Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks (from frozen)

This article has links to products that we may make commission from.

These Air Fryer Fish Sticks are a super simple way to turn store-bought frozen fish sticks into a crispy hot snack or meal in just minutes.

fish sticks with tartar sauce and lemon

One of the easiest things you can pull out of the freezer and make for lunch or dinner is fish sticks. While they aren’t as good for you as fresh unbreaded fish, containing about twice the calories, they are still a relatively healthy meal and one that the kids will often eat even if they’re picky.

We’ve tried many different brands of frozen fish sticks and find that Gorton’s and Trader Joes are some of the better ones. You might know of another brand that you like. Whatever you choose, it’ll work with this air fryer recipe.

Pair it with air fryer broccoli or make some other frozen foods to form a party platter.

Ingredients You’ll Need

fish sticks

It’s no surprised that cooking fish sticks in the air fryer doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Basically we’re just showing you our method for air frying frozen fish sticks. So that’s all you really need! Since the sticks already have oil on them, you don’t even need any cooking spray.

  • Frozen fish sticks – You can use any brand of fish you like. Trader Joes has a great one that we like, as well as Gorton’s. They can be breaded or battered. It doesn’t matter.
  • Lemon wedges – A spritz of lemon gives a bright acidity to the fish.
  • Tartar sauce – if you like to eat your fish with tartar sauce or another sauce. This is optional.

How to Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Space frozen fish sticks apart in the air fryer basket so they aren’t touching or overlapping.

frozen fish sticks in the air fryer basket

Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, until crispy, flipping carefully halfway through cooking.

Serve with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce on the side, if desired.

fish sticks with tartar sauce and lemon

Air Frying Tips and Suggestions

  • No oil is necessary to cook fish sticks because they have already been flash deep fried in oil.
  • Cook the fish sticks from frozen. There is no need to thaw first and if you do, it can lead to a soggy exterior.
  • Put the fish in the basket in a single layer. You don’t want to overcrowd them or overlap them because they won’t get evenly crispy.
  • This recipe assumes you are cooking average sized fish sticks from frozen. There is no need to preheat the air fryer.
  • If you do, you can expect to reduce the cooking time by a few minutes. If you’re cooking more fish sticks in multiple batches, the second batch and onward will cook a little quicker. 
  • Remember that all air fryers cook differently and your fish sticks might be larger or smaller than mine. Adjust the cook time accordingly.
fish sticks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook battered fish in an air fryer?

Yes, you can make battered fish or breaded fish in an air fryer. They will take the same amount of time to cook. However, if you are battering the fish yourself, you won’t be able to cook them in the air fryer because the batter will just fall into the grate. It needs to be flash fried first.

Can you cook frozen fish in the air fryer with no breading?

You can make frozen fish that has no breading in the air fryer, but you will want to cook it on a lower temperature because you’re not trying to crisp it up, rather you just want to heat it up slowly. You will also need to spray the basket or coat the fish with oil before adding to the basket, or it might stick.

I usually put a piece of parchment paper in the bottom to avoid it sticking. Cook on 350° F for about 8 minutes, turning halfway.

fish sticks with one being dipped in tartar sauce

What Side Dishes to Serve?

You can serve some really easy side dishes with your main dish cooked in the Air Fryer. Sometimes, you can cook them together in the air fryer to make it even faster.

Some of our favorite side dishes to serve include:

Here are 30 more air fryer side dishes to try

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

5 from 45 votes
Air Fryer Tater Tots
4.2 from 7 votes
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
5 from 17 votes
Air Fryer Bagel Bites
4.8 from 117 votes
Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers (+Onions)

Like this recipe? We’d love for you to share it with your friends on social media. For more great recipes, follow us on Pinterest and Facebook, where we share our recipes daily.

fish sticks

Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks

These Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks are a super simple way to turn store-bought frozen fish sticks into a crispy hot snack or meal in just minutes.
No ratings yet
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Servings
Calories 230 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 8 frozen fish sticks
  • Lemon wedge and tartar sauce for garnish optional

Instructions
 

  • Space frozen fish sticks apart in the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, until crispy, flipping carefully halfway through.
  • Serve with lemon wedge and tartar sauce on the side.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 430mgPotassium: 209mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gCalcium: 17mg
Keyword Fish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for next time!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Send this to a friend