This air fryer frozen fish sticks recipe is a keeper! We love crispy fish sticks and learning how to cook them from frozen in the air fryer is super easy. They come out crispy and absolutely delicious!

Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks or Fish Fingers Recipe on a plate

How to Cook or Re-Heat Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks

Frozen fish sticks are better air fried than a regular oven because the hot circulating air makes the fish sticks crispy without having to oil them. Add some tarter sauce and a few slices of lemon and voila! It’s perfect with the bright lemon juice and dip. And if you want to make it a meal, air fry some french fries after for a perfect fish and chips air fryer dinner! All time, temp and details are in the recipe box below.

Video: Air Fried Frozen Fish Sticks

Adjusting Time and Temp for Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks

  • Frozen fish sticks or fish fingers vary so much in size and thickness. Each brand is different, so that means you’ll have to adjust timing for cooking. Gorton’s fish sticks, target brand, great value and van de kamp are brands that we tested.
  • Your first air fried frozen fish sticks batch will be like your “test”. After cooking the first round, you’ll know more of what your final time will be in your specific air fryer. After that, you’ll be able to cook your air fried fish fingers quickly and efficiently.
  • Make sure to cook them in single layers with some space between them. They’ll cook more evenly and crispy when you don’t stack them on top of one another.
  • See air fryer fish sticks recipe below for full recipe details in the recipe box
  • You might love these air fryer frozen cheese sticks air fryer frozen cheese sticks.
  • Pro-Tip: here’s our favorite tools like oil spray and liners to help make air frying easier:
Evo Oil Sprayer
Evo Oil Sprayer

We LOVE Evo Oil Sprayers. Not the prettiest, but they’re functional and spritz oil great! They don’t clog up like many others we’ve bought. There’s different styles, but all seem to have the same great spray head. Works great for grilling!

8.5" Square Blue Silicone Mat
Perforated Silicone Mat

There are Square Mats & Round Mats. These perforated non-stick silicone mats are used to cook food in your air fryer or steamer to minimize sticking. Holes allow hot circulating air to cook the food & keeps the food from sticking.

Perforated Parchment Paper
Perforated Parchment Paper

Parchment sheets are great for your air fryer or bamboo steamer (food tends to stick most on wire basket or tray). Choose from different sizes, shapes, white and brown (unbleached). Holes allow air to cook food evenly.

Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks or Fish Fingers Recipe step by step photos
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks or Fish Fingers Recipe | AirFryerWorld.com

Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks

Yield: 2 servings
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
There's several things which affect how the frozen fish sticks cook. They all vary in size, thickness, type and heaviness of the breading so you’ll have to adjust timing. For best and even cooking, don't overcrowd the basket. Fill just an even single layer of fish fillets.
All air fryers are different and some cook much hotter than others. Once you cook your first batch, you’ll know more of what works for your model of air fryer and size of food. These were tested on basket style air fryers. Read more recipe notes below the recipe. Nutrition will vary from brand to brand and will depend on the type of coating.
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Ingredients

  • 8 Frozen Breaded Fish Sticks

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Place the frozen breaded fish sticks in the air fryer basket. Make sure they aren't overlapping. No oil spray is needed.
  • Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 8 minutes. Flip the fish sticks over and then continue to cook at 400°F/205°C for another 2-4 minutes or until cooked through and the coating is crispy.

Notes

Air Frying Tips and Notes:
  1. No Oil Necessary. Cook Frozen – Do not thaw first.
  2. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Lay in a single layer.
  3. Recipe timing is based on a non-preheated air fryer. If cooking in multiple batches back to back, the following batches may cook a little quicker. 
  4. Recipes were tested in 3.7 to 6 qt. air fryers. If using a larger air fryer, they might cook quicker so adjust cooking time.
  5. Remember to set a timer to flip/toss as directed in recipe.

If your air fryer is preheated or if you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce timing by a few minutes (unless preheating is called for in the recipe).

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 230kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 430mg, Potassium: 209mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Calcium: 17mg
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American, Frozen Foods, Seafood
Calories: 230

What Dips to Serve?

There’s lots of different options to make each batch unique and delicious. Mix up your routine and try something different!

  • Tartar Sauce or Ranch Dressing or Dip
  • Honey mustard dip, ketchup or mustard
  • Sriracha Mayo
  • bbq sauce
  • marinara
  • cheese dip
  • Do you have a favorite dipping sauce? Let us know in the comments below!
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks or Fish Fingers Recipe in a basket

Add these great dipping international sauces for fish sticks

  • curry sauce
  • chili crunch or chili oil is awesome
  • different types of spicy fruit chutney

Love Fish? Here’s More Fish Recipes You Might Love:

More–>  Air Fried Frozen Foods and All French Fries Recipes

Frozen Foods Time and Temperature | AirFryerWorld.com

This recipe was originally published in 2019 and re-published in 2021 with updated tips. If you made this please let us know in the comments below! Or share your photo on social media and tag us at @airfryerworld. We love to see your creations! Here’s some more fish stick recipes if you want to make them fresh in the air fryer.