Air fryer panko cod is easy to make in the air fryer and comes out crispy from the panko breading while staying perfectly flaky. This cod can be ready in less than 20 minutes start to finish.
I always loved crispy breaded cod. And now I love that I can make it in my air fryer!
The cod gets so much flavor because you season both the fish and the panko coating. Even better? You use dijon mustard to help the panko stick to the cod, so it gives the cod even more flavor.
The result? A crispy, crunchy air fryer breaded cod that is easy to make in less than 20 minutes (15 if you're fast!) and tastes delicious.
Why make crispy cod in the air fryer
Easy - It's so easy to do! This recipe uses minimum ingredients for maximum flavor and isn't complicated. Simply mix together your panko, season and coat ths cod, and air fry! No preheating and no flipping required.
Fast - The crunchy cod cooks in only 10-12 minutes, so this is a fast recipe to make.
Crispy - The panko gets so crispy and crunchy in the air fryer, allowing for a delicious air fryer breaded cod. The slight bit of olive oil helps the panko brown and get crunchy in the air fryer. Just look at the photo below! You can almost taste the crunch.
Ingredients
- Cod (fresh or frozen) - if frozen, thaw before cooking
- Dijon mustard (or mayo)
- Panko
- Dried parsley or other herbs
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil
- Smoked paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Recipe notes
- To get a good coating of the panko, make sure to press in as much to the cod as you can before air frying.
- While 10-12 minutes works well with most cod, you may need to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your cod.
- You can use fresh or frozen cod. If using frozen, thaw completely before cooking to ensure the cod cooks properly.
- This recipe serves one, but it is easy to double, triple, or quadruple if serving more.
How to make air fried panko cod
In a shallow bowl, add the panko, dried parsley (or other herbs), garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
Stir to combine it all! Then drizzle the olive oil over the panko and stir.
Dry the cod with paper towels, then sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Sprinkle the paprika on both sides, then rub into the surface of the cod.
Add the dijon mustard to all sides of the cod, then press into the panko breading to coat completely on all sides.
Add cod to the air fryer basket (I used air fryer parchment paper too). If needed, press additional panko onto the top of the cod if there are gaps.
Air fry at 380 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, checking at the 9 minute mark.
Serve with lemon slices and enjoy!
What is panko?
If you're looking at this recipe, you probably know what panko is! But just in case, here's some info!
Panko is a type of breadcrumb that is known for its light, airy texture, which creates a crispy coating on fried or baked foods. Panko breadcrumbs are made from crustless bread that is processed into flakes before being toasted, giving them a distinct texture compared to other breadcrumbs.
From crispy coated shrimp and chicken to veggie tempura, panko adds a delightful crunch to our favorite fried and baked foods. And don't forget about using it as a topping for casseroles and macaroni and cheese - it's the secret ingredient that takes these dishes from boring to brilliant.
Customization ideas
I used dijon mustard to help the panko stick to the cod. However, you could easily use mayo if you prefer.
Not a fan of dried parsley? You can use other dried herbs in your panko coating instead, or you can buy a pre-seasoned panko if you have one you love.
I think flavoring the cod with smoked paprika gives it a delicious flavor! However you could use regular paprika or even a bit of chili powder instead of the paprika.
Want to make it spicy? Add some red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the panko coating before air frying.
Don't have an air fryer? Make this baked panko parmesan cod in the oven instead!
What to serve with the air fried panko cod
The air fryer panko cod pairs with so many dishes!
If you're looking for an air fryer side dish, I love the cod with air fryer sweet potato wedges, air fryer radishes, air fryer mini potatoes, or air fryer parmesan green beans.
If you don't want to make a side dish in the air fryer, it's delicious with this arugula salad, harissa carrots, roasted red cabbage, or roasted asparagus.
Air fryer cod recipes
- Air Fryer Cod
- Air Fryer Pesto Cod
- Air Fryer Chili Lime Cod
- Air Fryer Frozen Cod
- Air Fryer Blackened Cod
More air fryer seafood recipes
- Air Fryer Blackened Salmon
- Air Fryer Pesto Salmon
- Air Fryer Panko Salmon
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon
- Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
- Air Fryer Crispy Salmon
Recipes to love
Air Fryer Panko Cod
Equipment
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper optional
Ingredients
- 6 oz cod fillet
- ½ cup panko
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more for seasoning cod
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper plus more for seasoning cod
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- lemon wedges optional
Instructions
- To a shallow bowl, add panko, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Drizzle olive oil over panko and mix together to moisten panko.
- Dry the cod fillet with paper towels and place on a plate. Season with salt and pepper on all sides. Sprinkled smoked paprika on both sides of cod and rub into the surface.
- Add the dijon mustard to all sides of the cod and spread until coated. Then, press the cod into the panko mixture to coat the cod on all sides with the panko coating.
- Add cod to air fryer basket. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, or until panko is browned and cod is cooked through.
- Plate, and serve with lemon wedges or slices.
Notes
- To get a good coating of the panko, make sure to press in as much to the cod as you can before air frying.
- While 10-12 minutes works well with most cod, you may need to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your cod.
- You can use fresh or frozen cod. If using frozen, thaw completely before cooking to ensure the cod cooks properly.
- This recipe serves one, but it is easy to double, triple, or quadruple if serving more.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Donna goodrich
Great recipe Dijon is a great flavor and adhesive for,the Panko. Smoked paprika was also a nice touch. Definitely a keeper.
Kelly
Delicious and easy to make. Liked the use of the mustard as the moisture to coat the fish. My husband and I really liked it. My kid wasn't keen on the mustard, so I think next time I'll use some Duke's mayo for their piece instead. Easy enough to customize one this way. Nicely crisp, yet still nice and low carb for those of us watching our blood sugar. Thanks for sharing!
Aimee
So happy you enjoyed! Dijon can be strong for kids, my kids prefer mayo or a mix of mayo and dijon! :)
Al Smith
Delicious! Added a bit of lemon zest and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan to the panko mixture. Microwaved mixture about 60 - 80 seconds with a couple of stirs -- not enough to brown. Otherwise, I found the recipe to be perfect. My fillets cooked in about 10 minutes but another minute would have be OK too.
Emilia
I loove making this because it's so tasty but also the only way my kids will eat fish! They even ask for seconds. Winner in my house for sure :)
Linda
This was my first time preparing fresh fish, so I was a bit nervous. Plus, I was using my larger air fryer for the first time. But the clear directions and simple ingredients made this a winning dish. I liked that the cod is a mild fish, and the spices and Dijon mustard really added some good flavor with the Panko. I will be making this recipe often!
Perry Lutz
Can you use flounder instead of cod
Aimee
I haven't tried it, but it should work!
Jack Thompsone
The recipe looks great. Hopefully will make soon. I see a typo. You mention to rub the mustard into the salmon, not cod. Thought you might want to fix. Feel free to delete this comment.
Aimee
Thank you so much! Updated it. :)