Homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks are super crispy, crunchy, and much better than any store-made brand of frozen fish. You can use fresh or frozen fish to make delicious fish fingers.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Using the air fryer gives a fabulous crispy crunchy exterior without frying the fish
- Air frying gives food a crispy exterior and is lower in fat and calories.
- By far, homemade fish sticks blow away any boxed preservative-filled frozen fish.
- Depending on where you live, fresh fish may not be available. This recipe works great with frozen fresh fish. Just defrost before making the recipe.
- This is not just a kid's meal. The entire family will love the taste of this lunch or dinner.
🧾 Ingredients
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- cod fish fillets - halibut or any thick fish can be used.
- panko bread crumbs- Italian bread crumbs are another good choice
- Old Bay Seasonings - variations below
- eggs
- all-purpose flour - almond flour or coconut flour can be used.
- dried parsley
- lemon
🍲 Equipment
- Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
- Instant Read Thermometer
- Knives
- breading station
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Dredge fish in flour mixture.
- Move the fish to the egg mixture.
- Dredge the fish sticks in Panko bread crumbs.
- Spray the air fryer basket and fish fingers with canola oil spray. Cook at 390° for 6 minutes. Flip the fish and air fry for another 4 minutes. Fully cooked fish should be at an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve and enjoy.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight covered container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freezer Instructions: For 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 can be placed in freezer-safe bags or use a food saver to store them in the freezer. The bags should be labeled and dated. The fish can be frozen for 3 months.
To reheat the homemade frozen fish, reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.
This is another great meal plan recipe. I make a large batch and freeze some for another day.
When ready to cook, set the air fryer to 400°F/205°C, air fry the frozen fish sticks for about 7-8 minutes. Flip the fish sticks and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Again, the internal temperature of the fish should be 165°F/74°C.
Can I use frozen fish to make fish sticks?
Yes, you can use frozen fish. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging to defrost the fish, then proceed with the recipe.
If the fish has no packaging instructions, this is my method from my fishmonger: 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 the water every 20 minutes until defrosted. This usually takes about 3 hours for 1 -2 pounds of fish.
👩🏻🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
Expert Tip: Be sure to cut the fish into the same size pieces so they cook evenly.
- When dredging the fish in the flour, use a fork to tap the excess flour. Do the same with the egg wash, tap the excess off so there isn't too much of each on the fish.
- 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 the recipe card, affiliate link)
- If you don't have an air fryer, bake the fish sticks. The instructions are below in the recipe.
📖 Variations
- Homemade Seasoning Salt or Cajun Seasoning mixed with your favorite breadcrumbs are both delicious options to vary the flavor of the fish sticks.
- For a Mediterranean flair, add Italian Seasoning to the breadcrumbs.
- If gluten-free version - use gluten-free flour and gluten-free bread crumbs.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
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, creamy and delicious.
You will love our Bacon, Ranch Potato Salad as a side dish for the fish sticks.
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.
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 fabulous homemade biscuits without a fuss.
Don't forget a sweet treat with Air Fryer Oreos, these are addicting!
🍽 Similar recipes
Fried Panko Shrimp is a delicious recipe for the crispiest shrimp.
Shrimp Scampi is an easy dinner that is perfect over pasta.
White Clam Sauce is another irresistible sauce that is perfect with pasta.
Try our Air Fryer Crispy Tofu, a tasty snack.
Our easy Air Fryer Turkey burgers have just a few quick ingredients and are ready in no time.
Check out all our air fryer recipes.
Serving suggestions
I am all about taking shortcuts in the cooking process when necessary. When you can enjoy homemade foods like fresh chicken tenderloin recipe or fish sticks, nothing compares to homemade and this is not just for kids. Make some homemade cocktail sauce and homemade tartar sauce and get air frying.
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, 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.
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 fabulous homemade biscuits without a fuss.
Don't forget a sweet treat with Air Fryer Oreos, you cannot eat just one.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fish is dredged in flour and then in an egg wash so the breadcrumbs will stick. The flour should be a light coating.
Tap off excess flour with a fork. Then dip in the egg wash. This ensures the breadcrumbs will stick. You will love the crispy coating.
A firm fish like cod, haddock, or halibut is best for this recipe.
The best size to cut the fish for fish sticks is about 1 inch thick and 3 inches long.
The internal temperature of cooked fish should be 165°F/74°C. Use an instant0read thermometer for accuracy.
Yes, many in Ireland and England call these fish fingers. They are the same thing.
This recipe was originally published on April 26, 2022. It has been updated for user experience.
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless cod fish fillets Note 1
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour Note 2
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups plain panko bread crumbs Note 3
- 2 Tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning, divided ½ Tablespoon and 1 ½ Tablespoon
- chopped fresh parsley optional garnish
- lemon wedges optional garnish
- canola oil spray or any favorite cooking spray
Instructions
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Mix flour and ½ Tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning in a shallow mixing bowl.
- 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 non-stick cooking spray. Place 4-5 fish sticks in the air fryer basket. Spray the fish sticks with non-stick spray. (Note 6)
- Cook on 390°F for 6 minutes, flip sticks, and spray with oil. Continue to air fry at 390°F for another 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 450°F/232°C. Spray large, 9"x13" baking tray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- 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
- 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.
