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

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings 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

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