By Becky Hardin
Updated Apr 15, 2025
This homemade, oven-baked Fish Sticks recipe is crispy, tender, flaky, and so delicious! Strips of fish are covered in bread crumbs and baked to perfection in this kid-friendly recipe. They make for a simple family dinner, or they can be served as an appetizer or even at a party. And don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce for dipping!
5-Star Review
Loved this! Easy and yummy!!! – Mani
Easy Fish Sticks
These homemade Fish Sticks are a better version of that nostalgic comfort food we all remember from childhood. Unlike the frozen kind, these fish sticks are baked until golden and crispy on the outside, while staying tender, flaky, and full of flavor on the inside. The seasoned coating gives each bite a delicious crunch that’s hard to resist. And don’t forget the tartar sauce —it’s the perfect tangy, creamy companion that takes the whole dish to the next level.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound cod fillets cut into 1-inch strips
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- ▢ 2 large eggs beaten
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ▢ 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ▢ 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- ▢ olive oil cooking spray
- ▢ tartar sauce for serving (store bought or click for recipe)
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Lightly coat the fish with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. 1 pound cod fillets, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- Set out 3 shallow bowls to create a dredging station.
- In the first shallow bowl, place the flour. 1 cup all-purpose flour
- In the second bowl, whisk the eggs and Dijon mustard together. 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- In the third bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs and the seasoned breadcrumbs. 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- For the dredging process, press a fish stick in the flour, making sure to cover all sides and shake off the excess.
- Then, dredge the fish stick in the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Now, press the fish in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to help the coating adhere.
- Place the coated fish stick on the prepared rack/baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining fish sticks.
- Spritz the fish with olive oil or butter-flavored cooking spray. olive oil cooking spray
- Place the fish in the oven and bake 6 minutes. Turn the fish sticks over and spray with oil or cooking spray.
- Bake another 6-10 minutes or until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork.
- Transfer cooked fish to a serving tray and serve immediately with Homemade Tartar Sauce or other favorite sauce. tartar sauce
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
- Make sure your oven is preheated to 400°F to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
- Leave space between the fish sticks on the baking sheet to allow for proper air circulation, which helps them crisp up evenly.
- Nutritional information does not include tartar sauce.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Oven Baked Fish Sticks Step by Step
Get the oven going and prepare the baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 400°F, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Season the fish: Coat 1 pound of cod filets with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika.
Prepare the dredging bowls : In the first shallow bowl, place 1 cup flour. In the second bowl, whisk 2 eggs with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard together. In the third bowl, combine 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs and 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs.
Get ready for dredging : Press a fish stick in the flour, making sure to cover all sides, and shake off the excess.
Coat in the eggs and breadcrumbs: Then, dredge the fish sticks in the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Now, press the fish in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to help the coating adhere.
Transfer to baking sheet: Place the coated fish stick on the prepared rack/baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining fish sticks.
Coat with cooking spray : Spritz the fish with olive oil or butter-flavored cooking spray.
Bake the fish : Place the fish in the oven and bake for 6 minutes. Turn the fish over, spray with oil or cooking spray, and bake another 6-10 minutes or until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork.
Transfer and serve: Transfer the cooked fish to a serving tray and serve immediately with Homemade Tartar Sauce or your favorite dipping sauce. Baked fish sticks are best served immediately to maintain their crispiness. If needed, keep them in a warm oven (about 200°F) until ready to serve.
Variations on Baked Fish Sticks
These fish sticks are a great blank canvas to make your own! Try some of these variations.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or chili powder into the flour mixture to give them a kick of heat. Adjust the spice level to your preference.
- Parmesan Crusted: Replace some of the breadcrumbs with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a cheesy twist.
- Herb Crusted: Add a blend of dried herbs, such as thyme, basil, or dill, to the breadcrumbs to create a fragrant and herbaceous coating.
- Coconut Crusted: Replace the breadcrumbs with unsweetened shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
- Almond Crusted: Grind almonds into a coarse meal and use it as a coating. The almonds add a nutty flavor and a delightful crunch.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 375°F oven on a lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
How to Freeze
Freeze fish sticks in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen, adding an extra 5 minutes to the bake time.
Serving Suggestions
These fish sticks are such a classic meal! I love them with homemade tartar sauce , ketchup, and lemon wedges. You could also serve them with some spicy bang bang sauce or this cool ranch .
For side dishes, channel those classic fish and chips vibes. Go with traditional French Fries or thick-cut Potato Wedges for something heartier. Want a little sweetness? Sweet Potato Fries are a great twist. And don’t forget a scoop of creamy coleslaw to round it all out with a cool, tangy crunch.
more baked finger foods we love
Crispy Baked Chicken Fingers Recipe
Ham and Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (Baked Ham and Cheese Sticks)
Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Oven Baked Ribs
Fish Sticks Recipe (Baked)
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod fillets cut into 1-inch strips
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- olive oil cooking spray
- tartar sauce for serving (store bought or click for recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Lightly coat the fish with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. 1 pound cod fillets, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
- Set out 3 shallow bowls to create a dredging station.
- In the first shallow bowl, place the flour. 1 cup all-purpose flour
- In the second bowl, whisk the eggs and Dijon mustard together. 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- In the third bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs and the seasoned breadcrumbs. 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- For the dredging process, press a fish stick in the flour, making sure to cover all sides and shake off the excess.
- Then, dredge the fish stick in the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Now, press the fish in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to help the coating adhere.
- Place the coated fish stick on the prepared rack/baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining fish sticks.
- Spritz the fish with olive oil or butter-flavored cooking spray. olive oil cooking spray
- Place the fish in the oven and bake 6 minutes. Turn the fish sticks over and spray with oil or cooking spray.
- Bake another 6-10 minutes or until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork.
- Transfer cooked fish to a serving tray and serve immediately with Homemade Tartar Sauce or other favorite sauce. tartar sauce
Video
Notes
- Make sure your oven is preheated to 400°F to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
- Leave space between the fish sticks on the baking sheet to allow for proper air circulation, which helps them crisp up evenly.
- Nutritional information does not include tartar sauce.
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
