How Long To Cook Battered Fish In Oven

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Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this Oven Fried Fish tastes like a decadent deep-fried meal. Flaky white haddock or cod is coated with a mayonnaise mixture and dredged in breadcrumbs and Corn Flakes for a super-crunchy coating. Serve the fish with baked potato wedges for healthy Oven Fried Fish and Chips. Best of all, the easy dinner recipe is ready for the table in less than 30 minutes!

Close up side shot of healthy oven fried fish with a side of green beans

Crunchy Oven Fried Fish

If you love the taste of classic fried fish, but you don't want the hassle and added calories of deep-frying, this easy oven fried fish recipe is the perfect solution! You get the rich, crispy, golden brown texture and white, flaky inside that we all love -- without the grease. The healthy baked fish recipe appeals to kids and adults, and pairs nicely with almost any of your favorite sides -- from hush puppies to "chips," green beans to coleslaw -- and don't forget the tartar sauce!

Which fish can be fried?

You need a sturdy white fish that won't fall apart when breading and baking. This recipe calls for cod or haddock, which are popular varieties for feeding families because they have amild flavor and a dense, flaky white flesh. The two most common species of cod are Atlantic Cod, which lives in the colder waters and deeper sea regions throughout the North Atlantic, and Pacific Cod, found in both eastern and western regions of the northern Pacific Ocean. Haddock and Whiting belong to the same family as cod, and are sometimes sold as cod.

Two haddock fillets on a wooden cutting board

How to get Breadcrumbs to Stick to Fish

This recipe calls for a thicker egg coating than many other fried fish or chicken recipes. I learned this trick from America's Test Kitchen -- creating a blend of egg, mayonnaise, flour and a bit of Dijon -- to help the breadcrumbs really adhere to the fish. This thick wet layer keeps the inside of the fish moist and tender, adds flavor, helps the coating stick, and allows the outside of the fish to get super-crunchy in the hot oven. It tastes like it's deep-fried!

Ingredients

Sturdy, firm, white fish: cod or haddock are both great options
All-purpose flour
Old Bay seasoning
Kosher salt and pepper
Mayonnaise
Eggs
Dijon
Dry breadcrumbs
Corn Flakes crumbs
Vegetable oil

How to Fry Fish in the Oven

The fish gets nice and crispy in the oven thanks to a double-dredge in dry ingredients -- first in flour, then in an egg and mayonnaise mixture, and finally in a breadcrumb and Cornflake coating. This baked fish is tender but firm, doesn't get mushy, and has the most flavorful, crunchy exterior.

Pat fish dry and season with salt and pepper.
Coat fish lightly with seasoned flour, dip in the egg-mayonnaise mixture, and dredge in the breadcrumbs.
Arrange the breaded fish on a wire rack set on top of a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake the fish in a 450° F oven for 8-11 minutes, or until the outside is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Overhead image of a plate of oven baked fried fish on a plate

What to Serve with Crispy Oven Fried Fish

This is a really simple and healthy baked fish recipe, which pairs well with almost any of your favorite sides.Garnish the fish with a lemon wedge and some chopped fresh parsley, and offer tartar sauce on the side for dipping. Here are a few easy sides that go well with the oven baked fried fish:

Baked Potato Wedges (for the classic combination of Oven Fried Fish and Chips)
Hush Puppies (another classic side with fried fish)
Coleslaw
Skillet Cornbread or Corn Muffins
Buttermilk Biscuits, Drop Biscuits, or Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Coleslaw
Southern Collard Greens or Sauteed Kale with Bacon
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
A simple green salad tossed with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
Grilled Potatoes
Classic Pasta Salad
Easy Potato Salad
Green Bean Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Southern Succotash

Storage

The cooked fish willkeep in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days. If you need to store the fish longer, you canfreeze the leftovers for up to 1 month. It's important to note, though -- this oven fried fish is best when served warm from the oven. The crispy exterior tends to get soggy as it sits in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat Fried Fish in the Oven

The oven is the best way to reheat your oven fried fish in order to keep that crispy exterior. Preheat the oven to350 degrees F. Allow the fish to come to room temperature on the counter while the oven heats. Place the fish fillets on a baking sheet and warmin the oven for 10-15 minutes, or just until heated through.

Front shot of an oven fried fish fillet on a white plate with tartar sauce

Recipe Variations

I love the combination of the plain breadcrumbs and Corn Flake crumbs, because the Corn Flakes add extra crunch and flavor that you can't get from the breadcrumbs alone. I prefer thefiner texture of regular breadcrumbs here, but you can substitute withPanko breadcrumbs if that's all that you have.
Instead of the breadcrumbs, add extra flavor to the breading mixture by using finely crushedRitz crackers with the Corn Flakes.
For a special touch, add a couple of tablespoons ofgrated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
This is a mild fish. If you prefer some kick, you canadd a dash of cayenne to the breading.
Turn this recipe into fish sticks by cutting the fish into strips before breading and baking.

Tips for the Best Oven Fried Fish Recipe

Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half to prepare just two pieces. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
Theoil in the breading helps the fish turn crispy and golden brown in the oven -- no frying necessary! Don't skip the oil, or the end result won't be nearly as good.
Thin pieces of fish will be done within about 8 minutes, while thicker pieces of fish may require closer to 10-11 minutes in the oven. You'll know that it's done when the outside is crispy and golden brown and the inside flakes easily with a fork.
Makefried fish sandwiches by serving the fillets on hoagie rolls with lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce.
Servefish tacos by putting the fillets in taco shells or tortillas with fresh salsa, guacamole and all of your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings!

Overhead shot of oven fried fish on a plate with lemon wedges and tartar sauce

More Fish Recipes to Try

Crispy Fried Fish Sandwiches
Oven Fried Fish with Cornmeal
Crispy Southern Fried Catfish
5-Ingredient Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
Salmon Burgers
Perfect 15-Minute Grilled Salmon

Oven Fried Fish

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this Oven Fried Fish tastes like a decadent deep-fried meal -- and it's ready for the table in less than 30 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword crunchy oven fried fish, oven fried fish

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 513 kcal

1 ½ - 2 lbs. haddock or cod fillet, cut into 4 pieces
¾ cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Dash of black pepper
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 eggs
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup dry plain breadcrumbs
1 cup Corn Flakes crumbs (about 3 cups of whole cereal measured before crushing)
¼ cup vegetable oil
Optional, for serving: tartar sauce, fresh parsley, lemon wedges

Optional Homemade Tartar Sauce:

1 cup Duke's mayonnaise
2 tablespoons capers, optional
1 tablespoon Dijon or stone-ground mustard
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or parsley, optional
1 ½ tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Homemade Tartar Sauce:

Stir together all of the sauce ingredients. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the Fish:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.
In a shallow bowl, combine ½ cup flour, Old Bay, salt and pepper. In a separate shallow dish, whisk together remaining ¼ cup flour, mayonnaise, eggs and Dijon. In a third dish, combine breadcrumbs and Corn Flakes crumbs. Drizzle the breadcrumb mixture with oil and mash with a fork until the oil is thoroughly incorporated.
Pat fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a time, coat the fish lightly with flour mixture; dip in egg mixture; and dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Transfer to prepared wire rack and bake until crumbs are golden and fish is cooked through, 8-11 minutes.
Serve with tartar sauce and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, if desired.

I love the combination of the plain breadcrumbs and Corn Flake crumbs, because the Corn Flakes add extra crunch and flavor that you can't get from the breadcrumbs alone. I prefer the finer texture of regular breadcrumbs here, but you can substitute withPanko breadcrumbs if that's all that you have.
Instead of the breadcrumbs, add extra flavor to the breading mixture by using finely crushedRitz crackers with the Corn Flakes.
For a special touch, add a couple of tablespoons ofgrated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.
This is a mild fish. If you prefer some kick, you canadd a dash of cayenne to the breading.
Turn this recipe into fish sticks by cutting the fish into strips before breading and baking.

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