My baked flounder is a fantastic combination of tender flounder fillets and a crispy Panko and Parmesan breadcrumb topping! It's an easy-to-make dinner that you can have in the oven, baked to perfection, and served in 20 minutes!
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Crispy Oven-Baked Fish
Crispy baked flounder is a perfect light weeknight dinner! It’s simply seasoned and topped with an amazing Panko breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mixture that creates a flavorful and crunchy topping.
This seafood entree is perfectly light but filling, too! Pair it with some light side dishes or a salad, and you’ve got a perfect meal!
Baked Flounder is a crispy, light, and incredibly flavorful dinner!
Flounder is such a delicious, healthy fish! The flounder fillets are baked, instead of pan-fried, which makes it so much better for you while still being super flavorful!
It’s also readily available frozen in most places, which makes it so easy to have an amazing fish dinner in no time!
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- It’s Quick! My baked flounder only takes 20 minutes from start to finish! That’s perfect for weeknights!
- It’s a Favorite! Who doesn’t love flaky fish covered in a crunchy, tasty topping? This is a meal anyone will love!
- It’s so Light! Even with the crunchy Panko topping, my baked flounder is so light and fresh—it’s something you’ll feel great eating!
🥘 Ingredients
My baked flounder fillets are so easy to make! You can find frozen flounder fillets almost everywhere. If you have access to fresh-caught, feel free to use it!
- Flounder Fillets – Flounder is tender, flaky, and buttery! You should thaw these in your refrigerator or under cold running water if you’re using frozen.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are super crispy Japanese breadcrumbs made from the inside of the bread. They’re very light and perfect for this dish!
- Parmesan Cheese – I like a good, aged Parmesan that I grate myself for this recipe—but you can use whatever you prefer!
- Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the perfect healthy oil to get the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese crisp. If you don’t have extra virgin olive oil, you can use any healthy oil you have on hand. You can also use melted butter for extra richness.
- Salt & Pepper – This is optional but recommended for a little extra seasoning on the fish! You can add according to taste.
- Lemon Wedges –An optional garnish! This just adds a bright finish to the flounder fillets, and lemon always complements seafood.
If you’d like, you can add a little minced garlic or chopped fresh herbs to the breadcrumb mixture for some added flavor!
Not a fan of Flounder? My delicious crispy topping would work just as well on cod, haddock, or halibut!
🔪 How To Bake Flounder
My baked flounder recipe is so easy to make! It takes just about 20 minutes from start to finish for a delicious fish dinner!
- Prep. Start by preheating your oven to 425°F (218°C) and then cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you do not have parchment paper, you can use aluminum foil, lightly brush on some olive oil, or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Then, place 2 pounds of flounder fillets on the prepared baking sheet (that has been pat dry with paper towels).
- Make the breadcrumb topping. In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of Panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and ½ tablespoon of olive oil. Mix until well combined and the olive oil is evenly distributed.
- Bake flounder fillets. Sprinkle the Panko mixture generously over the flounder fillets. Then place the baking sheet in the middle of your oven’s center rack and bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15 minutes or until the flounder reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Serve! Remove the flounder fillets from the oven when done, and serve with lemon wedges.
This baked fish makes for such a healthy lunch or dinner! It’s the perfect filling but light meal, so serve it with something equally light—such as my sautéed broccolini or a simple green garden salad! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Achieving Perfect Doneness: Cook the flounder to your liking, but for safety, aim for an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) as recommended by the USDA. The fish should appear opaque and flaky when done, which is especially important for freshly caught fish.
- Avoiding Overcooking: Be vigilant not to overcook the flounder. Overcooking can lead to a dry and unpleasant texture. Remove the fish from heat as soon as it reaches the safe internal temperature to retain its moisture and tenderness.
- Properly Defrosting Frozen Fish: If using frozen flounder, ensure it's thoroughly defrosted before cooking. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or quickly under cold running water for about 10 minutes. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels to ensure the Panko adheres well and the fish doesn't become soggy.
- Preparing the Panko Mixture: For a crispy coating, ensure the breadcrumbs are fully moistened with olive oil. The Panko should look slightly wet but not overly saturated. A well-mixed breadcrumb mixture will result in a perfectly crispy crust.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Since these flounder fillets have a crispy breadcrumb topping, they will not freeze well—but they will keep for a day in your fridge if you have any leftovers! Be sure to place in an airtight container and try not to crowd the container if you have more than one fillet.
Reheating
Do you have an air fryer? If so, reheating this crispy baked flounder in an air fryer is the best way to make it crispy again!
Start by preheating your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Then place the leftover flounder in the basket and air fry for about 6 minutes or until the flounder is crispy again on top and fully warmed through.
You can also do this in the oven, but it will take longer and might dry out the fish a bit. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and put the leftover flounder on a prepared baking sheet. Then, bake for about 15 minutes or until the flounder is fully heated through.
🐟 Other Great Fish & Seafood
Check out all my seafood recipes. Here are just a few favorites that you're sure to love!
- Pan Seared Swordfish
- Broiled Lobster Tails
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Steamed Clams
❓ Recipe FAQs
Flounder should be tender and flaky—never mushy! If your flounder is mushy, it could either be the flounder you’re purchasing, or it may be somewhat over or under-cooked! I recommend buying good quality flounder fillets and using a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is where it should be.
The Panko breadcrumbs should stick to the flounder well (especially if you’ve patted the fish dry). If you find the breadcrumbs do not stick as they should—try brushing on a thin coating of mayo before applying the Panko mixture to the fish. The mayo will help keep the fish moist and make sure the breadcrumbs stick well!
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📖 Recipe Card
Panko Crusted Baked Flounder
Ingredients
- 2 lbs flounder fillets (thawed if from frozen)
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- each, salt & pepper (optional, to taste)
- lemon wedges (optional - zest half your lemon if desired)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and pat the flounder fillets with paper towels to thoroughly dry all surfaces.
- Place flounder fillets on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and season with salt and pepper.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the Panko, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil until the breadcrumbs are slightly moistened. Sprinkle the Panko mixture over the fillets.
- Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15 minutes or until the flounder reaches desired doneness.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Zest half the lemon if desired, it adds a wonderful tangy flavor to the breadcrumb topping!
Lori says
I love eating flounder now! Thanks !
Pam says
Easy recipe!! It was fast and both my husband and dad love it!! Made no changes. Thank you!!
Lori says
I really like this recipe. I enjoy eating flounder now! So crispy and tasty!
Lori says
I love it! I don’t usually like fish but this recipe makes me want it!
Lori says
This recipe makes me want flounder! It comes out crispy and so good!
michael says
Always like to Fry flounder, but wanted less of a fuss. I tried this recipe and it came out perfectly. I think the Panko topping would work on a variety of other fish and perhaps baked clams as well with some added spices.
Thanks for posting the recipe!
Victoria says
Delicious! Crispy, flavorful, whole family loved it! Serve it on greens with cabbage; added mild kimchi on the side to jazz the meal up.
Greg says
Easy to make, but 15 minutes only cooked it about 75%. I added some seasoning salt to the panko, but it was too salty. Next time, I'll just add a little ceyane.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
My flounder filets are usually thin, so I always watch carefully when cooking. Sounds like perhaps you had a nice thick filet (lucky you!). Cayenne would be wonderful in the Panko, as would my Cajun seasoning. Enjoy!
Victoria says
Liked it a lot, though I would add more flavoring to the panko-parm mix. Maybe a little spiciness? It was a bit bland. But it was perfectly done and quite delicious.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
My husband's favorite addition is a touch of our Cajun seasoning to the seasoning, but otherwise a flavored breadcrumb or Panko breadcrumbs. I just love a hearty amount of fresh lemon zest 🙂
Jana says
I tried this recipe as my husband likes fish. (I do not.) He really liked it and amazingly, so did I. First time ever that I have eaten a whole piece of fish. This says a lot. Hubby said this is a keeper recipe. I agree!