Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks are the homemade upgrade that makes the frozen kind impossible to go back to. Ready in under 20 minutes!
If you like my recipe for Oven-Baked Homemade Fish Sticks or my Crispy Fried Fish Sticks, then you’re going to love this air fryer recipe. They’re super easy, and the air fryer gives them an even more crispy exterior. These are the perfect kid-friendly Lunch that the whole family will enjoy.
Sabrina’s Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks Recipe
My kids have always loved fish sticks, but the frozen version never got as crisp as I wanted, so making them from scratch in the air fryer completely changed things. I stopped buying the boxed kind because the homemade ones come out so much fresher and crunchier. They’ve quickly become a family favorite for both kids and adults, especially when paired with my Homemade Tartar Sauce, and you can even whisk together a batch in just a few minutes while the fish sticks cook. Using the air fryer also makes them a healthier option since store bought versions are typically deep fried before freezing, and this method gives you that same irresistible crunch without all the extra oil.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 pound cod fillets , cut into 1-inch strips
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees and spray the basket with vegetable oil spray.
- Mix flour with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder.
- Beat eggs in a second bowl.
- Mix panko and breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- Coat fish in flour mixture then dip into the eggs and finally into breadcrumbs.
- Add the fish to the basket.
- Spray with vegetable oil spray lightly.
- Cook for 6 minutes, flip and spray with vegetable oil again.
- Cook for 6 minutes.
- Serve with Tartar Sauce.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
Chef’s Note: What type of fish should you use?
Deciding what fish to use might be intimidating, but you don’t need anything fancy to make Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks. The mild flavor of cod makes it the perfect base for classic fish fingers, but any mild white fish, like haddock and flounder works beautifully, and they’re all budget friendly options that deliver great flavor. Just be sure to cut the pieces into uniform sizes so that they’ll cook evenly.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can absolutely make air fryer fish sticks ahead of time. Just prep a batch, freeze them, and you’ll have a quick, healthier meal ready whenever the craving hits. Cooked fish sticks freeze just as well as uncooked ones, just use the same method for both and they’ll keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to eat, pop them straight into the air fryer and heat until warmed through. It’s an easy make-ahead option that saves time and guarantees you always have crispy, delicious fish ready to go.
How to Store
- Serve: Best to serve while hot and crispy. Don’t leave Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sticks at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge to eat later in the week. Close the fish fingers in an airtight container, and they’ll stay good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For long-term storage, keep frozen fish sticks carefully sealed in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 6 months. To reheat frozen fish sticks, you can put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes or lay them on a rimmed baking sheet and heat them in the oven.
Variations
- Nuggets: Instead of making Air Fryer Fish Sticks, you can make fish nuggets. Slice the cod fillets into bite-sized pieces, about the same shape as chicken nuggets. Prep the pieces in flour, egg and dip them in the panko mixture. Then cook in the air fryer for 5 minutes on each side.
- Seasonings: I flavored the flour mixture with paprika and garlic powder, but you can experiment with lots of different spice mixtures. Try mixing onion powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, Old Bay seasoning, cumin, or Cajun seasoning. Along with the seasonings, you can also add lemon flavor by mixing fresh lemon juice or lemon zest with the breadcrumbs. Then add a squeeze of lemon juice to the top of the fish sticks right before serving.
- Salmon fish sticks: You can also change up the recipe by using salmon instead of cod fillets. Prep the fish sticks and place them in the air fryer basket as usual. Reduce the cooking time by about a minute on both sides. To make sure the salmon sticks are done, break one open after cooking. If the fish flakes, then it’s cooked through.
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