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A quick, family-friendly seafood recipe that delivers golden crunch on the outside with tender, flaky fish inside. This healthy, fuss-free meal is perfect for busy weeknights or a light dinner that doesn’t skimp on comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound cod fillets, patted dry
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Olive oil spray, as needed
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Pat cod fillets very dry with paper towels and trim/cut to similar sizes for even cooking.
  2. Season both sides of the cod with salt and black pepper.
  3. Place flour in one shallow bowl, beat the egg in a second bowl, and in a third bowl combine panko, plain breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Shake each fillet in the flour to coat, shaking off excess flour.
  5. Dip floured fillets into the beaten egg, letting any excess egg drip off.
  6. Press fillets into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently so the crumbs adhere; repeat for all fillets.
  7. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly spray the basket with olive oil spray.
  8. Arrange the coated fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spacing them apart without overlapping.
  9. Lightly spray the tops of the coated fillets with olive oil spray.
  10. Air fry the fillets 8–10 minutes, flipping gently halfway through if needed, until the coating is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
  11. Transfer cooked fillets to a plate and let rest for about 1 minute.
  12. Squeeze fresh lemon over the fillets and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

Pat the cod very dry before breading so the coating sticks and crisps properly., Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed for the best crunch., Use similar-sized cod fillets so every piece cooks evenly and stays tender., Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days., Reheat in the air fryer to regain crispness; avoid microwaving to preserve coating texture., You can freeze uncooked breaded fillets and cook from frozen, adding extra cooking time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingcrumbs.com/crispy-and-flaky-air-fryer-cod/