Baked Halibut With Parmesan Crumb Topping

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/23/22
Tested by
Tracy Wilk
Photo of Tracy Wilk
Tested by Tracy Wilk
Tracy Wilk is a professional pastry chef, recipe developer and chef instructor, and, most importantly, a firm believer in sprinkles.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 22 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Halibut is a firm white fish that's easy to cook, and this crumb-topped halibut is a fast and simple way to prepare this mild, versatile fish. The tasty, buttery crumb topping, which is made from scratch for this recipe, gives the halibut nice flavor and texture. The topping also helps to keep the fish moist as it bakes quickly at high heat in the oven.

Choose Pacific or Alaskan halibut fillets or steaks for this recipe. You might find wild Atlantic halibut; for a while, it was not a sustainable choice because it was in danger of being overfished, but its populations are being more sustainably managed to help alleviate those earlier problems. Farmed Atlantic halibut can be used. Some other large flatfishes might be labeled "halibut" as well. Some possible substitutions for the more expensive and harder to find halibut include turbot, haddock, cod, and striped bass. (This Parmesan crust would be good with chicken breasts, too.)

Serve these delicious halibut fillets with rice, roasted potatoes, or boiled new potatoes along with a tossed green salad and steamed vegetables. It will go with just about any vegetable you pair it with.

Baked halibut and Parmesan crumb topping on a white plate

The Spruce Eats

"This recipe will elevate your fresh fish dish with just some simple pantry ingredients. The crispy breadcrumbs and parmesan crumb are the perfect topping with this mild fish. With just a few minutes of prep time, you have a delicious topping that can go great with any side dish for a weeknight (or weekend!) dinner." —Tracy Wilk

Baked halibut and Parmesan crumb topping on a white plate
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets

  • 3 slices of sandwich bread

  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 dash ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • Lemon wedges

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather ingredients.

    Ingredients for baked halibut with Parmesan topping gathered

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  2. Heat the oven to 450 F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line the pan with nonstick foil.

    Baking sheet, food processor and bowl for halibut preparation

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  3. Cut the halibut into four (6-ounce) servings. Arrange the fillets on the prepared baking sheet, skin-side down. 

    Halibut cut into four fillets on a baking sheet

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  4. Tear the bread into pieces and put in the food processor.

    Torn bread in food processor

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  5. Pulse until the breadcrumbs are fine.

    Breadcrumbs pulsed in food processor

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  6. In a medium bowl, combine the crumbs with the Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper, and melted butter. Mix well.

    Breadcrumb ingredients combined for baked halibut

    The Spruce Eats

  7. Sprinkle the buttery seasoned breadcrumbs on the halibut pieces; pat down to help the crumbs adhere to the tops of the fish fillets.

    Breadcrumbs sprinkled on halibut fillets on a rimmed baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats

  8. Bake the halibut fillets for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the fish registers 145 F on an instant-read thermometer. Alternatively, test the fish for flaking with a fork.

    Parmesan-crusted halibut on rimmed baking sheets

    The Spruce Eats

  9. Serve the halibut with fresh lemon wedges or slices. Enjoy.

    Baked halibut with parmesan crumb topping with salad and lemon wedges

    The Spruce Eats

Tip

  • To test fish for doneness, insert a fork into a fillet and twist it slightly to check for flaking. When it's done, the fish will flake into sections, and it will be opaque.

Why Is Halibut So Expensive?

The simplest answer to this question? Supply and demand. There's not enough fish to go around to meet the demand. The fish went through a long period of overfishing, which decimated its supply. Its supplies have bounced back but not enough to meet the demand; plus, halibut is a slow-growing fish.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
279 Calories
10g Fat
6g Carbs
40g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 279
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 120mg 40%
Sodium 316mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 58mg 4%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 932mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)