Homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks are super crispy, crunchy, and so much better than any store made brand of frozen fish. You can use fresh or frozen fish to make delicious fish fingers.

Air Fryer Fish Sticks

I am all about taking short cuts in the cooking process when necessary. That said, when you can enjoy homemade foods like a fresh chicken tenderloin recipe or fish sticks, I most definitely make my own. Nothing compares to homemade and this is not just for kids. These are going to be a favorite of everyones. Make some homemade cocktail sauce and tartar sauce and get air frying.

Ingredients

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Using the air fryer gives a fabulous crispy crunchy exterior to the fish without frying.
• Air frying gives food a crispy exterior and is lower in fat and calories.
• By far, homemade fish sticks blow away any boxed frozen fish that are full of preservatives.
• Depending on where you live, fresh fish may not be available. This recipe works great with frozen fresh fish. Just defrost fist before using.
• This is not just a kids meal. The entire family will love the taste of this lunch or dinner.

Step by Step Instructions

*Photos always help to understand the cooking progress. The instructions here are an overview. The full printable recipe is below in the recipe card section.

1. Dredge fish in flour mixture.
2. Move fish to the egg mixture.
3. Full coat fish in the Panko bread crumbs.
4. Spray the air fryer basket and fish fingers with canola oil spray. Cook at 390° for 6 minutes. Flip at cook another  4 minutes. Fully cooked fish should be at 165°F internally.
5. Serve and enjoy.

FAQs and Tips

• Cut the fish into the same size pieces so they cook evenly.
• The best size for the sticks are about 1 inch thick and 3 inches long.
• Follow the steps using the flour, egg wash, and then breadcrumbs for best results.
• When dredging the fish in the flour, tap the excess off with the fork. Do the same with the egg wash, tap excess off so there isn’t too much of each on the fish.
• I’ve found using a BPA food approved spray bottle is a great way to spray oil when using the air fryer or baking food that needs to be oiled. (link in recipe card, affiliate link)
• The internal temperature of cooked fish is 165°F. I always suggest using a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of food.
• If you don’t have an air fryer, the fish can be baked. The instructions are below in the recipe.
• By the way, my Granny always called these fish fingers,  as this is how fish sticks are referred to in England, so I cannot resist.

Can I use frozen fish?

• Feel free to use frozen fish for this recipe. Just defrost the fish, then proceed with the recipe.
• Follow the instructions on the packaging to defrost.
• If the fish has no packaging instructions, this is my method from my fish monger: When I’ve planned the meal, place the fish in the fridge, overnight to defrost. If short on time, place the fish, still in its packaging, in a large bowl of cold water to defrost.  Replace water every 20 minutes until defrosted. This usually takes about 3 hours for 1 -2 pounds of fish.

Why use both flour and egg

The fish is dredged in flour then an egg wash so the breadcrumbs will stick. The flour should be a light coating. Tap off excess flour with a fork. Then dip into the egg wash. This ensure the breadcrumbs will stick.  You will love the crispy coating.

Best types of fish to use

White firm fish like cod, haddock, halibut is best for fish sticks.

Variations:

• 1 Tablespoon Homemade Seasoning Salt or Cajun Seasoning mixed with your favorite breadcrumbs is  both delicious options.
• Season the flour with ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, and garlic powder and use Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs for another variation.
• For a Mediterranean flair, add in oregano and marjoram into the breadcrumbs.

Storage Tips

According to the USDA guidelines, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for about 3 days.

A great little tip for these fish sticks is they can be frozen once cooked and reheated at a later date. Having no added preservatives makes these so much better than prepackaged fish fingers. Plus it is more affordable to buy the fish and make your own.

To freeze homemade fish sticks, place the cooked fish on a baking tray in the freezer for about 1 hour. This ensures the fish won’t stick to each other. They, then can be placed in freezer backs or use a food saver to store them in the freezer. They bags should be labeled and dated. The fish can keep in the freezer for 3 months.

To reheat the homemade frozen fish sticks, reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.

Serving suggestions

The clear choice is always fish and chips. The chips being french fries. Crispy Roasted Potatoes take the french fry to the next level and are loaded with flavor.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes , made with buttermilk are a hit. No Instant Pot, no problem, try Homemade Mashed Potatoes, my Granny’s recipe, super creamy and delicious.

Homemade Macaroni Salad is full of veggies and another excellent choice to pair with the fish.

Roasted Broccoli is simple and always a big hit. My niece thought she didn’t like broccoli until she had this recipe.

Oven Roasted Green Beans, don’t get any easier or tastier than this one, yum.

Enjoy your air fryer with some of my other favorites like Air Fryer Chik-fil-A Sandwich my kids request this all the time.

Air Fryer Biscuits, these homemade fluffy treats are a fabulous homemade biscuit without a fuss.

Don’t forget a sweet treat with Air Fryer Oreos, these are addicting!

When you make this recipe, take a pic and tag me on Instagram @everyday_eileen or #everydayeileen

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Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Homemade Fish Sticks in the air fryer gives the best crunchy yet tender fish fingers ever. With just a few ingredients you will have delicious results. So much better than any box can give.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer fish sticks, air fryer homemade fish sticks, homemade fish sticks

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 342kcal

Author: Eileen Kelly

Equipment Needed:

• As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
• Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
• Meat Thermometer
• Knives

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless , skinless cod fish fillets Note 1
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour Note 2
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs Note 3
• 2 Tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning, divided ½ Tablespoon and 1 ½ Tablespoon
• chopped fresh parsley and lemon, garnish optional
• cocktail sauce, optional
• tartar sauce, optional

Instructions

Air Fryer Fish Sticks

• In a shallow bowl, mix flour and ½ Tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning.
• In a separate shallow bowl, beat the eggs with a fork or small whisk until well blended. The mixture will be a bright yellow when well mixed.
• In a third shallow bowl, mix remaining 1 ½ Tablespoon Old Bay seasoning with Panko Crumbs.
• Cut fish filets into desired size sticks. (Note 4)
• Fully coat each fish stick in the flour, then the egg wash and lastly the Panko Crumbs. (Note 5)
• Repeat these steps for all the fish sticks.
• Spray the air fryer basket with oil and place 4-5 fish stick in basket. Spray the fish sticks with oil. (Note 6)
• Cook on 390°F for 6 minutes, flip sticks and spray with oil. Cook on 390 for 4 minutes. (Note 7) Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the fish. Fish is 165°f when cooked through.
• Serve with fresh chopped parsley and lemon. Along with your favorite side dish.

Baked Homemade Fish Sticks

• Preheat oven to 450F. Spray a baking pan with non-stick spray.
• Follow steps 1-6 above in Air Fryer Instructions.
• Place the breaded fish onto the prepared baking sheet. Spray the tops of the fish with a bit of the oil spray Bake for about 10 minutes. Flip the fish and bake another 5 minutes. Check the internal temperature of the fish. They should be at 165°F when cooked through.
• Serve as above with lemon and fresh parsley.

Notes

2 pounds of fish yields about 20 fish sticks. This recipe can serve between 6-8 people depending on how large the portions. 

Note 1:  Any firm white fish such as haddock or halibut can be used. Frozen fish can be used for the recipe, it just needs to be defrosted first. My defrosting tips are below. 

Note 2: We have used Gluten-Free, whole wheat, and chickpea flour with success. 

Note 3: I've used Gluten-Free Panko and regular breadcrumbs. Also Italian flavored breadcrumbs are another tasty variation.

Note 4: Cut the fish into the same size pieces so they cook evenly.  The best size to cut the fish sticks is about 1 inch thick and 3 inches long. 

Note 5: Follow the steps using the flour, egg wash, and then breadcrumbs for best results.  When dredging the fish in the flour, tap the excess off with the fork. Do the same with the egg wash, tap excess off so there isn't too much of each on the fish.

Note 6: Depending on what type of air fryer you own, the process may take 2-3 batches to cook all the fish. If so, keep the other fish warm in the oven at a temp of 175°F in an oven approved dish covered with aluminum foil. 

Note 7: If you have a multi-tiered air fryer, like I do, the fish can cook all in one batch. However, I usually need an extra minute per side for the fish to cook through.

Frozen fish :

• Feel free to use frozen fish for this recipe. Just defrost the fish first and proceed with the recipe. 
• Follow the instructions on the packaging to defrost. 
• If the fish has no packaging, these are my methods: When I've planned the meal, place the fish in the fridge, overnight to defrost. If short on time, place the fish, still in its packaging, in a large bowl of cold water to defrost.  Replace water every 20 minutes until defrosted. This usually takes about 3 hours for 1 -2 pounds of fish. 

Storage Tips:

According to the USDA guidelines, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for about 3 days. 

A great little tip for these fish sticks is they can be frozen once cooked and reheated at a later date. Having no added preservatives makes these so much better than prepackaged fish fingers. Plus it is more affordable to buy the fish and make your own. 

To freeze homemade fish sticks, place the cooked fish sticks on a baking tray in the freezer for about 1 hour. The fish will freeze and then can be placed in freezer backs or use a food saver to freeze the fish. They bags should be labeled and dated. The fish can keep in the freezer for 3 months. 

To reheat the homemade frozen fish sticks, reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes. 

 

I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

 

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Nutrition

Serving: 3fish sticks | Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 726mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 4mg

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