Name: Baked Cod with Ritz Crackers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh cod; 10 Ritz crackers ((1 ounce - or Townhouse crackers)); 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika ((or try 3/4 tsp regular paprika; see notes)); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons salted butter; 1/4 lemon ((to squeeze lemon juice on the fish))

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Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping will be ready in 30 minutes! You'll love this New England-style cod with its buttery, crispy topping! It's a great addition to our Cod Recipes collection!

plate of cracker crusted cod garnished with parsley and lemon slices

I first tried baked fish with Ritz Crackers and butter in a seafood restaurant. After swooning over my meal, I knew I had to recreate this New England dish at home.

So I did! Again and again, adding my own twist of smoky, garlicky flavor.

You're going to have fun making this Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping, folks. Don't you love crushing up crackers?!!

And don't miss this cod with bread-crumb topping!

Recipe ingredients

Ritz crackers, butter, garlic powder, paprika, cod

Cod: Use fresh or completely thawed cod fillets or loins. Of course, you could substitute any sturdy white fish, such as halibut, pollock, haddock or orange roughy.

Ritz Crackers: These bring buttery flavor and crunch. You could substitute Townhouse crackers, which have a similar taste.

Smoked Paprika: This brings a nice pop of smoky, peppery flavor to the cracker topping. I buy a large container of it at Costco and use it on Air Fryer Cod, potato wedges, roasted cauliflower, etc.

When we tested the cracker-crusted cod with plain paprika, it seemed a bit bland. If you only have plain paprika, use a little more than the amount needed for smoked paprika.

Garlic Powder: This perks up the taste of the Ritz cracker cod without having to add too much salt. It nicely complements the butter and smoked paprika.

Butter: I use salted butter here, as in the majority of my recipes. If you use unsalted butter, you'll probably have to add more salt.

How to make it

See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.

seasonings mixed into crushed crackers, put on fish with melted butter

Crush the crackers and add the paprika, garlic powder and salt.
Stir to combine.
Melt butter in the microwave.
Top the cod with some melted butter, the Ritz cracker mixture and then drizzle on the rest of the butter.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the fish is flaky and the topping is browned and crispy.

Recipe tips

Baking the cod at 400 degrees F helps to crisp the cracker topping.
Drizzling some melted butter directly on the fish, then some on the topping, helps to prevent the crumbs from getting too dark. (When we tried mixing all of the melted butter into the crumbs, the topping was starting to burn in spots while baking.)
Using a greased, foil-lined pan makes clean-up easy.

What to serve with it

Squeeze some lemon juice onto the Ritz Cracker baked cod and serve with sautéed broccoli, long-grain rice or crispy Parmesan potatoes and onions.

It's also delicious with Italian Italian peas or this zucchini bake. And don't forget to use leftovers to make Cod Fish Tacos!

More cod recipes to try

Enjoy!

If you try this Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping, please leave a comment and a rating!

Baked Cod with Ritz Crackers

You'll love this buttery New England baked cod! It'll be ready in 25 minutes.

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 279kcal

Author: Mamma C

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound fresh cod
▢ 10 Ritz crackers (1 ounce - or Townhouse crackers)
▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (or try ¾ teaspoon regular paprika; see notes)
▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
▢ 3 tablespoons salted butter
▢ ¼ lemon (to squeeze lemon juice on the fish)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and grease it with cooking spray.
Rub your thumbs along the fish to feel for any bones to remove. Pat the cod dry with paper towels, cut it into serving portions, and place the cod on your baking pan. Wash your hands well.
Place the crackers in a small mixing bowl and crush them with the bottom of a glass. Stir in the smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt.
Place the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and cover it with wax paper. Melt the butter in the microwave (mine takes 30 seconds on high.)
Drizzle half of the melted butter on the cod pieces. Top each piece of cod with the cracker mixture, covering as much of the fish's surface as you can. Drizzle the rest of the melted butter over the crumb topping.
Bake the cod on the center rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the inside is not shiny, and the fish can easily be flaked with a fork. The cracker topping should be browned and crispy.
Squeeze on lemon juice and serve immediately. Add extra salt if needed.
Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Notes

You can use this recipe for any sturdy white fish, such as haddock, pollack, halibut or orange roughy.

Smoked paprika provides a nice kick of flavor and works better here than regular paprika. If you only have regular paprika, you'll need to add ¾ teaspoon. If you use unsalted butter, you'll need to add more salt.

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C)

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