Cooking fish sticks in the air fryer makes dinnertime a breeze! Ready in under 10 minutes means you have time to focus on more important things!

All you need are your favorite frozen fish sticks, a dipping sauce (we love this lemon aioli sauce), and lemon wedges to make this easy main dish!

Kids and adults love fish sticks! Serve them up with some ice-cold homemade lemonade, comforting sides such as these baked beans or macaroni salad, and your favorite dippers for a meal that’s sure to bring a smile to every face!

Air fryer fish sticks in a basket with a ramekin of tartar sauce.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Fish Sticks

  • Easy recipe perfect for busy moms!
  • Kid-friendly weeknight dinner that comes together in a flash.
  • No need to crank on the oven and heat up the entire house.
  • The air fryer makes perfectly crisp fish sticks.
A box of Mrs. Paul's frozen fish sticks on a table.

Ingredients

  • Frozen fish sticks: We love Mrs. Paul’s but this air fryer fish sticks recipe works with just about any brand! However, depending on the size and thickness, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
  • Sauce: We recommend serving them with our lemon garlic aioli or you can use tartar sauce.
  • Lemon wedges: Fish ALWAYS tastes better with a squeeze of fresh lemon over it.

Kitchen Tools

First, you need an air fryer, and a spatula or kitchen tongs to remove the fish sticks from the air fryer. I also love these dipping sauce cups for tarter sauce!

Fish sticks lined up in the air fryer basket.

How To Cook Fish Sticks In the Air Fryer

  1. Preheat. Your air fryer to 400ºF for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add. The frozen fish sticks to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Cook. For eight minutes and then flip over and cook until the fish sticks are cooked all the way through.
A basket of fish sticks in air fryer with lemon wedge and tartar sauce and lemons in the background.

Expert Tips

  • Want crispier sticks? Cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. For crispy results and even cooking the air needs to be able to circulate around the fish sticks. So if you’re using a smaller air fryer you may need to cook in batches.
  • Squeeze with fresh lemon after cooking! An easy way to elevate the flavor of frozen fish sticks.
  • Do not stack the fish sticks. For the best results, they should be in the basket in a single layer.
Tongs picking up a cooked fish stick up over the basket with more fish in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my fish sticks still frozen or cold in the center?

So here’s the thing. First, each brand of fish sticks is a bit different in terms of size and shape. Second, each air fryer cooks a bit differently. The first time you make them might be a bit of a trial run to figure out how yours cook. Use the times in this recipe as a guideline but note that you may need to extend the cooking time slightly if they’re not fully cooked.

Will this work with frozen fish fillets?

Kind of, but not exactly. While you can use your air fryer to cook beer-battered or breaded fish fillets these are often much thicker in size and will require longer to cook.

A white oval dish lined with parchment paper and filled with fish sticks, lemon, and sauce.

What To Serve With Fish Sticks

Fish sticks go great with lots of different dishes! Here are a few of our favorites:

Overhead image of fish sticks lined in the air fryer basket.

Storing

  • Store. My recommendation is to simply cook the amount you need to avoid any leftovers. However, if you do end up with a few left, store them in the fridge for up to three days. Do not freeze them again.
  • Reheat. In the microwave if you’re short on time or in the air fryer for 4-6 minutes if you’ve got time and prefer them crispy.

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Did you try this Fish Sticks recipe?

Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. I love hearing about your experience making it and it also helps anyone else making the recipe too!

A basket of air fryer fish sticks with tartar sauce and lemons.
5 from 2 ratings
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Servings: 4

Fish Sticks In Air Fryer

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Making air fryer fish sticks makes dinnertime a snap! All you need are about 10 minutes to cook up this easy air fryer main dish.
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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the frozen fish sticks to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Flip the fish sticks and cook for additional 2-3 minutes or until cooked through.
  • For crispier fish sticks, add an additional 1-2 minutes.

Notes

  • Want crispier sticks? Cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. For crispy results and even cooking the air needs to be able to circulate around the fish sticks. So if you’re using a smaller air fryer you may need to cook in batches.
  • Squeeze with fresh lemon after cooking! An easy way to elevate the flavor of frozen fish sticks.
  • Do not stack the fish sticks. For the best results, they should be in the basket in a single layer.
  • Store. My recommendation is to simply cook the amount you need to avoid any leftovers. However, if you do end up with a few left, store them in the fridge for up to three days. Do not freeze them again.
  • Reheat. In the microwave if you’re short on time or in the air fryer for 4-6 minutes if you’ve got time and prefer them crispy.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 350mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g
Cuisine: American
Course: Dinner
Author: Jennifer
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