Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
Easy Baked Halibut is a quick and delicious dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a crispy cheese topping. Keep reading for my best tips on how to make this better than takeout recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Greek Lemon Potatoes and Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks.
Why This Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy cheese topping
- Juicy, flaky halibut
- Ready in 20 minutes
- Better than takeout taste
What You'll Need for Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Halibut fillets
- Butter
- Lemon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Halibut: You can also use cod or tilapia.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Panko breadcrumbs — Gives a crispy texture → See on Amazon
- Garlic powder — Adds flavor without burning → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare halibut: Pat halibut fillets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Melt butter: Melt butter in a small bowl. Stir in lemon zest and juice.
- Coat halibut: Dip each fillet into the butter mixture, then press into panko breadcrumbs. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is golden and crispy.
- Add cheese: Top each fillet with shredded Parmesan cheese. Broil for 1-2 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
- : For even cooking, make sure your fillets are similar in thickness.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the halibut. It can become dry. Check it at 12 minutes and adjust time as needed.
- : For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture.
- : To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Storing & Reheating Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the breadcrumb mixture up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
Freeze cooked fillets for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, add some vegetables like asparagus or cherry tomatoes to the baking sheet.
- Best substitution: If you can't find halibut, cod or tilapia make great substitutes.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the breadcrumb mixture up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your cheese isn't melting, broil for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Want to level up this recipe?
Parchment paper — Prevents the fish from sticking and makes cleanup easy → Check price on Amazon
Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Halibut fillets
- Butter
- Lemon
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
Seasonings
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare halibut: Pat halibut fillets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Melt butter: Melt butter in a small bowl. Stir in lemon zest and juice.
- Coat halibut: Dip each fillet into the butter mixture, then press into panko breadcrumbs. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is golden and crispy.
- Add cheese: Top each fillet with shredded Parmesan cheese. Broil for 1-2 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan meal, add some vegetables like asparagus or cherry tomatoes to the baking sheet.
- Best substitution: If you can't find halibut, cod or tilapia make great substitutes.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the breadcrumb mixture up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your cheese isn't melting, broil for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked fillets for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the breadcrumb mixture up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 16g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner FAQs
You can prepare the breadcrumb mixture up to a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry halibut. Check it at 12 minutes and adjust time as needed.
Yes, freeze cooked fillets for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Crispy Greek Lemon Potatoes and Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks are great sides.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
