Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Name: Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound mahi-mahi or cod fish fillets (thawed if frozen); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper ( freshly ground); 2 eggs; 2 tablespoons non-stick cooking spray (as needed); ½ cup all-purpose flour (or oat flour (see notes)); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon paprika (regular); ½ teaspoon cayenne (optional); 1 teaspoon dried basil (or Italian seasoning blend); ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs see notes for options

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These homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks are a kid-friendly classic made healthier in the air fryer! Sliced mahi-mahi or cod are breaded in flour, seasonings, and breadcrumbs, then air fried until golden-brown and ultra crispy.

Dip it in this 5-minute lemon caper sauce and enjoy these delicious fish sticks in under 30 minutes! One bite of this air-fried fish and you'll never make frozen fish sticks again!

air fried fish sticks in a basket with a bowl of lemon caper sauce garnished with lemon slices — Classic breaded fish sticks made crispy using the air fryer

If you've been following the blog, you know how much I love anything that can be made using an air fryer...samosas, aloo gobi, french fries, garlic bread, lamb chops, you name it. The possibilities are endless.

These air fryer fish sticks are another delicious air fryer recipe. And no, they're not pre-made, frozen fish sticks. They're fully homemade fish sticks that are tender in the middle, golden-brown and crispy on the outside, and so easy to make!

Air Fryer Facts: You can find a detailed guide on an Air Fryer - how it works, which one to buy, and what all you can cook in it, in this article: How Does an Air Fryer Work?

Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions

We just need a handful of easy-to-source ingredients from the grocery store. Here's what we need:

ingredients for air fryer fish sticks — Air fryer fish sticks ingredients.

For the Fish Sticks:

Fish: I recommend using mahi-mahi or cod fish fillets. If they're frozen, make sure you thaw them first and pat dry completely.
Salt and Black Pepper: used to lightly season the fish before adding the breading.
Eggs: helps the flour coating and breadcrumbs stick.
Cooking Spray: coats the outside of the fish sticks to help them get nice and crispy in the air fryer.

For the Flour Coating:

All-Purpose Flour: I use all-purpose flour in this recipe, but you can also use a gluten-free flour blend if preferred.
Seasonings: you'll use a simple blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and dried basil to add tons of flavor.

Breadcrumbs: use already seasoned breadcrumbs or plain breadcrumbs seasoned with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

How to Make Air Fryer Fish Sticks

These homemade air fryer fish sticks come together in just 30 minutes!

Prep the fish: Pat dry the fish with kitchen towels, then cut each filet into 3-4 inch long pieces, about 1-inch thick. Season each fish piece with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper, then refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. (pic 1)

Assemble the breading: In a shallow bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper, garlic, dried basil, paprika, and cayenne. Add the breadcrumbs to a separate shallow bowl and whisk the eggs in a 3rd shallow bowl. (pic 2, 3, 4)

in process images for steps 1-4 for making air fryer fish sticks

Note: Arrange the bowls in the following order for a convenient process: Fish sticks, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.

Bread: Remove the fish from the fridge and pat dry again. Dredge each piece of fish in the flour first (pic 5), followed by the egg (pic 6), and then the breadcrumbs (pic 7).

Air fry: Spread the fish sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spray them with cooking spray, and cook at 400ºF for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the fish sticks, spray again, and cook for another 3-5 minutes. (pic 8)

steps 5-8 for making fish sticks in the air fryer

Alternate Method: Oven-Baked Fish Sticks

No air fryer? No problem! Oven-baked fish sticks are just as easy!

Assemble the fish sticks as directed.
Line them on a baking sheet, then bake at 450ºF for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Optional: broil for a couple of minutes after they cook to get them extra crispy.

Serving Suggestions

I highly recommend serving these air-fried fish sticks with a squeeze of lemon juice and with a side of dipping sauce such as sriracha mayo, lemon caper sauce, cucumber raita, tartar sauce, or plain old ketchup!

You can also fill out your meal with a couple of sides. Here are a few of my favorites:

closeup of air fried fish sticks on a plate with a bowl of lemon caper sauce — Crisp fish sticks served with lemon caper sauce.

Storing and Reheating

Air fried fish sticks are best right away but will last in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

To reheat, air fry for 3-5 minutes at 400ºF or bake for 10-15 minutes at 425ºF. You can also air fry or bake from frozen until the fish sticks are heated through.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Breadcrumbs: you can use already seasoned breadcrumbs or season plain breadcrumbs yourself with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
Let it rest. After you dry, slice, and season the fish, let it sit in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. Not only do the seasonings add flavor, but the salt extracts moisture so the fish sticks can get nice and crispy.
Pat dry. You'll pat dry the fish pieces before you refrigerate them and also after you refrigerate them. The less moisture, the crispier the fish sticks will be.
Spray them. Use a non-aerosolized cooking spray to coat the outside of the fish sticks. This also helps them achieve that golden-brown color and crispy texture.
Leave space. Make sure the fish sticks aren't touching in the air fryer so the air can circulate.

plate of air fryer fish sticks with one dipped in lemon caper sauce — Air fried fish sticks on a plate.

Common Questions

What kind of fish is used for fish sticks?

Any white, firm fish will work. I recommend using mahi-mahi or codfish fillets for this recipe.

How long does an air fryer take to cook fish sticks?

These fish sticks take just 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer. You'll cook them for 10 minutes initially, flip them over, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.