Baked Fish Sticks
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Tender and flaky on the inside, golden brown and crunchy outside, these baked fish sticks are better than fried, easy to make and you’ll see, adults and kids alike LOVE them. Yes you can get that fried crunch with baking and I’ll share my secret!
Baked Fish Sticks
I’m sharing my recipe for fish sticks. While I would love to batter these and fry them up, we’re going a lighter route with a breading then baking them in the oven.
Using the same technique I use on my Baked “Fried” KFC Copycat Chicken recipe, these turn out amazingly crispy with a light and flaky, tender white fish on the inside.
What kind of white fish for this?
I prefer to use cod, but really any thick white fish will do like haddock, sea bass, pollack, coley or hake.
How to make fish sticks
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Place egg, flour and Panko breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Season each piece of fish with the salt and lemon pepper seasoning.
- Dip fish pieces in flour to coat both sides. Dip in egg, shake off excess, then in Panko bread crumbs, patting gently for coating to adhere.
- Place a 13×9” baking dish in the oven to get hot for at least 15 minutes. Add the 3 tablespoons of the melted butter to the heated baking dish and arrange the fish sticks on top with plenty of room on each side so they “fry” not “steam”. Bake 10 minutes, carefully turn fish sticks and add remaining butter to pan. Finish baking 5-10 minutes or until the coating is crispy, golden and the fish is cooked through. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Serve with fresh lemon slices and tartar sauce.
I make my own Lemon Pepper Seasoning and season the cut pieces of cod with this prior to the flour, egg and Panko breading process. The lemon pepper flavor comes through and is perfect for these!
I also make my own Tartar Sauce. This Tartar Sauce comes together in a snap with kitchen items on hand and is better than store bought versions. Slice some lemons and you are ready to serve these fish sticks. Enjoy!
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Baked Fish Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 lb cod fillets cut into 1″ strips
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 4 tbsp butter melted
- fresh lemon for serving
- tartar sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Place egg, flour and Panko breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Season each piece of fish with the salt and lemon pepper seasoning.
- Dip fish pieces in flour to coat both sides. Dip in egg, shake off excess, then in Panko bread crumbs, patting gently for coating to adhere.
- Place a 13×9” baking dish in the oven to get hot for at least 15 minutes. Add the 3 tablespoons of the melted butter to the heated baking dish and arrange the fish sticks on top with plenty of room on each side so they “fry” not “steam”.
- Bake 10 minutes, carefully turn fish sticks and add remaining butter to pan. Finish baking 5-10 minutes or until the coating is crispy, golden and the fish is cooked through. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes.
- Serve with fresh lemon slices and tartar sauce.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Made this tonight and it was so good. I didn’t make the lemon pepper seasoning but I can only imagine how it adds to the flavour.
I had more then pound of fish So I do have leftovers. Any suggestions for rehearing? Repurposing (eg. fish tacos)
Thank you for trying my recipe!
This is EXCELLENT! The recipe nailed the flavor profile and crunchy texture with staple ingredients and a simple technique for weeknight perfection. No changes. Recommendation: add this tasty dish to your rotation! You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh the crunch is key right! I am so glad you nailed it!
Oh this sounds so delicious. I love all the spices you used to flavor this fish dinner. It’s perfect family friendly meal. I’m definitely making this.
Thank you so much! Let me know you enjoy it!
Oooooh! It’s been so long since I had a fish stick Kevin. These looks delicious. Pinned!
Been getting more and more into seafood recipes as of late now that we live up in the Portland area. Good stuff! 🙂
Hey Kevin! This flaky fish with that crunchy coating sounds wonderul! Your tarter sauce is alot like the one I make only I use my home canned dill pickle relish which has some finely chopped sweet onion and red bell peppers. Great recipe! Did you get any of that snowsnow?
Thanks Dorothy! No snow here yet, but it has dropped on Mt.Hood. I get to see it everyday as I leave out the drive way. 🙂
Is it weird that I want this right now for breakfast? That crisp coating and tender fish!! Must try!
Not at all! These are super crunchy and best dipped in that tartar sauce!
You’ve got me drooling now Kevin. It’s 5:07am in SoCal and these fish sticks with tartar sauce sounds like breakfast to me. 😋
Works for me! 🙂
Such a classic and for good reason! Nothing like homemade too 🙂 Would love some of these for dinner today, Kevin – so golden brown and crispy looking 🙂
Thanks Dawn and don’t forget I also posted 2 other recipes today. One is for the Lemon Pepper Seasoning and the other is for the Tartar Sauce to make this all happen. 🙂