Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

40 minutes mins

| 76 Comments |

4.86 from 110 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

So much better than store-bought: This Crispy Oven Fried Fish gets super crunchy and will be a new favorite for kids and adults alike.

It is basically baked breaded fish, but I always have a few tricks up my sleeve to make anything oven fried extraordinarily good. My homemade breaded fish blows frozen fish sticks out of the water by far!

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

Baked breaded fish

Is it any secret that I’m obsessed with all things oven fried? And breaded fish might just be my favorite oven fried recipe.

  • My foolproof breading method ensures a crispy, batter-like coating without making a fuss. It’s quick and easy!
  • The fish comes out flaky and juicy on the inside, with a super-crispy coating on the outside.
  • It is perfect served with French fries and tartar sauce as a healthier, homemade fish and chips!

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Fish: I prefer skinless cod for this recipe, because the fillets are quite thick and firm. Tilapia will also work, though the fillets tend to be much thinner and will cook faster, but they also come out a little less juicy.
  • Cornmeal: I use this to make the coating a little crisper. But if you don’t have any cornmeal on hand, you can just use more breadcrumbs instead.
  • Breadcrumbs: If you’re using Panko in place of the breadcrumbs, I highly recommend dredging the fish in just seasoned flour first (vs dredging it in the mix of all dry breading ingredients). This will ensure the breading comes out right.
  • Seasoning: Old Bay Seasoning can be used in place of the single spices the recipe calls for. I would go for 1 tablespoon, but use more or less according to your taste.
  • Fat: Even though this is not deep fried, you do need some fat to get the breading to cook and the fish to crisp up. I like using butter for the taste, but you can also use vegetable oil or, for a very lean version, cooking spray. The cooking spray tends to be not quite enough to catch all of the dry flour, so I recommend using a little bit of oil to brush on any dry patches around 5 minutes before the baking time is up.

How to make Oven Fried Fish

1. Start by preheating the oven to 430°F. Place a dark-colored sheet pan in the oven to heat up.

2. Get your breading ingredients ready: Combine the dry ingredients in a shallow dish and beat the eggs in a bowl. Cut the fish into 8-10 equal pieces and lightly season with salt/pepper.

  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)
  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)

3. To bread the fish, toss the pieces carefully in the dry mixture first, to create a thin coating. Shake off any excess.

Then, dredge each piece through the beaten eggs, and finally thickly bread with the dry breading mix.

  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)
  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)
  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

Note: How to get the breading to stick

For the breading to stick, it’s important to follow the breading method closely (thin coating of dry ingredients, dredge through egg, thick coating of dry ingredients).

For the thick coating of the dry ingredients, I recommend the following procedure to make the breading stick well to the fish:

  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)
  • Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (9)
  • Always use the same spoon to remove the egg washed fish from the bowl with the egg and drop it into the bowl with the dry ingredients without touching the flour (this spoon remains your “wet spoon” and you want to keep it away from the dry ingredients, otherwise things get messy).
  • Once you have dropped the fish piece into the dish with the dry breading mix, use a different spoon or small measuring cup to scoop dry breading on top of the fish fillet piece (this is your dry spoon, keep it away from the egg wash).
  • Use the measuring cup or the back of the spoon to pound the breading onto the fish. Pounding/pressing on the breading will slightly flatten out the fish, but it also helps to make the breading stick very well.
  • Turn the fish over, scoop on more dry breading mix and pound again.

For a super-thick coating, repeat the egg wash and breading once more. This is not necessary, but if you want to have a very thick layer of “batter” on your fish, you can double up on the breading.

4. Melt butter on your preheated pan (or grease it with a generous amount of vegetable oil; OR spray your fish pieces generously with cooking spray on both sides).

Place the fish pieces on the pan (make sure there is enough space between all pieces, do not stack them!). Bake for 10 minutes, flip (add more fat as needed) and finish baking for 5-10 minutes.

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (10)

You can finish it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes for a super crispy finish.

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (11)

Recipe tips

To cook the perfect battered fish in the oven, there are a few things you HAVE to do (yes, HAVE TO. Nothing is optional in this recipe ?):

Bread the fish correctly

The trick to getting batter to stick to fish for oven frying is pretty simple. It’s all about dipping the fillet pieces in the right ingredients in the right order:

  • First, into a mix of breadcrumbs, flour, cornmeal, seasoning and baking powder (the baking powder helps the batter to rise a little, so the moisture from the fish makes it less soggy) for a thin coating.
  • Then into beaten egg.
  • And finally thickly coat with the breadcrumb mix again. So simple!

Bake the fish correctly

  • do NOT line the pan
  • use a DARK pan (I will often use a roaster like this one so I get less splattering in the oven – this is an affiliate link and I will make a commission for purchases made after clicking through)
  • preheat the pan in the oven until it’s sizzling hot
  • don’t skimp on the butter
  • finish under the broiler (but don’t burn the fish!)
  • let the fish rest for 3-4 minutes after baking, but not for much longer
Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (12)

Serving ideas

We love this so many different ways!

  • in a sandwich bun with coleslaw
  • with French fries or mashed potatoes, peas and homemade tartar sauce
  • with rice and a big salad
  • other delicious vegetable sides: creamed corn, creamed spinach or roasted asparagus

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (13)

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Crispy Oven Fried Fish

So much better than store-bought: This Crispy Oven Fried Fish gets super crunchy and will be a new favorite for kids and adults alike. My homemade breaded fish blows frozen fish sticks out of the water by far!

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

4.86 from 110 votes

Print Add Review

Recipe details

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cook 20 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

For the dry breading

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons fine cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder

For the eggs

  • 2 large eggs

For the fish

  • 1 pound thick white fish fillet I prefer cod cut into pieces, I do about 8-10 pieces

For the pan

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 430°F (220°C). Put a dark-colored roaster OR baking sheet in the oven to heat up – the pan you use to bake the fish on needs to be hot to melt butter on!

  • Make breading: Mix all ingredients for dry breading in a shallow dish.

  • Prep eggs: Add eggs to a SEPARATE bowl and beat well.

  • Bread fish: Dip fish into breading to lightly coat. THEN coat fish with egg. FINALLY, coat fish with breading again, this time you can really pack on as much as will stick! (Just place breaded fish pieces on a plate until you've breaded them all.)

  • Melt butter: Remove pan from oven – careful, it's hot! Add 3 tablespoons of butter to pan to melt. Spread all over pan and put fish pieces on.

  • Bake: Bake fish for 10 minutes. Flip, add remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and finish baking for 5-10 minutes or until coating is crispy and fish is cooked through. Finish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes.

  • Finish: Let fish pieces rest on the pan for 5 minutes after baking, then serve immediately.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Fish: I prefer skinless cod for this recipe, because the fillets are quite thick and firm. Tilapia will also work, though the fillets tend to be much thinner and will cook faster, but they also come out a little less juicy.
  • Cornmeal: I use this to make the coating a little crisper. But if you don’t have any cornmeal on hand, you can just use more breadcrumbs instead.
  • Breadcrumbs: If you’re using Panko in place of the breadcrumbs, I highly recommend dredging the fish in just seasoned flour first (vs dredging it in the mix of all dry breading ingredients). This will ensure the breading comes out right.
  • Seasoning: Old Bay Seasoning can be used in place of the single spices the recipe calls for. I would go for 1 tablespoon, but use more or less according to your taste.
  • Fat: Even though this is not deep fried, you do need some fat to get the breading to cook and the fish to crisp up. I like using butter for the taste, but you can also use vegetable oil or, for a very lean version, cooking spray. The cooking spray tends to be not quite enough to catch all of the dry flour, so I recommend using a little bit of oil to brush on any dry patches around 5 minutes before the baking time is up.

Recipe tips

Neat breading

  • Always use the same spoon to remove the egg washed fish from the bowl with the egg and drop it into the bowl with the dry ingredients without touching the flour (this spoon remains your “wet spoon” and you want to keep it away from the dry ingredients, otherwise things get messy).
  • Once you have dropped the fish piece into the dish with the dry breading mix, use a different spoon or small measuring cup to scoop dry breading on top of the fish fillet piece (this is your dry spoon, keep it away from the egg wash).
  • Use the measuring cup or the back of the spoon to pound the breading onto the fish. Pounding/pressing on the breading will slightly flatten out the fish, but it also helps to make the breading stick very well.
  • Turn the fish over, scoop on more dry breading mix and pound again.

Bread the fish correctly

The trick to getting batter to stick to fish for oven frying is pretty simple. It’s all about dipping the fillet pieces in the right ingredients in the right order:

  • First, into a mix of breadcrumbs, flour, cornmeal, seasoning and baking powder (the baking powder helps the batter to rise a little, so the moisture from the fish makes it less soggy) for a thin coating.
  • Then into beaten egg.
  • And finally thickly coat with the breadcrumb mix again. So simple!

Bake the fish correctly

  • do NOT line the pan
  • use a DARK pan (I will often use a roaster like this one so I get less splattering in the oven – this is an affiliate link and I will make a commission for purchases made after clicking through)
  • preheat the pan in the oven until it’s sizzling hot
  • don’t skimp on the butter
  • finish under the broiler (but don’t burn the fish!)
  • let the fish rest for 3-4 minutes after baking, but not for much longer

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 27gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 726mgPotassium: 609mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 1010IUVitamin C: 1.2mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Recipe first published on 03/08/2019. Updated with new photos and text on 04/02/2021.

More easy fish recipes

  • Mediterranean Baked Cod
  • Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
  • Garlic Butter Lemon Baked Cod
  • Baja Fish Tacos

More oven fried recipes

  • Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
  • Garlic Parmesan Oven Fried Chicken
  • Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken
  • Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets
  • Oven Fried Shrimp Tacos

Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (18)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. maureen ring says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (21)
    I was skeptical because I’ve breaded fish at home before, but this really turned out well. Pay attention to the process. I appreciate you taking the time to share this recipe. I usually broil, not bread my fish because the breading always fell off!

    Reply

  2. Paula Englert says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (22)
    Turned out very well. I dipped the fish first in plain AP flour, then in egg, then in the cornmeal and spices mix. The flavors go very well together. I put 3 tablespoons of butter in the pre-heated pan, then when the butter melted, I placed the fish pieces in the pan. 10 minutes on the first side, flip and go for another seven minutes. Perfect!

    Reply

  3. Jeanne says

    Made it tonight. I pound of fish, 1 egg and a little over half of the breading mix. Used 1/4 cup butter in a preheated glass baking dish. The fish, 5 pieces, came out tasting great. 10 minutes at 430 degrees, and then turned fish over for 5 more minutes. Definitely 5 stars.

    Reply

  4. Teresa Kooiman says

    My husband caught fresh Walley, and I made this recipe tonight 😋! it is fabulous! He loves it also! we will be preparing fish only this way!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Wow, freshly caught fish is always so good. I’m so glad the recipe worked out well for your husband’s catch, Teresa!

      Reply

  5. Heather says

    Just curious…what is the purpose of the dark pan? What if one does not have a dark pan on hand?

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Heather, the dark pan reflects the heat in a different way. Cast iron works well, too. If you only have an aluminum-colored one, that’s fine – maybe you need to broil the chicken on both sides. I haven’t had a great experience with a glass pan. Or you can just use a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  6. Tee says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (23)
    I am a fan of this recipe. It is a “want come true” recipe for oven fried fish. Honest to goodness share. Thank oh so very much.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad!

      Reply

  7. Jess says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (24)
    Amazing!!

    Reply

  8. Cherie says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (25)
    Loved this recipe, my husband was all impressed. I took the advice in the comments about adding more old bay but other than that followed the recipe to the tea and am so happy. I’m going to check out other recipes on your site. Thank you

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Cherie!

      Reply

  9. Susan says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (26)
    This recipe is delicious , it’s in competition with any serious Fish ‘n Chips place. My husband commented on how light and crispy the fish was, I used fresh caught Red Snapper off the Oregon coast.
    In addition to tasting so good, this is one of the easiest ways I have ever prepared fish and I have cooked a lot of fish in my time.
    Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Susan!

      Reply

  10. Natalie says

    Made these last night & they were so good! They were nice & crunchy & the butter browned & crisped the fish sticks nicely! Next time I’ll make larger pieces. These are terrific! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Natalie!

      Reply

  11. Susan says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (27)
    This is a great recipe, but more than that, I want to complement you on your page layout and how you organized the information – so many blogs give you the whole history of the food you want to make. As if you’d never heard of it. Like “what is a chocolate chip cookie” or in this case, “what is breaded fish”. LOL. So thank you for that – very nicely done!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Thank you Susan, that’s so kind of you. I know what you mean – nobody needs a historical re-telling of the recipe, just how to make it right 😉

      Reply

  12. Marie says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (28)
    Oh my goodness! This is now my favorite go to recipe for baking fish in the oven! The fish had just the right amount of crunch to make you forget it was baked in an oven! Absolutely delicious!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Marie!

      Reply

  13. Abba says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (29)
    I made this tonight and was so yummy. I probably would add more Old Bay next time.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m glad you liked it, Abba! And I think more Old Bay never hurts ?

      Reply

  14. Arlene says

    Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (30)
    Perfect! Made fresh caught Walleye that hubby caught ice fishing a couple days ago. Followed recipe to a T and it was so crispy and done perfectly. Definitely a keeper.

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Arlene!

      Reply

  15. Paula says

    I made this tonight, and my husband and I both thought it was delicious! I have issues with gluten, so I used gluten-free flour and Ian’s gluten free Panko style bread crumbs. I was so pleased that the fish turned out crispy. Other recipes I’ve made recently just didn’t result in that crispy outside, moist inside Cod I was craving. Thank you so much for the recipe and helpful notes!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I’m so glad, Paula!

      Reply

  16. Julia says

    Will coarse ground cornmeal work? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      I would think so, Julia. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  17. Susan says

    Pretty darn good 8. Made it with tilapia and no cornmeal. Did not do broiler. I think the baking powder is a real winner. Only problem I had to guesstimate the ingredients. Did I miss the amounts somewhere? Thank you

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Susan, I’m glad you liked the recipe! The ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom. At the top, I just have a photo of the ingredients as a visual guide. Hope this helps!

      Reply

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Crispy Oven Fried Fish Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

How to make things crispier in the oven? ›

Keep the oven shut as much as possible to reach cooking temperature faster. Use a perforated sheet tray. This helps hot air circulate more easily among the fries, increasing crispness. Don't thaw your fries before baking.

What oil makes fish crispy? ›

Thanks to its neutral flavor, affordable price, and high smoke point, canola oil is the most popular oil for frying fish. Peanut, cottonseed, and coconut oil are also great fish frying oils.

Which flour is best for crispy fish? ›

Semolina or Stone Ground Wheat Flour

When it comes to fried fish and seafood, it's not all about taste—texture matters, too. If you want something crunchy, but not as grainy as cornmeal, use semolina flour or stone-ground wheat flour.

Should I use flour or cornstarch to fry fish? ›

What Breading Ingredients Make the Crispiest Fried Fish? The base of the breading mixture will be a cup of all-purpose flour and a cup of yellow corn meal. This gives the fried fish the classic gritty breading texture. Corn starch is essential to fish breading.

Why is my fish not crispy? ›

Monitor oil temperature

That dreaded blonde, soggy fried fish is what you'll get. Factors like the temperature of the fish and how much you add to the pot at once can drastically change the temperature of the oil.

Can I fry fish with just flour? ›

Pan-fried fish uses just a thin layer of hot oil or shortening in a skillet and a light flour or cornmeal coating on the fish instead of a batter. It's simpler, less messy, and more healthful than deep-frying.

Can you bake fish on parchment paper? ›

Baking fish in parchment paper or tin foil—known in France and gourmet cooking circles as en papillote—steams the fish with a minimum of fuss and equipment. Delicate fish—sole (as pictured) and other thin white fish—is particularly delicious cooked in parchment packets since it cooks gently and stays moist.

Should you coat fish in flour before frying? ›

Don't skip the flour coating since it provides a delicious crispy texture, protects the fish from soaking up too much oil, and also keeps the fillet in one piece. For best results, use a heavy-bottomed pan, as it distributes the heat evenly.

Why put fish in milk before frying? ›

milk will remove some of the fishy taste and smell of old fish. If flesh of fish is firm and shiny it is good to cook. Soaking in milk for about 30 mins is to remove the odour.

Why do people soak fish in milk before frying? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

Should fish be covered or uncovered when baking in the oven? ›

Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.

Why is my baked fish soggy? ›

To keep your fish from changing textures as you are cooking it, Taste of Home suggests using paper towels to make sure the fish is dry before you cook it. Don't be shy about cooking fish at higher, hotter temperatures. Refrain from flipping fish too often so your fillet doesn't break apart.

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