Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer:

My family uses an air fryer for so many things! We make air fryer mahi mahi, pork tenderloin, pizza rolls, air fryer salmon, and mozzarella sticks.

In fact, one of my favorite air fryer recipes is homemade cinnamon rolls!

Air frying is a great alternative to deep frying or even baking, because it yields the best results in just minutes.

Not only is the air fryer a great way to make chicken nuggets and tater tots, but it’s our favorite way to cook fish sticks, too.

They turn out crispy and crunchy in around 10 minutes. Air fryer frozen fish sticks are an easy meal that even the pickiest of eaters love!

Ingredients:

This “recipe” has one ingredient making it incredibly simple!

• Frozen Fish Sticks: We used Gorton’s fish sticks for this recipe.

How to Cook Gorton’s Fish Sticks in the Air Fryer:

See the recipe card below for the ingredient amounts and full instructions.

1. ​Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once the air fryer preheats, add a parchment paper liner (if using) to the air fryer basket.
2. Arrange 8 frozen fish sticks in an single layer in the basket making sure to leave plenty of room around each fish stick.

3. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or when your air fryer signals that’s it time to turn the food.
4. The fish sticks are finished cooking when they’re golden brown, crispy and reach an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant read thermometer.
5. Let the fish sticks rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.

​Air Fryer Fish Sticks Tips:

• Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want the hot air circulating all around the fish sticks so they get nice and crispy. Make sure to leave enough space for the hot air to get through.
• Use frozen fish sticks not fish filets. We used fish sticks for this recipe. Fish filets and fish patties are larger in size and require more cooking time. 
• Adjust the time. You may need to adjust the time slightly depending on which model of air fryer you own. 
• Use oil if needed. I use parchment paper liners specifically made for the air fryer. These liners keep the fish from sticking to the basket. If you don’t have the paper liners, consider using a little vegetable oil or canola oil to lightly grease the basket.
• Use your favorite brand. We used Gorton’s brand fish sticks, but there are several different brands available. Mrs. Paul’s, Van de Kamp, and Great Value are some other well known brands.

Storage:

Refrigerator: Store leftover fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Reheating: The best way to reheat fish sticks is to place them in the air fryer and cook them for a 3-4 minutes until warmed through.

How do you keep frozen fish sticks from getting soggy in the air fryer?

Soggy fish sticks are worst, and luckily, there are a few things you can do to get crispy air fryer fish sticks every single time!

• Preheat the air fryer. Cooking fish sticks in an air fryer that’s been properly preheated to a high temperature helps crisp up the outside while keeping the moisture on the inside.
• Flip the fish sticks. Make sure to flip the fish sticks so all sides have the opportunity to cook in the hot air.
• Rest on a wire rack. After the fish sticks finish cooking, place them on a wire rack to rest for a minute or two. This gives the moisture a chance to settle in the center while keeping the exterior crispy. Additionally, since the fish sticks are sitting on a wire rack, they aren’t touching a plate and sweating which causes the crunchy breading to become soggy.
• Cook them for an extra minute or two. If the fish sticks aren’t crispy enough, cook them for another minute or two until the breading becomes crunchy.

What do you serve with fish sticks?

There are a ton of options when it comes to side dishes for air fryer fish sticks. Here are a few ideas:

• French Fries.
• Tater Tots.
• Side Salad.
• Onion Rings.
• Fruit Salad.