Making Baked Fish Sticks at home delivers the crispiest, most tender results with just a few simple ingredients. They’re a favorite and affordable way to serve fish to kids, and they’re so good that the adults at the table will love them, too!
Fish Sticks
Real talk: I fully expected my kids not to like these since they love the ones from the freezer aisle of the store. So I was delighted to see they actually gobbled these up just as quickly as the store-bought ones. These are half the cost to make as they are to buy (I usually buy the Ian’s Natural brand), which makes it easier for me to stick to my grocery budget.
And while I don’t always have access to high-quality fish in the small town where I live, I love to make these when I can find some.
This recipe calls for just a few ingredients and reheats really well. You can make them anytime during the day that you want to serve them and simply reheat them right before dinner. I make my fish sticks with tilapia, but I note a few options to use other fish too at the bottom of the recipe.
We love this fish recipe with a squeeze of lemon and dipped into ketchup, but you can serve with tartar sauce or any other dip you like. These are also great in fish tacos. (You may also like my Fish Nuggets and Fish Stick Tacos.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you need the following ingredients.
- Tilapia filets: You can use fresh tilapia from the fish counter or frozen tilapia. If using frozen, thaw according to the package directions before starting the recipe and pat dry.
- Eggs
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour, but you can use whole wheat or a gluten-free flour blend if you prefer.
- Panko breadcrumbs: This type of breadcrumbs has a nice texture and helps the fish sticks to become super crispy.
- Salt: A little salt helps add flavor to the final fish recipe.
TIP: You can add parsley, dried garlic, or any other spices you like in the coating for more flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s the overview of how to make the recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.
- Use kitchen shears to cut the filets in half, then into strips about the size of your finger.
- Coat each piece in flour.
- Coat each piece in egg.
- Coat each piece in the breadcrumbs.
- Place on a wire rack set on a baking sheet.
- Bake!
TIP: Set the bowls up in a little assembly line to make the process easy.
FAQ
I use Tilapia since many varieties are rated well by the Seafood Watch program, which vets for sustainable seafood options. And it’s on the list of fish that have the least mercury, which is important for all of us to consider, but especially for little kids with developing brains and bodies and pregnant women. It is also a very mild fish that is usually around $7 or $8 a pound, which is more affordable than other types of fish.
You can put them back onto a baking pan and warm at 375 degrees F for 6-8 minutes. They reheat nicely!
Baking fish sticks creates an even crunchy coating and tender fish in the middle. I like to bake mine on a wire rack set over a baking sheet so the bottoms bake up crunchy, rather than soggy.
They are rich in healthy fats, are low in mercury, and are high in protein. You can also control the amount of added salt, which is nice too.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and warm for 6-8 minutes in a 375-degree-F oven or about 4 minutes in a 375-degree-F air fryer.
You can warm them in 15-second increments in the microwave, but they will not be crunchy.
Best Tips for Success
- Use kitchen shears to cut the fish (it’s a little easier than using a knife, I’ve found).
- Choose sustainable fish that are low-mercury, including tilapia, flounder, or whitefish. You could also use wild salmon or trout, though they may have stronger flavors.
- Gluten-free: Use GF panko and flour.
- Egg-free: Swap in vegan mayo for the eggs.
- Add a dash of ground garlic, dried parsley, black pepper, or any other spice or herb you like to add more flavor.
- Serve with fresh lemon, ketchup, tartar sauce, or any other sauce you like.
- We like to have these with simple sides such as Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli, or Salad. They’re also great in tacos.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please leave a rating and a comment below.
Crispy Baked Fish Sticks (to Share with the Kids!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound tilapia filets (fresh or thawed from frozen according to package directions)
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/4 cups Panko-style breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Cut the fish into finger-size pieces. (I use kitchen scissors to make this easy.)
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve warm with fresh lemon, ketchup, and/or Tartar sauce.
Equipment
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and warm for 6-8 minutes in a 375 degree oven. (You can warm them in 15-second increments in the microwave, but they will not be crunchy.)
- Use kitchen shears to cut the fish (it’s a little easier than using a knife, I’ve found).
- Choose sustainable fish that are low-mercury, including tilapia, flounder, or whitefish. You could also use wild salmon or trout, though they may have stronger flavors.
- Gluten-free: Use GF panko and flour.
- Egg-free: Swap in vegan mayo for the eggs.
- Add a dash of ground garlic, dried parsley, black pepper, or any other spice or herb you like to add more flavor.
- Serve with fresh lemon, ketchup, tartar sauce, or any other sauce you like.
Nutrition
This post was first published March 2021.
Perfection – The little fish fingers took 11 minutes in the oven to reach a safe temp, and they crisped up nicely. I served them with some homemade tartar sauce and a squirt of lemon. My son, 18 months, had never eaten fish sticks before but he ate these up. This is an easy recipe that I will return to
Can these be made in airfryer instead of oven? What temp and how long would you recommend?
Hi- I haven’t tried it but my best guess is 375 for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Great recipe! My toddler wouldn’t touch but hoping after some exposure he will! Thank you!
Hi! Can I freeze these?
Totally. They reheat nicely from frozen for about 6-8 minutes at 375 F.
If planning to freeze, should they be cooked first, or frozen raw and cooked from frozen?
I would cook them completely first, then just plan to quickly reheat them.
I don’t have a wire rock. Can I just use parchment paper on a baking sheet?
Sure
Really good and easy! I used salmon and baked at the recommended temp/time. I put some cajun seasoning in the breadcrumbs and it was yummy.
Which step do you add the salt?
Sprinkle it over in Step 3
Can you prep these ahead of time?
You can do them up through the end of Step 3, cover and store in the fridge for up to about 4 hours, then bake. Or you can make them ahead, let cool, and store for future reheating. To reheat, place on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and warm for 6-8 minutes in a 375 degree oven. I hope that helps.
Can you freeze these once cooked?
I haven’t tried that but I think it should work okay—I know they heat well from the fridge!