Garlic Parmesan Crusted Halibut

This Baked Parmesan Crusted Halibut is an easy and delicious 20 minute baked fish recipe made with just a handful of simple ingredients like fresh halibut, parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon, and Italian Seasoning.  Tender, flaky and super healthy this halibut dinner is perfect for a quick weekday dinner.

Serve it with Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Baby Red Potatoes for an irresistible healthy meal the entire family will love.

Parmesan Crusted Halibut

This Parmesan Crusted Halibut recipe is one of my all-time favorite ways to cook fish.  It's super simple to prepare in less than 20 minutes with fresh halibut and a handful of pantry staples like parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon.  This simple and healthy oven-baked preparation elevates any fish from boring to restaurant quality in less time than it would take to get takeout.

I love the way this simple recipe comes together without a lot of fuss and with super healthy ingredients.  It's one you can feel good serving again and again.  And I promise it's that good!

This healthy fish recipe originated years ago right after the Hubs took a fishing trip to Alaska.  He brought back a freezer full of halibut that I happily found creative ways to prepare.  Since I had halibut, that's how this recipe started but you can also use this for any other type of dense firm fish on sale or that you have in the freezer, like sea bass or cod.

Why You'll Love this Panko Parmesan Baked Halibut Recipe...

• You can make it in 20 minutes.
• All of the toppings are pantry staples.
• It's really healthy!
• One serving of fish is only 270 calories.
• It's a great pescatarian protein option.

More About Halibut:

What does halibut taste like?

If you've never had halibut before, you will be pleasantly surprised.  It's a firm white fish that is mild and slightly sweet.  It doesn't have that overpowering fish flavor.  It's like other white fish but a bit firmer and heartier.  Since it's a mild fish it's a great canvas for many different types of preparations, seasonings, and marinades.

Is halibut healthy?

Yes! It's a great source of selenium which can help repair damaged cells and decrease inflammation.  It's also great for thyroid health.  Halibut also has minerals like niacin, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.

Where can you buy halibut?

Halibut is a bit harder to find than salmon or tilapia but often you can find it fresh or frozen at specialty grocery stores or fish markets.  It can be expensive, so be aware of that when shopping.  Alaskan Halibut season runs from mid-March until mid-November but outside of that time, you can purchase it frozen.

When buying halibut fresh look for a white, glossy flesh that is not dried out.  Frozen fish including Alaskan Halibut Fillets are a great option because it is usually caught fresh and flash frozen on a boat.

If you can't find halibut you can prepare almost any other thicker white fish with this Panko Crusted preparation.  Cod, flounder, haddock, or sea bass would work.

Ingredients:

• Halibut: For my Parmesan Crusted Halibut, I use fresh or frozen halibut fillets.  If your fish is frozen, just thaw it overnight in the fridge.  To prepare it remove the skin.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: For healthy baked fish I like to use Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs.  They are light and crunchy without having to add a lot of butter or oil.
• Parmesan Cheese: You can use any type of grated parmesan cheese for this recipe.  The higher the quality of chees, the better it will taste, but even the classic style will work.
• Italian Seasoning: I like to use my Homemade Italian Seasoning Mix to add a lot of flavor from different herbs without a lot of fuss.  Try this one for a store-bought option.
• Garlic Powder: A touch of garlic powder adds some rich flavor to the fish topping.
• Lemon Zest:  My surprise ingredient is a bit of lemon zest in the parmesan topping.  It adds a lot of bright flavor to the fish!
• Lemon: You'll use half of the lemon to squeeze the juice on the fish and save the other half for lemon wedges for serving.
• Olive Oil: I use just a touch of olive oil to create some stickiness for the topping to attach to the fish.

Instructions:

1. To prepare the Parmesan Crusted Halibut, you'll need to preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a baking pan with cooking spray.  You can also make this on a baking sheet.
2. Zest half of the lemon.
3. Put the halibut fillets on a plate and squeeze half of the lemon juice on top.  Cut the part of the lemon you didn't zest into wedges for serving.
4. Carefully spread the olive oil on top of the fish. You want a thin but even coat so the parmesan-crusted topping will stick.  Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper.
5. Make the parmesan mixture.  In a small bowl, mix together the panko, parmesan, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon zest.
6. Bake the halibut for 10-15 minutes until it turns opaque and flakes with a fork.
7. Serve with a lemon wedge and garnish with fresh parsley.

Fish Cooking Tips:

• The cooking time on fish can widely vary due to oven temperatures and the thickness of the fish.  Generally fish takes 10 minutes for every inch thick the fish fillet is.  So a 1-inch thick piece of halibut will take around 10 minutes to cook.  Thicker pieces will take more time and thinner pieces should take less.
• The fish will be done when it turns opaque and flakes with a fork.
• Do not overcook the fish or it will be chewier.
• It will be easiest to cook the fish if you have fillets that are of similar shape and size so they cook evenly.
• To save time for clean up you can line your baking dish with foil.

Variations:

I like this Parmesan Crusted Halibut recipe as written, but here are some fun ways to mix it up.

• Make it Spicy: To make this fish a touch spicy add some crushed red pepper flakes to the topping.
• Mix up the Flavors: I used Italian Seasoning in my recipe, but you can use a single or different spice mix for a different flavor.  A few tasty options would be Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, Ranch Seasoning Mix,  Herbs de Provence, or Cajun Seasoning.
• Mix up the Fish: Use another white fish like cod, seabass, flounder, or haddock.

FAQ

How do I store leftovers?

I feel like this Parmesan Crusted Halibut is best enjoyed fresh but store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days.

How do I reheat the fish?

You can reheat the fish in the microwave but to keep it from drying out, put it back in the oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes until heated.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, you can easily make this for a larger group by doubling or evening tripling the recipe.

This Parmesan Crusted Halibut is the Perfect Easy Dinner!

This Parmesan Crusted Halibut really is the perfect easy weeknight dinner.  This restaurant-quality meal is healthy and will have everyone wanting seconds.

You can't beat the flavors, textures, and taste of this healthy baked fish dinner.

Here are a few side dish ideas to make this a complete meal.

Make it a Meal:

• Parmesan Garlic Asparagus
• Garlic Roasted Green Beans
• Oven Roasted Lemon Parmesan Broccoli
• Herb and Garlic Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
• Cheesy Grilled Potatoes
• Meditteranean Quinoa Salad
• Kale Ceasar Salad 

More Easy Baked Fish Recipes to Love:

• Easy Baked Salmon with Rosemary
• Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Pesto Salmon
• Salmon with Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
• Lemon Pepper Parmesan Tilapia
• Everything But the Bagel Salmon
• Pistachio Crusted Salmon

If you make this Parmesan Crusted Halibut Recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Parmesan Crusted Halibut

Julie Wunder

This Baked Parmesan Crusted Halibut is an easy and delicious 20 minute baked fish recipe made with just a handful of simple ingredients like fresh halibut, parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon, and Italian Seasoning.  Tender, flaky and super healthy this halibut dinner is perfect for a quick weekday dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 270 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 halibut fillets, skin removed
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 lemon
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup parmesan
• 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking pan with cooking spray.
• Put the fish on a plate and squeeze half of the lemon on top. Carefully spread the olive oil on top of the fish. You want a thin coat on the entire top of the fish so the topping will stick. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the fish.
• In a small bowl mix together the panko, parmesan, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon zest.
  
• Carefully put the topping on the fish and lightly press it onto the fish.
  
• Bake the halibut for 10-15 minutes until it turns opaque and flakes with a fork. Serve with the leftover lemon wedge.
  

Notes

The cooking time for fish can vary due to your oven temperature and the thickness of the fish.  As a general rule, it takes about 10 minutes to cook every 1-inch thickness of fish.  Thicker pieces of halibut will take longer, and thinner pieces will take less time.

The halibut tastes best fresh, but store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

You can also make this Parmesan Panko Encrusted Fish with similar textured fish like cod or sea bass.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 38gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 854mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 241IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 205mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Baked Halibut, Parmesan Crusted Halibut

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

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