Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a baking dish with the olive oil.
Pat the cod dry and place in the dish. Drizzle with lemon juice, then season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
Combine crushed crackers, melted butter, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, and Dijon in a bowl until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
Press the buttery crumb mixture onto the tops of the cod pieces, dividing evenly.
Bake until the fish flakes easily and reaches 145°F, about 12–15 minutes depending on thickness.
Broil 1–2 minutes to brown the topping, watching closely. Rest 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Variation: Mix 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan into the crumbs, or swap half the crackers for panko for extra crunch. Leftovers keep in the fridge up to 2 days; reheat at 325°F until warmed and crisped.This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Easy Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.