evenly with salt and pepper.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine crushed buttery crackers, melted butter, chopped parsley, garlic powder, and lemon zest. Mix until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
04 - Spoon the crumb mixture evenly over the tops of the cod fillets, pressing gently so it adheres.
05 - Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the topping is golden brown.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges and extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The fish stays impossibly moist while that cracker topping turns into pure, buttery crunch.
  • It's ready in thirty minutes flat, making weeknight dinner feel effortless instead of stressed.
  • Everyone at the table eats it—even the people who usually pick at fish.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the fish—wet fillets steam instead of baking, and your topping will never get crispy no matter how hot the oven gets.
  • The crumb mixture needs to be moistened with melted butter before you add it to the fish, or it'll bake dry and taste like breadcrumbs instead of a golden, buttery crust.
03 -
  • Keep the butter melted and warm when you mix it with the crumbs, because cold butter won't coat them evenly and they'll bake patchy.
  • If you want extra crispness, slide the baking sheet under the broiler for the last minute or two, but watch it like a hawk because the topping burns fast.

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