Pan-Seared Cod with Parmesan and Lemon Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A quick and flavorful seafood dish featuring pan-seared cod fillets topped with a nutty Parmesan crust and finished with a bright lemon butter sauce. This American-inspired holiday recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs cod fillets, grated Parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each) cod fillets
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets and season both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. In a shallow dish, mix 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs.
Step 2: Press each fillet gently into the Parmesan-panko mixture to coat the top side.
Step 3: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place fillets, coated side down, in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until the crust is golden and crisp.
Step 4: Gently flip the fillets and cook the other side for 3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
Step 5: Remove the fillets to a warm plate. In the same skillet, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat, add 2 minced garlic cloves, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 6: Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, then pour this lemon butter sauce over the cod fillets before serving for a bright, cheesy seafood dish.