8 Crispy, Crunchy Chicken and Fish Recipes

By Jenn Segal

A quick crunchy coating can elevate a dish and make it more kid-friendly. From chicken piccata to coconut shrimp, these crispy, crunchy chicken and fish recipes make great weeknight dinners.

Chicken Piccata

Crispy chicken cutlets in a lemony butter and caper sauce, this chicken piccata is a quick and easy supper the whole family will love.
Salmon Cakes

Made from fresh salmon and dill, these salmon cakes are as elegant as crab cakes but so much more affordable to make.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

One of my most popular recipes, these chicken tenders are marinated in seasoned buttermilk and pan-fried to crispy, crunchy perfection.
Tortilla Crusted Tilapia

Ground corn tortillas give this easy fish dish a deliciously crunchy (and kid-friendly) coating.
Easy Chicken Parmesan

This recipe takes a few shortcuts, making it doable on a weeknight, yet tastes as good as the chicken parmesan from your favorite Italian restaurant.
Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Red Chili Sauce

These restaurant-style coconut shrimp are remarkably easy to make: you can do all of the prep ahead and the sauce comes straight out of a bottle!
Crispy Pan Fried Fish Fingers

Want to get your kids to love fish? Try this: tilapia fillets lightly coated with panko, pan fried until crispy, and dipped in garlic and lemon mayonnaise.
Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard and Pecan-Panko Crust

This baked salmon with a crunchy topping takes just 20 minutes to make, yet is elegant enough for company.