By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 1, 2022
These delicious homemade Air Fryer fish sticks are easy to make and quick to cook thanks to my new favorite kitchen appliance. Pieces of cod are coated in crispy seasoned panko breadcrumbs and cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes!
Homemade Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer
Whether you enjoy these air fryer fish sticks as a dinner or appetizer, they are hands down delicious.
Breaded with panko, they are extra crispy, and the white fish inside is perfectly cooked and flakey. Serve them up with some tartar sauce or ketchup for dipping, or serve them alongside your favorite veggie or potato sides for a quick and easy Air Fryer meal the kids will love!
Be sure to try my Air Fryer Crab Cakes and Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets too!
Why You’ll Love this Quick Fish Sticks Recipe:
- QUICK AND EASY: Simple to prep and quick to cook, you can be enjoying these in less than 30 minutes .
- ONE POT: These are cooked right in the air fryer basket, so even the clean up is a breeze.
- KID FRIENDLY : If you have picky eaters in your house, they are sure to love these! Fish is a great source if low fat protein and the breading is super addictive!
There’s no bad time for these delicious air-fried fish sticks! They are so effortless, thanks to the air fryer and every bite is seriously tasty!
How to Make Air Fryer Fish Sticks
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Pat the fish dry and cut into strips.
- Whisk together the flour mix in one bowl, whisk the eggs in another and combine the panko breadcrumbs and seasonings in a third.
- Dredge each piece of fish in the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs.
- Cook in the air fryer in a single layer til golden brown.
Use any kind of boneless, skinless white fish. I love using cod, but use your favorite white fish.
The fish sticks are cooked through when an instant read thermometer inserted into the fish reads at least 145°F. The breadcrumbs should be golden brown.
While fish sticks are best enjoyed fresh, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
These fish sticks cook quickly in the air fryer! They take about 8 minutes to cook through – be sure to flip them halfway through cooking.
Serving Suggestions
Great served with dipping sauces, these air fryer fish sticks can also be served as a main with favorite sides like…
- Shoestring Fries
- Parmesan Potato Wedges
- BBQ Baked Beans
- Garlic Roasted Asparagus
However you serve them, it’s guaranteed that these will be a hit with kids of all ages!
Tips!
- Spray the tops of the fish sticks with oil before cooking. This will help them to get crispy and brown all over.
- Cook the fish sticks in batches. They should be cooked in a single layer.
- For best results, use fresh rather than frozen fish. If using frozen, be sure to thaw it fully and really pat it dry before using.
This classic recipe is always a crowd pleaser. So simple and effortless to make and I love how quickly the cook in the air fryer!
Can I make these fish sticks gluten free?
Yes. To make these gluten free, use gluten free flour and bread crumbs.
Can I bake these in the oven?
If you don’t have an air fryer, don’t fret! Check out my oven baked fish sticks instead!
What is the best way to reheat Air Fryer fish sticks?
Reheat fish sticks in the air fryer or oven set at 350°F until warmed through.
More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes We Love
- Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
These homemade fish sticks come out so great in the air fryer. The breading is so crispy and the cod in the middle is mild and flakey. This is sure to become a favorite!
More Easy Seafood Recipes to Try:
- Seafood Lasagna
- Crab Rangoon
- Firecracker Salmon
- Cod Fish Tacos
- Beer Battered Fish
- Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp
- Salmon Piccata
- Shrimp Fajitas
- Crispy Fish Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Breaded Tilapia
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12 ounces cod fillets
- ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 large egg
- ▢ ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ▢ 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ Tartar sauce and lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Spray the basket of an air fryer with nonstick spray. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets dry. Cut them lengthwise into 1×4-inch strips. Set aside. 12 ounces cod fillets
- Whisk the flour, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg. In a third bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, paprika, and garlic powder. ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 large egg, ½ cup Panko bread crumbs, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Coat each piece of fish with the seasoned flour and dip into the beaten egg. Coat with the seasoned bread crumbs. Repeat until all strips of fish are seasoned and coated.
- Working in batches, place fish sticks in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket and spray the tops of the breaded fish with additional spray. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping the fish halfway through. The fish sticks should be crisped and golden brown, with an internal temperature of at least 145°F when measured with an instant read thermometer. If needed, increase the cooking time. Repeat until all fish sticks are cooked.
- To keep the first batch of fish sticks warm while cooking the rest, place them onto a foil-lined baking sheet in a 200°F oven. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. Tartar sauce and lemon wedges
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cod fillets
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Tartar sauce and lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Spray the basket of an air fryer with nonstick spray. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Use paper towels to pat the fish fillets dry. Cut them lengthwise into 1x4-inch strips. Set aside. 12 ounces cod fillets
- Whisk the flour, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg. In a third bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, paprika, and garlic powder. ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 large egg, ½ cup Panko bread crumbs, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Coat each piece of fish with the seasoned flour and dip into the beaten egg. Coat with the seasoned bread crumbs. Repeat until all strips of fish are seasoned and coated.
- Working in batches, place fish sticks in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket and spray the tops of the breaded fish with additional spray. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping the fish halfway through. The fish sticks should be crisped and golden brown, with an internal temperature of at least 145°F when measured with an instant read thermometer. If needed, increase the cooking time. Repeat until all fish sticks are cooked.
- To keep the first batch of fish sticks warm while cooking the rest, place them onto a foil-lined baking sheet in a 200°F oven. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. Tartar sauce and lemon wedges
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
