Many air fryer fish stick recipes are basically frozen fish sticks popped in the air fryer. Of course, that works, but I think we can do better.
This version starts with fresh cod, lightly breaded with panko breadcrumbs and air-fried until they are browned and so crunchy. The fish stays juicy and tender, and air frying them is fast and easier to clean up than a traditional deep fry.
I’ve air-fried a number of things over the years, but this fish stick recipe is one of the most successful air fryer recipes I’ve made. Even my kids couldn’t get enough of them. These are perfect for those busy school nights—bread them ahead of time and when it’s time for dinner, pop them into the air fryer.
The Air Fryer is Perfect for Fish Sticks
The air fryer works really well with similar-sized fish sticks that you can spread out easily in the air fryer basket. Fish cooks relatively quickly, which helps since you will probably need to air fry them in a few batches.
While sometimes I’ll use a wet batter for fish sticks—like classic British fish and chips—a breaded crust works better in the air fryer, so the fish sticks don’t stick to the basket. I don’t see myself using a traditional fry setup for fish sticks anytime soon!
You have some options here. Any firm white fish will do well in fish stick form. Personally, I think cod is the best and is definitely what is used for most fried fish or fish sticks. That said, something like tilapia, grouper, halibut, or snapper would work fine.
For me, cod tends to be the most economical and ends up being buttery and tender after you fry it, while still being firm enough to not just fall apart.
If you are starting with frozen cod, which is fine, be sure to thaw it completely and blot the fish dry with paper towels before breading the fish.
How to Get a Crispy Crunchy Crust
The two tips to getting the crispiest air fried fish sticks are:
- Use panko breadcrumbs. They are already crispy and delicious and so when they get fried, they get even crispier. I recommend dipping the fish sticks in cornstarch before the egg and breadcrumbs, which will help the breadcrumbs stick to the fish. You could also use flour for this, but I like cornstarch for fish.
- Before you air fry the fish sticks, spray them with a light coat of nonstick cooking spray. This gives just a little bit of fat to the exterior and helps fry the crust of the fish sticks.
Tips for Air Frying Fish
The biggest problem people have when air frying is they forget to spray the basket to prevent sticking or they overcrowd the basket by piling in too much food. Work in batches and spread out the fish sticks evenly, this is one of the easiest and most successful air fryer recipes you’ll try. It’s a winner![web_stories title=”true” excerpt=”false” author=”false” date=”false” archive_link=”true” archive_link_label=”” circle_size=”150″ sharp_corners=”false” image_alignment=”left” number_of_columns=”1″ number_of_stories=”5″ order=”DESC” orderby=”post_title” view=”circles” /]
What to Serve with Fish Sticks
It goes without saying that you should serve these crispy fish sticks with tartar sauce—recipe below!—and fresh lemons, but there are other serving options as well! I like to serve these with a side dish that is bright and colorful like a sugar snap pea salad or a good coleslaw. If you want something creamy, try a baked mac and cheese, which goes well with any fried entrée!
