Air fryer fish sticks are a tasty treat with a crispy, lightly spiced coating on the outside and flaky, tender fish inside. Ready in under 20 minutes, they make a delicious meal or appetizer that both kids and adults will love.
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I recently bought a new air fryer and I am already in love with it. I already own the air fryer lid that sits on top of the pressure cooker, a Philips XL Air fryer, and also the Ninja Foodi with the air fryer lid. Although I have enjoyed cooking using these, I was frustrated with the capacity. After a lot of research, I finally decided to buy the Cosori 5.8 QT air fryer
If you are a family of 4 like us, with teenage kids, you want to cook food fast and in larger amounts. I love that the Cosori has a large enough basket and also has vents on the sides of the inside basket for the air to circulate more freely.
Air Fryer Fish
We love seafood and eating fish sticks was something we enjoyed on vacations only as I do not enjoy deep frying. So with the new air fryer, one of the first recipes I developed is these fish fingers. I love using Codfish for this recipe as it's mild and flakey. You can use any white fish such as catfish, halibut, or haddock.
My fish sticks recipe uses standard ingredients like flour, eggs, and breadcrumb coating. I like to season both the flour and breadcrumbs well for extra flavor. This recipe is versatile and you can adjust the spices to your taste.
Substitutes
- All-purpose flour can be substituted with cassava flour for a gluten-free, keto-friendly diet
- Breadcrumbs can be substituted with gluten-free breadcrumbs
- We love these spicy fish fingers, but you can adjust the cayenne pepper to your taste
How to Make Air Fryer Fish Fries
Rinse and pat dry the fish fillet. Cut into 4-inch x 1-inch long pieces. Sprinkle and rub ½ teaspoon of salt all over the fish pieces
Whisk the eggs in a wide bowl
Mix together all the ingredients for the flour coating in a wide bowl.
In third wide bowl mix together breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Take one fish piece at a time and dip it in the flour mixture coating well on all the sides.
Pick up the fish and carefully drop it in the egg mixture. Using your other hand evenly coat the fish with the egg.
Place the fish coated with eggs into the bowl of breadcrumbs. Coat the fish with breadcrumbs using your dry hand.
Note: Try to use one hand for coating the dry mixes and one hand for the egg mixture so your fingers stay clean and do not get coated all over with breadcrumbs. If that does happen, wash and dry your hands and then continue to coat the remaining fish.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Carefully place the coated fish sticks inside the basket with enough space between them. Lightly spray oil on top.
Adjust the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 8 minutes. Then turn the fish over, lightly spray the oil and cook for additional 4 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and is flaky when cut with a fork. You can also use a digital thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest part is 145 degrees F.
Serving
Serve hot with Sriracha Mayo. To make the mayo simply mix 2 tablespoons of sriracha sauce in ⅓ cup of mayo.
You can also serve the fish fingers with tartar sauce by whisking together ⅓ cup of mayo, 2 tablespoons finely diced pickles, 1 tablespoon of fresh dill or parsley, and ½ tablespoon of lemon juice. Add salt & pepper to taste.
These fish sticks will be perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or served as an appetizer on game nights or movie nights. Serve with easy air-fried broccoli or air-fried sweet potato fries and almond date truffles to make a fun meal that everyone will enjoy.
Tips
- Pat dry the fish well to remove any excess moisture. Sprinkle salt all over the fish and allow it to rest for 5 minutes as you prepare the remaining ingredients
- Season the flour with salt, pepper, and spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder
- Fresh fish works best for this recipe. If you are using frozen fish, remember to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Pat dry any excess moisture
Storing
Fish sticks taste best fresh. If you have leftovers or if making ahead, simply reheat them for 3 to 5 minutes in the air fryer.
More Recipes
For more Halibut Recipes check out my weeknight staple Fish Curry and Fish Tacos.
Did you enjoy this air fryer recipe? Please rate the recipe and share your photos on Instagram or Facebook. I love to hear from you!
Is there a specific air fryer recipe you would like to see? Comment on the recipe and let me know! In the meantime here are some more recipes to try:
Recipe
Airfryer Fish Sticks
Equipment
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound cod fish fillet
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- cooking oil spray
Flour Mixture
- ½ cup all-purpose flour **
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ½ teaspoons kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Breadcrumbs mixture
- ½ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs or panko **
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sriracha hot chili sauce
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the fish fillet. Cut into 4-inch x 1-inch long pieces. Depending on the thickness of the fish you may end up with 6 to 10 pieces. Sprinkle and rub ½ teaspoon of salt all over the fish pieces. Whisk the eggs in a wide bowl.
- Mix together all the ingredients for the flour coating in a wide bowl.
- In another wide bowl mix together breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
- Take one fish piece at a time and dip it in the flour mixture coating well on all the sides. Pick up the fish and carefully place it in the egg mixture. Using your other hand evenly coat the fish with the egg and place it in the bowl of breadcrumbs. Coat the fish with breadcrumbs using your dry hand. Note: Try to use one hand for coating the dry mixes and one hand for the egg mixture so your fingers stay clean and not get coated all over with breadcrumbs. If that does happen, wash and dry your hands and continue to coat the fish.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Carefully place the coated fish inside the basket with enough space between them. Lightly spray oil on top. Adjust the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 8 minutes. Then turn the fish over, lightly spray oil and cook for additional 4 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and is flaky when cut with a fork. You can also use a digital thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest part is 145 degrees F.
To Serve
- Serve hot with Sriracha Mayo. To make the mayo simply mix sriracha sauce with mayo.
- You can also serve the fish fingers with tartar sauce by whisking together ⅓ cup of mayo, 2 tablespoons finely diced pickles, 1 tablespoon of fresh dill or parsley and ½ tablespoon of lemon juice. Add salt & pepper to taste.
Notes
- All-purpose flour can be substituted with cassava flour for a gluten-free, keto-friendly diet
- Breadcrumbs can be substituted with gluten-free bread crumbs
- Don't have an air fryer? Preheat the oven at 400 degrees F and bake on parchment paper-lined paper for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and is flaky when cut with a fork. Use a digital thermometer to make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest part is 145 degrees F.
SS says
Yup, exactly as I make it, available in Costco and its good. YO can also use Tilapia loins or Mahi Mahi. Thanks for sharing it though
Maneesha says
Such a great recipe!! Loved it! So easy and tasty!
Devika says
Hi Archana
Thank you for providing such lovely and easy recipes. Made these for dinner and my picky first grader ate it in seconds. I have always skimmed your recipes before but never got around to making them, but for the past few days, i have been making the shrimp and kheema rice, tandoori chicken wrap, soup, pasta what not and i love how they always come turn out delicious.
I don't like spending too much time in the kitchen and your recipes are a life saver.
Thank you for all the awesome recipes and keep up the excellent work.
Regards
Devika
Archana says
Thank you, Devika! The recipe is a swimmer when its kid-approved, I have 2 boys and so I can relate to how satisfying it is when kids enjoy healthy homemade food.
Debbie S says
2nd time I made this, cod turned out perfect. Delicious, so much better than fishsticks in grocery. Thanks so much for this easy Delicious recipe
Archana says
Thank you Debbie
donna says
Can you tell me what type of sprayer you were using in this recipe video? I'm still looking for a good one!
Archana says
A refillable oil spray bottle - https://amzn.to/3PU3Utk