If you love crunchy battered fish, you will love these Air Fryer fish sticks. They cook up so much crispier than baked fish sticks and are healthier than deep frying. A kids’ favorite, they are a perfect dinner option for busy families.
Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Fish is an incredibly healthy protein and nothing is tastier than crispy, flaky fish sticks. When deep-fried, the oil you consume can cancel out any health benefits, and baked fish sticks can be soggy and bland.
Your Air Fryer is the answer to having a fish stick that’s got crunch, flavor and is healthier than store-bought options.
And these are as loved as these super crispy Air Fryer Fish, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, Air Fryer Green beans, and Juicy Air fryer Salmon. You might also like Air Fryer Burgers.
This kid-friendly recipe will be a hit in your house, and your kids are going to love dunking these into their favorite sauce. I recommend that you make your fish sticks a little shorter than regular fish sticks. My kids love them a little chunkier, and it makes them easier to handle when dipping.
These air fryer fish sticks are easy to make from scratch so that you can save money. They cook quickly so you can save time. You are going to love making these fish sticks in the air fryer.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll ♡ These
- Kid-friendly – Kids love fish sticks, so this dinner will be a big hit.
- Healthier – You will use less oil than deep frying but still get the incredible crunch.
- Fast – The fish sticks cook fast in the air fryer so the kids will be full and happy.
Tools Needed
- An Air Fryer.
- A sharp knife.
- Handy mixing bowls.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
- Tongs.
Ready to learn how to Make Air Fryer Fish Sticks? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Preheat your Air Fryer to 350F / 176C.
- Set out three bowls to create a dipping station. Place flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second bowl, and breadcrumbs in the third bowl.
- Cut the fish into bite-sized chunks and dip each piece in flour, egg, and then in the breadcrumbs.
- Place the fish into your air fryer basket with space between each piece.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown, making sure to turn them halfway through cooking.
- Sprinkle with paprika and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to thaw frozen fish according to the package directions before making the fish sticks.
- If the fish is really wet, dry the fish with a paper towel before coating to avoid soggy fish sticks.
- Paprika tends to burn, so I like to sprinkle on paprika after the fish sticks have cooked.
- Thicker fish fillets make need a little longer to cook.
Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, then adding more time as needed.
Delicious Variations
- Try different types of fish – We love tilapia, but any white fish will be delicious.
- Spice it up – Add a bit of Old Bay Seasoning or Creole Seasoning to the flour before coating for a burst of flavor.
Make Ahead and Storage
This Fish Sticks Air Fryer recipe is perfect for prepping ahead.
- Prep ahead – Fish sticks can be made in advance and frozen according to the directions below.
- Store – Leftover Air Fryer Fish Fingers should be stored in the fridge and consumed within 24 hours.
- Freeze – These are perfect for freezing. Follow the recipe and freeze the fish sticks after breading. Place them on a cookie sheet to flash freeze for about 1 hour and then add them to an airtight container.
- Cook from frozen – To Air Fry fish sticks from frozen, cook them for 15-18 minutes at 400F.
FAQs
At 350F /176C air fry fish sticks for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Thicker fish fillets make need a little longer to cook.
We love to use tilapia and cod is also a great choice. You can use just about any fish except for tuna and swordfish, which tend to dry out during cooking.
Combine ½ cup mayo with one diced pickle. You could also use a bit of pickle relish.
If you aren’t a fan of tartar sauce, you can dip fish sticks in dill dip, Thousand Island dressing, cocktail sauce, or make a dip of equal parts mayo and ketchup and mix in a splash of lemon juice and sriracha to taste.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
- Air Fryer Green Beans.
- Yum Yum Sauce.
- Bang Bang Sauce.
More Recipes You May Like
- Golden crispy Air Fryer Fish.
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
- Air Fryer Hotdogs.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf.
- Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs.
- Korean Air Fryer Shrimp Skewers.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Thank you for reading my Air Fried Fish Stick recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, Crockpot Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (110g) flour
- 1 cup (108g) Italian bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350F / 176C.
- Cut tilapia into bite-sized chunks.
- Set out three bowls, place flour in one, beat eggs in another, put bread crumbs into the third.
- Working with one piece of fish at a time, dip into flour, then the eggs, and finally into the breadcrumbs
- Place fish pieces into the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. Depending on the size of your air fryer you should be able to fit 12 pieces in each batch.
- Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping over halfway through. When finished, remove from air fryer and sprinkle with paprika.
Notes
- Be sure to thaw frozen fish according to the package directions before making the fish sticks.
- If the fish is really wet, dry the fish with a paper towel before coating to avoid soggy fish sticks.
- Paprika tends to burn, so I like to sprinkle on paprika after the fish sticks have cooked.
- Thicker fish fillets make need a little longer to cook.
- There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
Oh yum! Love the tips to get that nice, crisp coating on the fish. These will definitely be a hit with my family.
I am definitely going to give this a try. I tried fish in my fryer oven and it was a flop. With your step by step, it will be better. Thank you so very much.
Using air fryer for recipes has been a goal and this is a great option for that. It looks incredible and flaky.
We love making fish fingers in the air fryer. Perfectly cooked every time.
We love fish and this air fried is a bonus so much healthier and it looks fantastic! A must try!