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A pile of air fryer fish sticks with lemon wedges and bowl of tartar sauce on a platter. A fork, pepper, knife, and lemon wedges in the background.
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Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Crunchy Air Fryer Fish Sticks are so easy to make from scratch with simple ingredients! Serve with a lemon wedge and your favorite dipping sauce.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 335kcal
Author John Kanell

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Olive oil spray
  • 3 shallow bowls or pie plates

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds cod filets skin removed (675g)
  • 2 teaspoon salt divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (40g)
  • 1½ cups Panko breadcrumbs (90g)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • Tartar sauce for serving
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  • Cut the cod filets into strips, about ½ to 1 inch wide, and 3 to 4 inches long. Season all over with 1½ teaspoons of salt. Refrigerate until ready to dredge.
  • Place the flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with 2 tablespoons of water. In a third shallow bowl, mix the Panko breadcrumbs, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper, and paprika.
  • Dredge each piece of fish in flour, then egg, and then coat it with the Panko mixture.
  • Spray the basket of an air fryer with olive oil cooking spray. Place half of the breaded fish pieces in the basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray the fish well with the olive oil spray.
  • Cook at 400°F for 6 minutes. Flip the fish pieces and spray the other side well with olive oil spray. Cook for 4 to 6 more minutes or until golden brown and the internal temperature of each piece reaches 145°F.
  • Repeat to cook the remaining half of the fish. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

Notes

  • If you use frozen fish, thaw it first and pat the fillets very dry with paper towels to prevent soggy fish sticks.
  • Cut fish into equal pieces. The more uniform the fish sticks are in size, the more evenly they will cook.
  • Add extra seasonings. Season with extra salt or a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning after cooking. You can also add garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dried herbs to the breading mixture.
  • Add parmesan cheese to the breading. Replace ¼ cup of the panko breadcrumbs with an equal amount of grated parmesan cheese for a more savory flavor.
  • For the crispiest air fryer fish fingers, it’s best to serve these straight from the air fryer. Or, hold the fish warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave enough space between the fish pieces so the hot air can circulate freely for crispy homemade fish sticks.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 1555mg | Potassium: 812mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 352IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg