Baked Fish Sticks are fun. This homemade, oven-baked version is crispy, tender, flaky, and so delicious! Strips of fish are covered in bread crumbs and baked to perfection in this kid-friendly recipe. They make for a simple family dinner, or they can be served as an appetizer or even at a party. And don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce for dipping, and fries for the perfect side.

Homemade fish sticks recipe with a side of tartar sauce

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What’s in this Fish Sticks Recipe?

This homemade recipe is a much better version of that nostalgic food. It’s crispy, baked, tender, flaky, and full of flavor.

  • Fish: I like to use cod for this recipe, but any white fish will work.
  • Salt + Pepper: Enhances the flavor of the fish.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Coats the fish to help the egg mixture stick.
  • Paprika: Adds a bit of color and brightness to the dish. You can use sweet paprika for a fruitier taste or smoked paprika for a smokier taste.
  • Eggs: Help the breadcrumbs to stick.
  • Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a bit of tanginess and acidity.
  • Breadcrumbs: I like to use a combination of Panko and seasoned breadcrumbs for great flavor and extra crunchy texture. You can use just one or the other, but I find the combination of the two is what sets this recipe apart.
  • Cooking Spray: Olive oil or butter-flavored cooking spray helps them bake up crispy in the oven without being too oily or fatty.

Pro Tip: Tartar sauce is the perfect complement to these fish sticks. It’s perfectly tangy and creamy!

Variations on Baked Fish Sticks

These fish sticks are a great blank canvas to make your own! Try some of these variations.

  • Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or chili powder into the flour mixture to give them a kick of heat. Adjust the spice level to your preference.
  • Parmesan Crusted: Replace some of the breadcrumbs with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a cheesy twist.
  • Herb Crusted: Add a blend of dried herbs, such as thyme, basil, or dill, to the breadcrumbs to create a fragrant and herbaceous coating.
  • Coconut Crusted: Replace the breadcrumbs with unsweetened shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
  • Almond Crusted: Grind almonds into a coarse meal and use it as a coating. The almonds add a nutty flavor and a delightful crunch.
step by step photos of how to make fish sticks
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What are fish sticks made of?

I love this homemade fish sticks recipe because I know exactly what goes in it. It starts with real cod fish fillets, so I feel good serving these to my family!

Are fish sticks healthy?

The typical ones you find are not going to be particularly healthy, but this recipe is baked instead of fried, which already makes them a bit healthier. I won’t say they’re great for you overall, but fish has a lot of nutrients and it’s a good source of protein. Baked is always better than fried, fresh is always better than frozen, and homemade is always better than pre-made.

What goes with fish sticks?

Fish sticks and tartar sauce are a match made in heaven! You have to make this homemade tartar sauce to go with this recipe. It’s the perfect dipping sauce.

Can you eat fish sticks while pregnant?

Yes! In fact, pregnant women should aim to consume fish at least 2-3 times per week! Because these are made with cod, there is no concern about mercury.

Can dogs eat fish sticks?

While fish sticks aren’t toxic to dogs, they’re not very good for them either. If you’d like to feed them to your dog, I recommend peeling off the breading first and just feeding them the fish.

Baked fish sticks on a tray

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 375°F oven on a lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.

How to Freeze

Freeze fish sticks in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen, adding an extra 5 minutes to the bake time.

Serving Suggestions

These fish sticks are such a classic meal! I love them with tartar sauce, ketchup, and lemon wedges. You could also serve them with bang bang sauce or ranch.

For side dishes, stick with the fish and chips mentality and make some french fries, shoestring fries, sweet potato fries, or potato wedges and a bit of coleslaw. You could also serve them with a fresh side salad, buttered noodles, homemade applesauce, macaroni salad, potato salad, corn on the cob, street corn, roasted broccoli, or grilled asparagus.

Fish sticks and fries

More Kid-Friendly Recipes

We are an expert in Kid Friendly Recipes. It’s one of our favorite things to create and make. Be sure to try these other favorites after you kids devour these Homemade Fish Sticks!

Recipe Card

Fish Sticks Recipe (Baked)

4.65 from 124 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Becky Hardin
This homemade FISH STICKS recipe is baked instead of fried, making them crispy, tender, & flaky. These baked fish sticks aren't complete without homemade tartar sauce!
Succulent strips of fish are coated in breadcrumbs and expertly baked, resulting in a kid-friendly recipe that is sure to please.
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound cod fillets cut into 1-inch strips
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • Tartar Sauce for serving (store bought or click for recipe)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick spray. Spray a metal rack and place it over the baking sheet. Set aside.
  • Lightly salt and pepper the fish.
    1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 pound cod fillets
  • Set out 3 shallow bowls to create a dredging station.
  • In the first shallow bowl, whisk the flour and paprika together.
    1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoons sweet or smoked paprika
  • In the second bowl, whisk the eggs and Dijon mustard together.
    2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • In the third bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs and the seasoned breadcrumbs.
    1 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • For the dredging process, press a fish stick in the flour, making sure to cover all sides and shake off the excess.
  • Then, dredge the fish stick in the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Now, press the fish in the breadcrumb mixture, patting to help the coating adhere.
  • Place the coated fish stick on the prepared rack/baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining fish sticks.
  • Spritz the fish with olive oil or butter-flavored cooking spray.
    Olive oil cooking spray
  • Place the fish in the oven and bake 6 minutes. Turn the fish sticks over and spray with oil or cooking spray.
  • Bake another 6-10 minutes or until the fish begins to flake easily with a fork.
  • Transfer cooked fish to a serving tray and serve immediately with Homemade Tartar Sauce or other favorite sauce.
    Tartar Sauce

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Cut the fish fillets into evenly sized sticks to ensure they cook evenly and have a consistent texture.
  • Make sure your oven is preheated to 400°F to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
  • Leave space between the fish sticks on the baking sheet to allow for proper air circulation, which helps them crisp up evenly.
  • For even browning, flip the fish sticks halfway through the baking time. This helps both sides get crispy and golden.
  • Baked fish sticks are best served immediately to maintain their crispiness. If needed, keep them in a warm oven (about 200°F) until ready to serve.
  • Nutritional information does not include tartar sauce.
Storage: Store fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 22gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 821mgPotassium: 433mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 244IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

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Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.65 from 124 votes (111 ratings without comment)
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31 Comments
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Naomi
Naomi
October 19, 2023 10:58 am

What is the serving size?

Samantha Marceau
October 19, 2023 12:50 pm
Reply to  Naomi

The serving size is 1/6 pound, or about 2 fish sticks.

Anonymous
Anonymous
August 21, 2023 10:21 am

It was amazingly done
I exceeded my own expectations
😋😋5 stars

Samantha Marceau
August 21, 2023 1:00 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

We’re so glad you found success with this recipe!

Yas
Yas
January 31, 2023 5:09 am

Very good 😋

Mani T.
Mani T.
August 7, 2021 8:53 pm

Loved this! Easy and yummy!!!4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 11, 2021 1:01 pm
Reply to  Mani T.

Thanks for sharing, Mani!

Alecia
Alecia
June 9, 2021 3:04 pm

Kids loved them4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 10, 2021 2:32 pm
Reply to  Alecia

I consider that a success!

Vivian
Vivian
April 20, 2021 6:40 pm

Even my picky child likes this!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 22, 2021 1:04 pm
Reply to  Vivian

What a win!

David Coolwater
David Coolwater
December 27, 2021 11:31 pm
Reply to  Vivian

Are you sure or telling us the truth, Vivian? Cause, I usually follow recipes that are claimed to be KID-FRIENDLY and then find out my kids don’t even like the smell of it or even want to take a taste test. lol…4 stars

Margie
Margie
February 5, 2021 9:07 am

This recipe is tried and true. Have used this on multiple occasions. So nice to find a good crispy fish stick recipe that doesn’t require deep frying!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
February 5, 2021 1:24 pm
Reply to  Margie

Thanks for stopping by, Margie!

Jet
Jet
August 29, 2020 7:37 pm

Yum, yum, yum! So good… thank you!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 4, 2020 12:13 pm
Reply to  Jet

You’re welcome!!

Jackie
Jackie
July 12, 2020 1:10 pm

Could prep these up to just before baking, and freeze them?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 15, 2020 1:37 pm
Reply to  Jackie

Absolutely!

Ebbie
Ebbie
April 29, 2019 3:11 pm

Wow.

I work from home and decided I’d make this as a treat for lunch. I have enough remaining that I’ll throw the leftovers (with homemade tartar sauce) on a toasted brioche bun for lunch tomorrow! I’ll freeze two of the sticks just to see how they behave.

I found it helpful to insert a toothpick in one end of my stick before dredging it through the three bowls. Makes for less messy fingers. Meanwhile, I cannot wait to make these for my little cousins!!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 30, 2019 1:26 pm
Reply to  Ebbie

That’s a great idea. Glad you like them!