Crispy Baked Haddock

This crispy baked haddock recipe pairs flaky white fish with an irresistible panko crust for an easy weeknight dinner.

If you haven’t cooked with fish much (or at all!) and would like to incorporate more fish into your diet, crispy baked haddock is a great recipe for beginners! It’s quick and easy and comes together in about 20 minutes. And if you’re not a big fan of eating fish? Baked haddock is a good recipe for you, too! Haddock is not a fishy fish — you hardly taste the “fishy” flavor, especially with the panko breadcrumb coating that helps elevate the flavors and the lemon really helps brighten the dish.

I like elevating haddock by adding punchy flavors like Dijon and lemon, which brings a bright citrus note to the table. The panko breadcrumb mixture gets added flavor from garlic powder and basil, but you can switch things up with freshly ground black pepper or even add some grated Parmesan cheese to the mix. My panko parmesan baked cod has a similar coating/crust and it has grated Parmesan in it and it is soo good! It’s another great mild, white fish to incorporate in your diet.

What is haddock?

Haddock is a white fish that is similar to cod but slightly milder in flavor. It has an incredibly flakey texture, making it perfect for baking and other cooking methods such as poaching and steaming. Haddock also has a mild taste profile which works great with the crunchy panko topping of this recipe.

Visually, haddock is noticeably thinner than cod fillets. For that reason, haddock is more delicate and I personally think best for baking or roasting. I also love haddock because it has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and it’s easy to cook. It’s a great fish for people who don’t normally enjoy fish!

Why You’ll Love Baked Haddock

• Mild and flakey. Haddock has a mild flavor and an incredibly flakey texture that is both tender and works great with baking and roasting.
• Quick. Because of how thin haddock is, it cooks really fast! It takes only about 10 minutes or less!
• Great source of protein and lean fat. Haddock, as with all fish, has a great amount of protein while also being lean. It is an awesome way to incorporate more of a Mediterranean lifestyle in your diet.

What You’ll Need

The ingredient list for this crispy baked haddock recipe is simple as can be. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh haddock – If you can’t find haddock, cod or halibut will work. 
• Mayo – Use any kind you like or have on hand.
• Salted butter – The butter needs to be room temperature, so take it out 30 to 45 minutes before you plan to start cooking.
• Dijon mustard – Don’t substitute a regular yellow mustard here. Dijon is key!
• Garlic powder
• Panko breadcrumbs – While you can use regular breadcrumbs instead, I recommend using panko because it makes for a crispier crust. Crushed Ritz crackers will work too—they’re a traditional crust for baked haddock.
• Dried basil
• Lemon – You’ll need the zest and juice from half a lemon. Reserve the other half so you can use lemon slices as a garnish. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper to melted butter, then use this mixture for drizzling or dipping.

How to Make Crispy Baked Haddock

If you have 20 minutes and all of the ingredients listed above, you’re ready to make baked haddock! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 425ºF and coat a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Pat both sides of the haddock dry, then season with salt and pepper and place it on the baking sheet.

Make the coating. Combine all of the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir until everything is evenly distributed. 

Coat the haddock. Use your hands to spread the coating over the fish; it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be fairly even.

Bake. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the haddock for 7 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and the topping is lightly browned and crisp.

What internal temperature should haddock be cooked to?

Haddock filets can vary in thickness, and a thicker piece of fish will take longer to cook. For food safety, it’s recommended that you use a meat thermometer and make sure fish has reached an internal temperature of 145ºF before you serve it. The fish should look opaque when you cut into it and flake when you dig into it with a fork.

Serving Suggestions

I recommend serving this with a roasted vegetable because you can roast the vegetable in the oven at the same time as you bake the haddock. A simple green salad works well, too! Here are some recipe ideas:

• Caesar salad
• Roasted cauliflower
• Pistachio pesto Brussels sprouts
• Garlic roasted green beans
• Roasted Parmesan broccoli

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Once your haddock has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will keep for 2-3 days, but I prefer to eat it within a day or two of cooking.

You can warm it up in an oven preheated to 350F. The time will vary depending on how much you are heating up, but 8-10 minutes is usually a good estimate. You can also reheat haddock in the microwave, but especially since this is a breaded fish recipe I find that the microwave method can make the outside a little soggy. The oven method warms your meal and keeps that bready exterior nice and crisp!

Can I Freeze This?

To freeze baked haddock line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then freeze the cooled haddock pieces flat. Once they have frozen solid (this usually takes 3-4 hours) you can transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container. I like to cut up the parchment paper I used on the baking tray and place some between each piece of fish. Frozen baked haddock will keep for 3 months.

If you like seafood recipes, you may like the following:

• Panko Parmesan Baked Cod
• Miso butter cod foil packets
• Ginger soy sesame fish in a pouch
• Baked salmon with honey dijon and garlic
• Shrimp rolls