25 recipes that include panko (2024)

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Meat isn’t the only thing that panko can be mixed into — you can also use it to make the absolute best black bean burgers. If you’ve ever had a bland bean burger, you need to try this easy recipe from Love & Lemons. The patties perfectly pack together black beans, chipotle peppers, onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and tamari…and panko, of course.

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Even folks who aren’t fans of Brussels sprouts will enjoy this Brussels sprouts au gratin recipe from No Spoon Necessary. It includes a whole pound of sprouts, but they’re buried under butter, garlic, heavy cream, and not one but two types of cheese, plus a topping made of panko and pine nuts. We like to add some bacon, too.

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Whether it’s game day or just an ordinary day, we’re always down for a plate of buffalo chicken tenders. If you can relate, you’ll love this crispy baked buffalo chicken tenders recipe from Coco & Ash that uses panko and is double-breaded for extra crispiness. Don’t forget the celery & blue cheese!

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One day, we found ourselves with leftover shrimp but wanted to spice them up a bit. Since we keep a lot of panko on hand and always look for an excuse to use our air fryer, this buffalo shrimp recipe from Diethood was the perfect solution. Crispy, tangy, easy, and versatile (you can use the shrimp in tacos, over pasta, or all by itself), this recipe has now worked its way into our regular rotation.

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What if you like the taste of buffalo sauce but don’t eat meat or seafood? Before moving on to other items, we have one last buffalo recipe for you: cauliflower buffalo bites. XO&So has managed to come up with a recipe that’s easy, crispy, and full of flavor — and also vegetarian, of course!

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Guy Fieri looks like he knows his way around a chicken fried steak, and sure enough, Lord Fieri hath bequeathed upon us this recipe via Food Network. You’ll need a lot of ingredients for this one — the Drunken Pork Gravy alone calls for 11 items, including a pound of pork — but trust us, the end result is worth it.

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Here’s a kid-friendly air fryer recipe you’ll want to make again and again. Why? Because not only are these from-scratch chicken nuggets from Everything Air Fryer healthier than the processed, frozen nuggets, but they’re so good you’ll want to make them for yourself, too. (How often does that happen?!) If you want to kick your nuggets up a notch for your more mature taste buds, toss them in buffalo, barbecue, or Thai chili sauce…or your favorite condiment.

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You don’t have to be SpongeBob SquarePants to enjoy a good crabby patty. Justthis recipe from Delish. (Okay, we know Krabby Patties aren’t crab cakes and are instead some sort of seafood burger, but just go with us on this one.) You don’t need a lot of ingredients either, as the recipe just calls for crab meat, egg, panko, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, parsley, and lemon wedges and tartar sauce for serving.

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Here’s a simple seafood appetizer or main course. These crispy baked scallops from Dinner Then Dessert are topped with panko, parmesan, paprika, parsley, and pepper (both black and cayenne) breading and can be prepped and baked in under a half hour.

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You had us at “double crunch.” Heck, we’d probably eat our own hands if they were extra crunchy and baked to perfection, but these sweet potato fries from Laughing Spatula taste much better. (Plus, it’s hard to keep our hands in the oven for more than a few seconds.)

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Ever order falafel that turns out to be awful? Take matters into your own hands by using them to make falafel at home. These deep-fried chickpea balls (or discs) can be easy if you have a food processor, 30 minutes of time, and this recipe from Fork in the Kitchen.

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“Fried Green Tomatoes” isn’t just the name of a 1991 film starring Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy. It’s also a delicious dish and a Southern tradition. That tradition often calls for cornmeal, but this recipe from Grits and Pinecones uses panko instead.

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Fried? Mushrooms? Panko? Easy? We love all the words in the name of this easy panko-crusted fried champignon mushrooms recipe from Carlo Cao. And it really is simple. Just dredge your ‘shrooms in a wet mixture (consisting of flour, salt, pepper, turmeric, garlic, onion powder, coriander, milk, and water), bread them in panko, and fry them in oil for 3-4 minutes per side.

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What’s the key to fried pickle perfection? According to Viral Recipes, it’s double-breading each one. You’ll need to set up three bowls for this recipe — one for flour, one for eggs, and one for panko — but the only other ingredients are pickles, oil, seasonings…and your favorite dip!

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We used to think ravioli and marinara sauce was a combination that couldn’t possibly be improved upon…until we were introduced to fried ravioli. These crunchy little pillows of pasta perfection from Kevin is Cooking are coated with panko and parmesan cheese, they’re easy to make, and they’re always a hit as an appetizer!

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Ordering Chinese takeout can be both pricey and greasy. Instead, try this General Tso’s chicken recipe from Pickled Plum. It’s made with a from-scratch sauce, baked instead of fried, and, as the recipe notes explain, can be made with either corn flakes or panko.

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These deep-fried cornmeal bites are a savory side dish to seafood or a snack all on their own. You’ll need to do a little deep frying, but a pot with a few inches of oil will work fine, as explained in this recipe from Dinners, Dishes & Desserts. It also suggests using a cornbread mix to save some time!

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We enjoy jalapenos in any form: cooked, pickled, or just raw. When cream cheese, cheddar cheese, butter, garlic, and panko are added to the mix, you’ll have to hold us back. Give into temptation with this recipe from Spend with Pennies.

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Nothing fancy is needed for this panko-crusted salmon from Allrecipes — just salmon, butter, panko, parmesan cheese, and a handful of ingredients from your spice cabinet. All of that gets sprinkled on the salmon, which goes into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork. That’s all, folks!

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Italian-style breadcrumbs are the usual go-to when making meatballs, but if you’re baking these beauties, try using panko for some added texture. Gimme Some Oven can give you the details.

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When life gives you pork chops, make schnitzel. That might not be a real adage, but it’s real advice from us — and we know a thing or two about pork chops. Natasha’s Kitchen also knows all about pork chops, so check out their schnitzel recipe, which only requires a handful of common ingredients: eggs, flour, garlic salt, pepper, paprika, and panko.

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Why fry just one item on your plate when you can fry everything? That’s the idea behind shrimp & vegetable tempura, as the shrimp are tossed in a flour and egg batter and dipped in panko along with zucchini, pumpkin, sweet potato, asparagus, eggplant, and anything else you’d like. It’s a cinch with this recipe from Just a Pinch.

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Let’s do one more Japanese recipe — after all, panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb. Tonkatsu roughly translates to “pork cutlet,” as it’s a boneless, breaded pork tenderloin that’s deep fried and served with a Worcestershire-like sauce. Just One Cookbook can show you how to make everything.

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Some people despise imposter fries — but not us! We could eat fries every day, so it’s nice to have a healthier alternative occasionally. These fries from Well Plated by Erin are made with zucchini, they’re baked, and the only oil you need is a little bit of cooking spray. Plus, the recipe also includes a basil dipping sauce!