Fried Cod is our favorite fried fish. It’s crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. And it is perfect for dunking in homemade tartar sauce.
When it comes to fish, my family is all about the white fish. Cod specifically. We like it because it’s a mild white fish with a firm texture. This means that it’s not super fishy tasting, which means it’s great for the kiddos.
Now, my family will eat any of the cod recipes I make, but if we’re being totally honest, fried is the best. I mean crispy fried fish, with a squirt of lemon dunked in tartar sauce? It doesn’t get much better. AM I RIGHT?
And now I’m going to show you just how easy it is to make one of the best cod recipes!
What batter is best for fried fish?
When I go out to eat, I am always hesitant to order Fish and Chips. Not because I don’t love it, but because, I don’t love battered fish and chips.
Battered fish is typically dunked in a wet batter and then fried. For me, even fried, wet batters have a tendency to get a bit soggy. They seem to soak up more of the oil. That is why, when I make fried cod, I choose to do a panko crust. It results in crispy, flaky fish each and every time.
How to make fried cod:
The first step to making fried cod is to make sure that you season the fish liberally with salt and pepper. You’ll season the crust too, but seasoning the fish helps create layers of flavor.
Next, you’ll want to set up an assembly line of sorts to coat the fish. On one plate you’ll have the flour. Another bowl with whisked eggs and finally a plate with seasoned panko bread crumbs.
First, you will dredge each piece of cod in the flour, then dunk it in the egg and finally press into the panko. And repeat until all the fish is coated.
Next, fry the fish. I use a heavy bottomed pan and heat an inch of oil to 350 degrees. It’s important to fry the fish in batches so that you don’t over crowd the pan. If you over crowd the pan, the fish will steam more than fry so they won’t be as crispy.
While I’m cooking the different batches, I like to keep the cooked fish on top of a cooling rack thats set on a baking sheet. This helps keep the bottom of the fish from getting soggy as it sits.
To keep it warm, I set my oven temperature to warm (170 degrees). Don’t cover it with aluminum foil because the steam will be trapped making the fish soggy.
Basically, steam is the mortal enemy to crispy fried cod.
How do you know when fried cod is cooked?
Fish is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. You can also use the flaking method. Simply poke the fish with a fork and twist gently. If the fish flakes, it’s done.
What do you serve with fried cod?
Obviously, if you’re going for a fish and chips vibe, I’d say fries. More specifically potato wedges. Fried cod is also good with garlic rice, sautéed broccoli or roasted red potatoes.
And of course, you’ve got to serve it with tartar sauce. And serving it with your own homemade tartar sauce is even better. Seriously.
Looking for more seafood recipes?
Baked Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter
Round out the meal with these easy side dish recipes:
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pound cod fillets (cut into strips or bite sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Turn oven to warm setting (170 degrees or lowest it will go). Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and set aside.
- Set up an assembly line: place flour on one plate, eggs in a bowl and combine panko, salt and garlic together on another plate.
- Dredge fish in flour, dip in egg and then press into panko to coat. Repeat until all fish is coated.
- In a large pot, heat 1 - 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees. Fry fish in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan. Place cooked fish on the cooling rack in the oven to keep warm until all fish is cooked. Serve immediately.
So good. So simple! I added a bit of smoked paprika but otherwise followed the recipe. Regarding cooking time…my cod was fairly thin and it was about 2 minutes per side in a cast iron skillet with 1/4” of oil.
[…] with fried cod recipes might seem hard, but it’s easy with the right steps. Whether you’re new to cooking or […]
[…] special meals, make your fried cod more fancy. Try panko crust or add herbs and spices. It turns a basic dish into a fancy […]
[…] crispy fried cod recipe delivers the perfect balance of golden, crunchy coating and tender, flaky fish in just 25 minutes. […]
[…] your kitchen into a cod-frying station with the right stuff. The easy pan-fried cod recipe is simple but each part is key to golden, tender […]
[…] you searching for fried cod fish recipes that promise a golden-brown crunch and tender fish? This guide will show you how to achieve crispy […]
[…] Fried cod fish is a classic dish loved in coastal cuisines, especially in New England. It’s made by coating cod fillets in a crunchy batter and then deep-frying them. This makes the outside crispy and the inside tender and flaky. […]
It won’t take long, depending on the size of your fish, usually 3 – 5 minutes.
How long do you fry the fish??
The best ever and my 3 kiddos couldn’t get enough….i loved this simple recipe which I did add garlic salt and paprika to the panko. I served it with ivars tarter sauce and Mexican rice. I am looking forward to making this again, since my kiddos only left me 2 pieces, bless their hearts LOL. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Should include cook time for the fish, that’d be real helpful.
[…] Fried cod is a classic seafood dish that has graced tables around the world for centuries. Whether you are looking for a light and crispy meal or a golden, flaky fish with a delicious crunch, fried cod offers a versatile and satisfying option. […]
[…] of homemade fried cod can take your cooking to the next level. Adding panko breadcrumbs to your traditional fried cod recipe gives it a delightful crunch. This crunch perfectly matches the fish’s natural […]
Thank you!
Amazing.
I used frozen cod thawed, cut in half. Salted the fish. Flour, egg, No panko so used bread crumbs and Old Bay seasoning. Used about 1/4” sunflower oil. Fried it all up and made shrimp the same way in the same oil. My first successful fried fish ever.
I am so happy to hear that, Brian! And that sounds like a fantastic dinner!
I tried this recipe on my cod filets tonight Friday May 31st, 2024. I had to cut the filets into smaller chunks. Prepared the assembly line and went to town. The cod turned out light and flavorful. Will definitely use this recipe again!
As long as I had hot oil in the deep fryer, I also decided to deep fry some Tator tots. Also sauteed some yellow and green squash with a half of orange bell pepper………YUM!
Wow such a great compliment, Keith! So happy you and your wife enjoyed it!
My wife was reluctant for me to try a different recipe for cod. This is now her favorite dish. I now have deleted all of my other cod recipes, I will only be making this recipe.
This recipe changed homemade cod for me. So insanely good (and easy). Love how it stays crispy and not soggy. Game changer. Thank you!
I am so happy to hear that, Iriel! You’re welcome!
Thank you, Graham!
Excellent!
First time frying fish like this and omg was it AMAZING!! My husband ate so much he couldn’t move. 😋
Thank you soooo much!
So happy to hear that, Tammy! Glad you enjoyed it!
Omg. This was THE crispness cod EVER. So delish. Totally making again.
Yes! I actually have a recipe for air fryer fish nuggets that is basically the same recipe as this one but with air fryer instructions. You can simply leave the pieces larger if you like. https://www.lifesambrosia.com/air-fryer-fish-nuggets/
Can this be air fried?
You’re welcome, Dan! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Awesome. No doubt the “Perfect Fried Cod Recipe”. Love the crunch. Thank you!
You are welcome, Kim! I hope you enjoy it!
Now that Lent has started, I’m on the lookout for good fish recipes to make on Fridays, so I’m going to put this one into the rotation! I love fish and chips, but it’s so much healthier to make it at home as opposed to getting takeout. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Glad you enjoyed it! You add the salt and garlic to the panko :)
Thank you, Laura!
Delush, crispy!
I was skeptical at first since it does not say when to add salt and garlic. But yes it was really good. Very nice recipe. Used cod
[…] Fried cod fish recipes have become a staple in households around the world. The delightful combination of flaky cod and a crispy coating has earned this dish a special place on dining tables. Whether you’re a seafood enthusiast or a novice in the kitchen, mastering the art of preparing fried cod opens up a world of culinary possibilities. […]
I am so happy to hear that, Sandi! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment!
Some of the best fried cod I’ve ever had…and I’ve had a bunch! The light coating forms a perfect crunch while allowing the fish to stay together while in the hot oil. Seriously good. Will definitely make again, and again….
Yay! I am so happy to hear that, Cathy! Thank you!
Thank you so much!! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed these :)
This was fantastic! We’ve been trying to incorporate more seafood into our diets and were bored with the same old baked and grilled options. These cod filets turned out golden and crispy! We’re going to make fish tacos with the leftovers! YUM!
I don’t even like fish, but made this for my husband tonight, and guess what…it’s delicious!! I’ll make it for both us next time.
Brandi, you are so welcome!! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this and the tartar sauce! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment :)
I just had to write a review for this. I had never fried my own cod before and just happened to come across this recipe. Immediately, I liked that it addressed the potential for a wet batter to ultimately become soggy.
I followed this recipe and man-oh-man did my first try turn out fabulous. I even kept the first batches on a rack in the oven, as suggested, and that worked perfectly, too. I made the tarter sauce (minus capers, I didn’t have those) and wow. This was soooo, so, so good.
So, thank you so much for this recipe, it really turned out great.
Oh that is a great tip, Gorgianna! Glad you enjoyed this!! :)
Absolutely delicious and so easy! Had spiced green beans and baked home fries with this (to cut down on calories). Will DEFINATELY make again. Added fresh parsley to the panko and guess what? No burning!
OMG we just had this for dinner along with your tartar sauce recipe, it was an instant hit with my family ♥️ Only thing I changed, with the tartar sauce I used 1/2 cup of sweet cubes instead of dill pickles, & used fresh parsley instead of dill. For sides, I made coleslaw, home fries, & homemade hush puppies. There was absolutely nothing left!
Good to know it works for chicken tenders too! Glad you enjoyed it, Kerry!!
Made this recipe with tilapia and it was delicious! I also tried it with chicken tenders and they were great!
I just finished eating. I used cod and sliced into pieces before cooking. It was amazing! I used my mini fryer.
You are so welcome, Julie! I am so happy to hear you and your family enjoyed it. I hope you find many other recipes on my blog that you love just as much :)
Just got done having this for dinner and OH MY GOODNESS!!! Literally! This was the best fish that I have ever had. The panko was crunchy and golden and the fish was perfectly flaky. I bought cod from Costco and cut it into pieces to use for this recipe. My family absolutely devoured it and has requested it on the regular rotation. This was better than any fried fish I have had in a restaurant. This is the first time I have made any of your recipes and I can’t wait to try more. I am definitely going to be spending some time on your website tonight! Thank you so much for this deliciousness!!
I’m so happy to hear that you and your guests enjoyed this! And thank you for the idea about reheating it in the oven. Such a great tip!
Served this at a dinner party for eight, paired with penne pasta alfredo, roasted asparagus, and a beet salad. No leftovers, and everyone raved. I will definitely be making this again.
(I didn’t want the house smelling of fish and the weather was too lousy to cook outside, so I made the fish in the morning and put it in the refrigerator—on a drying rack inside a sheet pan, with a layer of paper towels on top—and then popped it in a medium oven 20 minutes before serving. Came out perfect.)
Thank you, Mark! That is such a great compliment! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this and the tartar sauce so much!
One of THE BEST fried cod recipe we’ve tried. Perfect with your tartar sauce too.
YUM!
Love this recipe will try that today.
You’re welcome, Linda! I am happy to hear that!
Delicious! First time I’ve fried anything! It was perfect. Thank you.
Hi Theresa, I’ve never tried that so I can’t recommend for sure. My concern would be that the fish might be a bit dry.
Can fish be breaded and ready to fry a few hours in advance? Was hoping to do this, and last minute all I’d need to do is pop them in the hot oil.
Hi Kara, I recommend using something with a higher smoke point. Avocado has the highest but is crazy expensive to deep fry in in my opinion. Instead I use vegetable, canola or peanut which can handle the heat as well as being more cost effective. Don’t use olive oil, the smoke point is too low. Hope this helps!
Hi, what oil do you recommend for this recipe (if using a deep fryer)?
thank you,
Kara
You are so welcome, Dee! And thank you so much for the fabulous review!! “Best fried fish ever” is such a compliment, thank you :)
I am so happy that my tips and tricks helped you, Phoebe!! Thank you! :)
Great simple recipe. Showcases the fish. Loved all your pictures and tips for success. Really helped to use a thermometer for the oil so that I didn’t fry for too long. Thank you for sharing.
I made this fried cod for dinner and it is beyond amazing!!! Oh my word, I cannot believe how delicious this cod turned out. I followed the recipe exactly as written and used a cooling rack to keep the pieces crispy. Honestly, this is the best fried fish I’ve ever had, either at home or in a restaurant, it’s seriously that good. I highly recommend this recipe, it’s a keeper for sure in our home! Thank you Des! :-D
Hi Mark! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and comment and rate the recipe! I really appreciate it. I’m also so happy to hear about how much you enjoy it. Also thank you SO much for sharing the recipe with your friends and family too :)
This has become our favorite fried cod recipe since we first tried it. Several have asked me for the recipe so I send them your link. Having it tonight with family over. Oh, and the homemade tartar sauce recipe is also a huge it. It’s the only one I use now. Next level sauce for sure.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Cheers!
Mark R
Auburn, WA
Happy to hear that this recipe satisfied your late night craving, Charles!! :)
I cooked my fish at 1:00 am this morning. I had four small pieces of some kind of whitefish which I cut up to make fish sticks. Followed your recipe exactly and got great fish sticks.
Such a great compliment, Christine! You’re welcome and thank you!
I’ve fried a lot of fish in my time. Always using a flour/cornmeal breading or a wet, fish & chips type breading (ick!). Never again! This truly is the “Perfect” Fried Cod Recipe. The only change I made was to add 1/4 tsp more salt. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!
This recipe works! Get a probe thermometer to test the oil. It’s no fail with that.
HMMM that is odd. Do you have pop-ups blocked? It might not print if that is the case. I’d love to help you trouble shoot if you need it. You can email me directly at des@lifesambrosia.com
For some reason, your website will NOT print on my printer! It’s automatically blocked! By you! Oh well don’t need your website then!
Wow! What a nice review! Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it!
Absolutely fantastic, and the only way I will fry cod ever again!
You are so welcome, Scott! Happy to hear it was such a hit :)
Just made this for my wife. A hit!
And it’s easy enough that even I can get great results.
Like Angie posted, the hacks were great; much needed by this guy.
Thank you for sharing your time.
I tried this recipe, only used 1 edd, didn’t have a lb & 1/4 cod, still the recipe turned out great, I added some Old Bay seasoning to Panko bread crumbs. Will make again.
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it!
I made it! It was perfect! I did add the paprika as someone suggested too!
It’s so simple and tasty , thanks for the recipe.
Angie, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this and found the tips helpful! I am totally going to try adding cayenne next time, that sounds fab!
This is soo simple and delicious! I did add some cayenne pepper but otherwise kept to the recipe. The little cooking hacks like putting the fish on a rack over a cookie sheet and frying it in a Dutch oven (sooo much less oil splatter!!!) were helpful also. How have I lived this long and not thought of these things? I used cod and halibut and both turned out great! No tartar sauce needed in my opinion! Haha.
You are so welcome, Kelly! glad that you enjoyed it. I am going to have to try Italian bread crumbs one of these times, that sounds delicious!
I made this last night because I received some cod with a meat order. I have never fried cod and I will do it again. I mixed in a little italian bread crumbs that I had on hand for some flavor and it was really yummy! This will be in our meal rotation now. And you are right about the size. I cooked a few larger pieces and found I liked the smaller ones better. I did a simple salad on the side and it was the perfect dinner. Thanks!!
Shelly, yay! I am that my recipe helped you learn to fry cod! :)
Thank you for the recipe. For years I have tried to learn how to fry cod. I kept trying to do it like the fast food fish places with a wet batter and would fail. The mood hit again and I found your recipe. I really liked the simplicity of ingredients. Which made it easy to convert to gluten-free. The fish came out tasty, beautifully moist, flaky, with a wonderful crunchy fried exterior and not at all greasy. This is a keeper!
So happy to hear that Susan! Thank you!
This was so good. My husband bought some cod and said “let’s do a fish fry.” And then I had to find a recipe. This was so amazing.
Thanks Hope! I think you could make this gluten free by using gluten free flour and then gluten free panko :)
Great recipe. Would love to know how you made it gluten free!
Hi Kathy! I am so happy to hear that! It is one of my most favorite recipes too :)
I made this last night with fresh cod and it turned out wonderful. This will now be my go to recipe for fresh fish. It cooks rather quickly, which I think is why the fish does not dry out and just melts in your mouth.
Hi Lisa,
Yes! You could absolutely do that :)
Can this be made with tilapia instead? If so, would I do everything the same?
Hi Lorie! I have not tried to do that. I should test it out!
Have you tried freezing it after breading the cod. And then frying it later?
You are so welcome, Wendy! I am glad to hear you loved it and were able to make it gluten free. Did you simply use gluten-free bread crumbs?
Made it GLUTEN FREE, Loved it, will be my go to Cod recipe now!
Thx.
Thank you!
This looks so good. I love baked cod.
Hi Sue! Yes, it is a deep pot. You could use a deep skillet too
Is that a deep pot that you used to fry the cod, rather than a frying pan?
Aw Lisa! Thank you!! The fact that you came back and left another review means so much! I am so happy you guys enjoy it so much. :)
My last review did not do it justice. I made it again. So crunchy. Probably not enough words in the dictionary to describe the goodness. My husbands fav meal at friday fish fry (out). Now it’s at home. God bless and be well.
Yay!!! So happy they turned out exactly like you wanted them to, I love when that happens! :)
My goal was to make them look like the picture., I did! I never used panko before, now, probably nothing else! It was delicious. Thank you!
Woot! I am happy you enjoyed it, Theresa! Happy New Year!
First dinner of 2021 and it was superb! I love fish and chips, but when someone else makes it. It was simple with a ton of crunch and flavor.
Hi Alison! It won’t take long, just a few minutes. :)
This is quite good, and easy! My 12-year-old made it for dinner tonight. We have a gluten-free family member and subbed Bobs Red Mill 1:1 flour and GF Panko and it tasted fantastic.
Thanks for the awesome recipe! We will make again
If I cut the cod into pieces, could you please roughly tell me how many minutes I should cook the fish before I check for flakiness? Tks.
All the advertising sucks!
I use vegetable or canola most often when I’m frying :)
What kind of oil do you use ?
Oh I love that! Thank you for sharing, Phil! That pineapple slaw sounds fab :)
Excellent beyond belief. Made it for dinner tonight and my wife who isn’t a big fish fan could not stop raving on how much she loved the taste of the cod. I used my deep fat fryer for the cod, kept it warm in the oven while I fried some french fries (chips). I added some pineapple coleslaw on the side and voila, one fabulous meal. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
I use vegetable or canola. :)
What type of oil do you prefer?
I love that idea of adding the garlic salt to the bread crumbs, I’ll have to try that next time. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this! It’s one of my favorites!
Excellent! I just made this recipe after a cod fiasco earlier in the week. I had a couple of filets that still needed to be cooked and I’m glad I found this recipe. I mixed Lawry’s Garlic Salt in with the bread crumbs and cooked the fish in olive oil. This is a winning recipe that I plan to use for all my future fish frys.
[…] Fried Cod […]
[…] If you’d rather fry your grouper or cod, Carol recommends trying a panko breading like in Life’s Ambrosia’s Perfect Fried Cod Recipe. […]
[…] If you’d rather fry your grouper or cod, Carol recommends trying a panko breading like in Life’s Ambrosia’s Perfect Fried Cod Recipe. […]
So, I noticed your recipe left out the baking powder. Very wise. The bitter taste took away from how delicious these were. They were crispy and crunchy. I was so surprised. Eventhough they were seasoned well, just couldn’t get past that taste..Will try again without the baking powder..
[…] Fried Cod […]
Regular bread crumbs won’t give you the same crunch but would work :)
I don’t have panko bread crumbs. Will regular bread crumbs work?
You are so welcome Paula!! Glad you enjoy it :)
I love this recipe. The only one I will ever have to use for my fish. Thank you so much
Oh I love the idea of adding a little paprika to the mix! Glad it worked out so well for you :)
Super crispy! I sprinkled it with a little paprika before frying to give a a little more brown coloring. The batter stuck to the fish really well and fried up nicely. Thanks for the recipe.
You are welcome! I am happy to hear that the recipe exceeded your expectations and that wasabi yogurt sounds amazing!
I was expecting to be disappointed… not because it didn’t look good but because usually my fish ends up soggy no matter what. I was SO surprised! This fish turned out perfectly.
I cut the fish in thick strips and followed your directions exactly. (except putting them in the oven because I was serving them as they cooked.). My family LOVED them. I served them with a wasabi yogurt. Thank you!
Wow. That is such a great compliment Carole!! I am so happy you guys enjoyed this recipe so much!
THE BEST fried fish recipe EVER! My husband who has fished all his life and had fried fish for almost 60 years will NEVER go back to cornmeal fish fry. Now that is saying something! Turned out EXACTLY like recipe said it would!
I have yet to try it in the air fryer so I can’t say for sure but I don’t see why not!
Can this be done in an air fryer?
You are so welcome!
Excellent, excellent – thank you!!
That is so great to hear Jeanne! Thank you!
I have made several bad fish recipes and they are never spectacular. This one was easy to follow and perfectly crispy. I also appreciate the note to put on a rack to keep crispy. This will be my new go to recipe.
You are so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This was my best fish fry to date. Not only was the fish crispy it was light and airy. Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow, looks incredibly delicious! I’m pretty sure this will quickly disappear in our table, need to try it!
Gave this a try for dinner last night and it was perfectly crispy! Going to have it again, tonight!
This is something my family will surely love!!
Yum!! The breading looks perfectly crispy and delicious!
This looks really delicious! Can’t wait to make it for dinner!
You really nailed the crispiness on this! Looks fantastic!
This sounds so crispy and amazing! I have to try this for dinner soon
This is my eldest Son’s favorite dish, I’ve never made my own before, this will make my Son’s day!
I love fish cooked like this, will make it!!!