My easy recipe for homemade fish sticks in the air fryer turns out crispy and delicious every time! I love how they come out super golden and crunchy without the hassle of deep frying.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
My kids LOVE when I make store-bought frozen fish sticks in the air fryer. But one day, the fresh cod at the seafood counter caught my eye, and I decided to try making a simple homemade version!
I wanted fish sticks that would rival the crunch of the traditional deep fried version, so I decided to go with Panko breadcrumbs. I told my kids they were my official taste testers, and they hung out in the kitchen with me to oversee the entire process. They actually loved helping press the breadcrumbs into the fish fillets!
The first batch came out beautifully golden and crispy, but I waited for my kids to give me the final verdict. When they cleared their plates at record speed, I knew I had a winning recipe. My son Connor even told me I needed to make these from here on out!
For more air fryer seafood recipes, check out my recipes for air fryer salmon, air fryer shrimp, and air fryer tilapia.
Air Fry Fish Sticks Ingredients
- Fish filet – I use cod, but haddock, tilapia, or sea bass will also work
- Flour – All-purpose flour coats each fish fillet
- Salt and pepper – To enhance the natural flavors
- Garlic powder – Adds subtle earthiness to the breading
- Dried dill – Adds flavor to the breading. I’ve also used parsley
- Eggs – An egg bath gives the bread crumbs something to stick to
- Panko breadcrumbs – Adds the crunch! Regular or Italian breadcrumbs will also work
How to Cook Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP TWO: In a shallow pan, add the flour, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and dill.
STEP THREE: In a separate dish, add the eggs and beat well.
STEP FOUR: In a third dish, add the panko bread crumbs.
STEP FIVE: Dry the fish with a paper towel, then slice each filet into 3-4 sticks.
STEP SIX: One at a time, dip each stick in the flour, shake off the excess, then dip into the egg and then the panko breadcrumbs and set them on a plate.
STEP SEVEN: Spritz the basket of the air fryer using an oil sprayer, then place a single layer of fish sticks into the air fryer, leaving space between each one. Work in batches if necessary.
STEP EIGHT: Air fry the fish sticks for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Fish Sticks
- Use a shallow dish with sides for the flour and seasoning mixture. I usually opt for a small casserole dish or a sheet pan with sides.
- Dry the fish strips thoroughly before coating. I pat mine generously with paper towels to remove any excess moisture and make sure everything sticks nicely.
- After dredging in the flour mixture, I gently shake off any excess so I don’t end up with globs of flour in the egg mixture.
- Coat the fillets really well with breadcrumbs. I use my fingers to press the breadcrumbs into the fish sticks to make sure they have a thick coating.
- Flip the fish fingers in the air fryer halfway through the cooking time. This is the key to getting them super crispy on all sides!
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. I lay the fish sticks in a single layer and usually work in batches so I can make sure there’s enough room in the air fryer for the hot air to crisp up all sides of the fish fingers.
Fish Sticks Variations and Substitutions
- Instead of cod, I sometimes use tilapia or haddock for a slightly different flavor.
- If I don’t have Panko breadcrumbs, I use regular breadcrumbs or even Italian breadcrumbs for some extra flavor!
- To swap out the eggs, I use plain Greek yogurt or mayo thinned slightly with water to coat the fish sticks.
- For a little heat, I like to add some cayenne pepper or chili flakes to the flour and seasoning mixture. My husband loves the spicy version of these air fryer fish sticks!
- To make fish sticks in the oven, I bread the fish sticks like usual, place them on a sheet tray lined with a wire cooling rack, then bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
What to Serve with Breaded Air Fryer Fish Sticks
I always serve air fryer fish sticks with tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and a sprinkle of fresh dill if I have it on hand. For extra crunch, I pair them with air fryer French fries or air fryer baked potatoes!
When I want to get some greens on the plate, I’ll serve breaded fish sticks in the air fryer with brussels sprouts, asparagus, air fryer vegetables, or broccolini.
Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer FAQs
What if I have frozen fish sticks?
This recipe for how to cook fish sticks in the air fryer is for making homemade fish sticks with fresh cod. For frozen fish sticks, I recommend air frying them at 400 degrees F in a preheated air fryer for about 9 to 10 minutes. I even have a frozen air fryer fish sticks post to save too!
How long to cook fish sticks in the air fryer
The key is to air fry fish sticks until they are crispy, golden, and cooked all the way through. I find that 8-10 minutes is usually the perfect amount of time!
How do I store leftover fish sticks?
I let my extra air fried fish sticks cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for 3-4 days.
How to reheat fish sticks in the air fryer
I like to reheat my fish sticks in the air fryer to get the outside as crispy as when they were freshly made! I preheat my air fryer to 370 degrees F, then cook them for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they’re crispy and heated all the way through.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cod filets about 2 pounds
- â…” cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried dill or parsley
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- In a shallow pan like a small casserole dish or sheet pan with sides, add the flour, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and dill.
- In a separate dish, add the eggs and beat well.
- In a third dish, add the panko bread crumbs.
- Dry the fish with a paper towel and slice each filet into 3-4 sticks.
- Dip each stick in the flour (being sure to shake off the excess), then the egg, and then into the panko breadcrumbs and set them on a plate.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with an oil sprayer and then place a single layer of the fish sticks into the air fryer. Be sure that none of them are touching (work in batches if needed).
- Air fry them for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown, flipping them halfway through cooking.
Notes
- Dry the fish strips thoroughly before coating to allow the flour to stick better.
- After dredging in the flour mixture, gently shake off any excess.
- Coat really well with breadcrumbs. I use my fingers to press the breadcrumbs into the fish sticks to make sure they have a thick coating.
- Flip the fish fingers in the air fryer halfway through the cooking time. This is the key to getting them super crispy on all sides!
- Don’t overcrowd the basket so each fish stick cooks evenly.
- Cook frozen fish sticks in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 9-10 minutes.
- Reheat any leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
