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    You are here: Home / Recipes

    Homemade Crispy Fish Sticks

    Published: Sep 15, 2021 · Modified: Mar 16, 2023 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

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    Pinterest image of fish sticks with text
    Pinterest image of fish sticks with text

    This Homemade Fish Sticks recipe is made with tender and flaky cod fish, with a crispy panko breading on on the outside. The best part is you can bake them in the oven, instead of frying, and they are ready in under 30 minutes. Dip them in a Homemade Tartar Sauce for a fun, kid friendly, family dinner.

    Crispy Fish Sticks on a plate with one cut open to show the flaky fish

    You can also serve these Fish Fingers as a Fish Stick Taco with Jalapeno Tartar Sauce!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Ingredients
    2 What Fish To Use for Fish Sticks
    3 Step By Step Baking Instructions
    4 Serving
    5 Homemade Tartar Sauce
    6 Freezing Homemade Fish Sticks
    7 Frying
    8 More Fish & Seafood Recipes to Love
    9 Did you make this recipe?!
    10 Homemade Crispy Fish Stick Recipe

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make Homemade Baked Fish Sticks.

    ingredient with text labels
    Ingredients Clockwise: Panko bread crumbs, flour, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cod filets, egg, cayenne pepper (optional), dijon mustard, and non-stick spray

    Panko Bread Crumbs– Make sure you use panko bread crumbs and not traditional bread crumbs. The Panko is a coarser breadcrumb that will help make your fish sticks nice and crispy.

    Cod- buy fresh fillets of cod to cut into strips. Other firm fleshed white fish will work too. See below for other options.

    What Fish To Use for Fish Sticks

    You will want to use a firm white fish to make proper fish sticks. We like to use fresh cod fillets, although haddock, hake, catfish or tilapia will work too.

    Step By Step Baking Instructions

    Start by preheating your oven broiler and placing a rack in the middle position in your oven. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray.

    Pat the cod fillet dry with some paper towels. Then cut into 1 inch strips.

    cod fillets cut into 1 inch strips

    Prep your dipping station with 3 shallow bowls:

    1. flour mixed with the salt
    2. egg beat together with Dijon mustard and optional cayenne pepper
    3. panko bread crumbs with onion powder, garlic powder and paprika
    showing three steps of dredging fish sticks in flour, egg and panko

    Dredge each fillet in the flour, then dip into the egg mixture and finally dredge each fillet into the panko, lightly pressing to make sure it adheres.

    Lay on the prepped baking sheet. Repeat with all the fish sticks.

    a foil lined baking sheet full of homemade fish sticks

    Pro Tip: Spray the top of the fish sticks with a little baking spray. This helps the panko coating become nice and golden and crispy.

    Broil on the middle oven rack for 4 minutes, flip and broil on the other side for another 3-4 minutes.

    The fish sticks should reach 145 degree internal temp to be cooked through.

    Serving

    Crispy Fish Sticks make a great family friendly dinner. Serve them with a tartar sauce, baked fries, tater tots or kettle chips and veggie.

    • raw veggies with a ranch dip
    • roasted broccoli
    • roasted carrots
    • green beans

    You can also serve these crispy fish sticks in a tortilla, fish taco style, with a jalapeno tartar sauce and slaw.

    Homemade Tartar Sauce

    It is super easy to make your own tartar sauce. It only requires a couple ingredients. Pop over to this recipe for Homemade Tartar Sauce to make your own.

    Or for a spicier version use this Jalapeno Tartar Sauce!

    dipping a fish stick into homemade tartar sauce

    Freezing Homemade Fish Sticks

    You can absolutely cook these and freeze them for an easy weeknight dinner at a later date.

    1. Prepare and cook them completely. Let the fish sticks cool.
    2. Place them on a baking sheet that will fit in the freezer. Pop in the freezer for about 2 hours, then transfer the frozen fish sticks to a freezer-safe bag or container.
    3. They will be good in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
    4. To reheat place the frozen fish sticks (do not thaw) on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for around 12-15 minutes until they are warm through and crispy.

    Frying

    If you prefer to fry your fish sticks you can absolutely do that with this recipe.

    Simply prepare the fish sticks as directed on the recipe. Heat about ½-1 inch of vegetable oil in a pot. Fry the fish sticks until they are golden on both sides and cooked through.

    Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

    More Fish & Seafood Recipes to Love

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    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    crispy baked fish sticks on a plate with tartar sauce

    Homemade Crispy Fish Stick Recipe

    Homemade Baked Fish Sticks that are crispy on the outside, then flaky and tender on the inside. Serve them up with a Homemade Tartar Sauce. It is a great family dinner that both kids and adults will love!
    LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECIPE AND COOK ALONG WITH THE PLAYER BELOW!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved to Grow
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5 people
    Calories: 299kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Large rimmed baking sheet
    • foil

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs. cod fish fillets cut into 1 inch thick strips
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 ¼ tsp. kosher salt
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
    • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper optional
    • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
    • 1 tsp. onion powder
    • 1 tsp. garlic powder
    • 1 tsp. paprika
    • nonstick spray

    Serving

    • Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipes linked in notes!
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven broiler and make sure you have a rack in the middle position in your oven.
    • Prep a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, and spray with non stick spray.
      nonstick spray
    • Pat the cod fillet dry with some paper towel. Then cut into 1 inch strips.
      1 ½ lbs. cod fish fillets
    • Prepare your assembly line with 3 shallow bowls:
      1. mix the flour and salt together
      2. beat the egg with the Dijon mustard and (optional) cayenne pepper.
      3. combine the Panko with the onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
      ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 ¼ tsp. kosher salt, 3 eggs, 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, 2 cups panko bread crumbs, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. paprika, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
    • Start by dipping a cod strip in the flour mixture, then in the egg, finally dredge in the panko mixture and lightly press to make sure it adheres.
    • Lay the coated fish stick on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat this process with all the fish sticks.
    • Spray the top side of the coated fish sticks with the non stick spray.
    • Pop in the preheated oven, on the middle oven rack, for about 4 minutes. Flip the fish sticks and broil for another 3-4 minutes.
      Your fish sticks should reach 145° internal temp to be cooked through.

    Serving

    • Serve warm with fries, tater tots or kettle chips.
      Raw veggies with ranch dip, roasted veggies or green beans
    • Add Tartar Sauce on the side for dipping (couple homemade tartar sauce recipe options linked in notes).

    Freezing

    • Prepare and cook the fish sticks completely.
    • Let them cool. Place them on a baking sheet that will fit in the freezer. Pop in the freezer for about 2 hours, then transfer the frozen fish sticks to a freezer-safe bag or container.
    • They will be good in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

    Reheating from Frozen

    • To reheat, place the frozen fish sticks (do not thaw) on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for around 12-15 minutes until they are warm through and crispy.

    Notes:

    Fish:
    Other firm fleshed white fish will work for your fish sticks – haddock, hake, catfish or tilapia.
    Tartar Sauce:
    Homemade Tartar Sauce or Jalapeno Tartar Sauce
    Serving: 
    These would be great in a fish stick taco! 
    To Fry: 
    Simply prepare the fish sticks as directed on the recipe. Heat about ½ inch of vegetable oil in a pot. Fry the fish sticks until they are golden on both sides.
    Drain on a paper towel lined plate.
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 799mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 332IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. John

      March 10, 2023 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was a big hit for our family. Loved how crispy they turned out! We used tartar sauce for dipping.

      Reply
    2. John

      March 10, 2023 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was a big hit at our house. Loved how crispy they turned out! We used tartar sauce for dipping.

      Reply
    3. Carol Ann Pierson

      August 16, 2022 at 8:12 am

      5 stars
      Grandkids helped make this recipe It was a big hit! Ketchup was the favored dip.

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        August 16, 2022 at 11:37 am

        Ketchup (and yellow mustard) is my kids favorite dip too

        Reply

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