Baked Haddock Butter Breadcrumbs (Printable View)

Tender haddock fillets baked with golden buttered breadcrumbs and fresh parsley for a flavorful dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless, boneless haddock fillets (approximately 5 ounces each)

→ Butter & Breadcrumb Topping

02 - 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs (preferably from day-old bread)
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ To Serve

08 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer.
02 - Pat haddock fillets dry with paper towels. Arrange in the baking dish and season lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - In a bowl, combine melted butter, breadcrumbs, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper. Stir until crumbs are evenly coated.
04 - Spread breadcrumb mixture evenly over haddock fillets, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork and the topping is golden brown.
06 - Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The fish stays impossibly tender while the topping gets crispy and buttery in just 20 minutes.
  • It feels restaurant-quality but requires almost no skill, which means you can cook it confidently for people you want to impress.
  • Lemon zest hidden in the breadcrumbs gives you bright flavor without needing to fuss over sauces.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the fish dry—wet fillets will steam and the breadcrumb topping will never crisp up properly no matter how long you bake it.
  • The topping should be pressed gently, not packed down, or you'll end up with a dense crust instead of a light, buttery one that shatters when you bite into it.
03 -
  • Day-old bread makes better breadcrumbs than fresh bread because it's drier and will toast to golden instead of staying soft.
  • If your breadcrumb topping isn't browning fast enough in the last few minutes, move the dish to a higher rack closer to the heat source for the final two minutes.

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