This crispy panko fish is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Use it for salads, sandwiches, or as a main dish!
Nothing brings you back to the joys of childhood quite like a chicken nugget or a crispy fish stick. Sometimes it’s the simple things that just hit the spot. This recipe for panko fish is one of those dishes you legitimately crave and brings back warm memories. Not only is it ridiculously versatile, but it’s also crazy easy to make and budget-friendly.
Getting Panko Breadcrumbs to Stick
There’s nothing worse than having your breadcrumbs fall right off the fish. To prevent making this common misstep, here are a few tips:
- Pat your fish dry. Make the surface area of the fish more sticky by patting the fillets down of any excess moisture.
- Dip the fish into the egg first. The whisked egg will act as a glue that holds the breadcrumbs to the fish.
- Gently press the fish into the breading. Apply a bit of pressure when dipping the fish into the breadcrumbs.
Kitchen Tool Tip: A long, thin fish spatula will prevent you from tearing off the breading when you flip the fish.
Preparing Crispy Panko Fish
Begin preparing crispy panko fish by combining the dry breading of parmesan cheese, flour, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Whisk the Eggs: In another small bowl, whisk the egg and milk together.
- Slice the Fish: Next, slice the fish into chunks.
- Bread the Fish: First, dip a piece of fish in the egg mixture. Then, dunk it into the breadcrumbs. Repeat until all your fish are breaded.
- Fry the Fish: Preheat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the fish for 2 1/2 minutes per side (adjust depending on the thickness of the fillets). Enjoy!
Pro Tips for the Best Crispy Panko Fish
A handful of pro tips will help you make the most irresistible panko fish.
- Use whichever white fish you like best. Cod or halibut are our favorites, but feel free to use tilapia, grouper, catfish, or snapper.
- Tweak the breading. Play around with different seasonings and herbs in the breading to fit with the dish you’re dreaming up. Garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, paprika, and chili powder are all great options.
- Use the right oil. Some oils are better than others when it comes to frying! See our awesome oil guide to get the 411 on cooking oils!
- Let the fish rest on a paper towel. To absorb excess grease that could turn the fish soggy, allow it to rest on a plate lined with paper towels before serving it.
Different Ways to Serve Panko Fish
Panko fish can be used in a million and one different ways. For classic fish and chips, serve it alongside air fryer french fries, tartar sauce, and lemon wedges. If you’re craving a fish sandwich, melt some American cheese on top of a couple of pieces of fish and sandwich them between a fluffy brioche bun. Or, keep it light by using the fish as a topper for a homemade caesar salad.
Storing & Reheating Panko Fish
Whether you have some leftovers to stow away or would like to freeze a batch for a rainy day, find all the best storage and reheating tips here.
- Refrigerator: To keep panko fish on hand for up to 3 days, store it in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent it from turning soggy.
- Freezer: Panko fish can be frozen raw or baked. To do so, assemble it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pop the sheet in the freezer uncovered. Once the fish is completely frozen, transfer it to a freezer-safe bag for up to a month.
Reheating Tip: To reheat refrigerated or frozen panko fish, pop it in the oven or air fryer until crispy and cooked through.
FAQ
What is panko made out of?
Panko is made from crustless white bread that has been flaked and dried.
Is panko healthier than breadcrumbs?
Neither panko nor breadcrumbs are much healthier than one another. At the end of the day, both are made from bread.
What can I substitute for panko breadcrumbs?
You can substitute panko breadcrumbs for crushed crackers, corn flakes, bread stuffing, or traditional breadcrumbs.
Can this fish be baked instead of fried?
If you’d prefer, bake the panko fish at 425°F for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Of note, it’s better to bake the fish as whole fillets versus smaller pieces to help it retain more moisture.
Can you grill panko fish?
Grilling panko fish is not recommended, as the breading will burn over an open flame.
More Tasty Seafood Recipes
- 10 Minute Pan-Seared Butter Scallops – Butter and herb scallops
- Easy Baked Cod Recipe – Baked cod with veggies
- Fish Soup aka Ukha – Ukrainian salmon, rice, and potato soup
- Pan Fried Tilapia – An easy fish entree using tilapia + a simple seasoning blend.
- Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon Recipe – Sweet and salty salmon
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs white fish cod or halibut
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 1 tsp ground black pepper adjust to taste
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine parmesan, flour, panko bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and milk together.
- Slice the fish into big chunks. Dip the fish fillets into the egg mixture, followed by a dunk in the panko mixture.
- Preheat a skillet to medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Fry the fish for about 2 1/2 minutes per side or until it turns golden brown. Between each round of frying, remove the loose panko left behind in the oil.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
I’m just learning to cook fish. Do you recommend buying the fish fresh from the meat department or frozen.
Do you recommend doing anything to the fish before cooking to get the “fishy taste” out.
Soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes…a chemical reaction happens to rid the fishy taste and smell…pat dry then do the panko
Hi Lauri, a lot of the times fresh fish at market would also be "previously frozen" unless you live close to fish towns. I think it depends on your preference, you can buy fresh or frozen. If you get frozen, you should thaw in the fridge. I dont have a trick with removing fishy taste, we try to buy in places where we know they sell good quality seafood.
I added 2 T of butter to the oil and double dipped/breaded the fish…. This recipe was terrific! Thanks so much! As good if not better than any fish sandwich you could buy!
Hi Sherry, I am thrilled that this recipe was a success! Thank you for sharing your process and feedback. Enjoy!!
Makes a big difference if you’ll process the Panko in a food processor before using. A finer Panko makes a much better outer crust on anything. Good Eating!😁
Hey Stew, thats a great tip, thank you for sharing.
Excellent - used the air fryer and the cod came out wonderful!
Hi John, So glad to hear it! Enjoy!
Can this be done in the trusty old air fryer?
Hi John! I would say you absolutely can! Should you give it a try, I would love to know how it went!
Cooked at 400 F for 5 minutes and flipped them and did another 5. Turned out nice and crispy but next time I will spritz them with oil so they'll get that nice brown color. Fantastic recipe, it was wonderful!
Hi John, So glad to hear it turned out well! Thank you for the feedback! Enjoy!
I love the addition of parmesan cheese to this panko breading! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe
Hi Jess, So glad this recipe was a hit! Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy!
Panko makes everything taste amazing!! It is perfect for this fish! It's crunchy & tasty!
Hi Kristyn, I agree with you! Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy!
This was delicious and actually stayed crispy! My kids and husband all loved it too, thank you.
Hi Shana, So glad this recipe was a hit! Enjoy!
In my recipe I added a tablespoon of garlic powder, a tablespoon of paprika, 3/4 tablespoon of cayenne pepper as well as a tablespoon of seasoning salt. As Emeril would say I kicked it up a notch and it is terrific. A few drops of lemon at the table and your off to the races.
That sounds amazing, Dave! I love when people add their own twist to recipes to suit your taste. Thanks for commenting!
I also added dill, accidentally dumped in a buttload of dill to the panko crumb mix but it turned out great with that little extra flavor. Fish was crispy and quick.
Haha, I'm glad it worked out well in the end with the "buttload of dill". Thank you for your feedback, Jamie!
super fast and easy!! perfect dish for a full time mommy!! definitely a keeper, thanks!
Yes, for sure! And it's pretty healthy too 🙂
Just had this fish for lunch... My husband and I really enjoyed it... but I also added finely chopped almonds to the crumbs mixture... thank you for the recipe... 🙂
Hi Diana, oh, interesting! I will have to try the almond thing next time.
Can I use tilapia?
Hello Lily I just made it with tilapia, it really GOOD=)
Yes, I didn't think of that one 🙂 any white fish works good with this recipe .
I love fish going to try this friday. Thank you =)
Hey! That is a good way to wrap up the week 🙂
lol you know what, I just made them lol can wait till friday. I usually season the fish dip in the flower and then in the egg. I do it like my mom does. Your recipe is really good too my husband love's it. Thank you. =)
Hey, well that works 🙂 I have heard of that method but usually when we did that it wasn't crispy enough. Well for it it wasn't 😉