Frozen Fish Fingers in Air Fryer (Fish Sticks)

Did you know you can cook fish fingers in the air fryer…from frozen? It’s true! Fish fingers in air fryer take about 10 minutes total, no thawing required, and they come out healthier than the traditional fried version with that same crispy outside and tender inside if you follow this recipe! They’re SO good served alongside Perfect Frozen Chips in the Air Fryer for an easy fish and chips dinner.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Cook from frozen: I don’t know about you, but one of the worst parts about making dinner is thawing the meat.  But when you make air fryer fish fingers, you don’t have to worry about that at all, because you can cook them straight from frozen!

• Crispy and delicious: Sometimes in the oven fish sticks can get a little soggy, but when you make fish fingers in the air fryer, they come out crispy every time!

• Easy cleanup: One of the very best parts about using the air fryer for any food is that the clean up is quick and easy. The same goes for a recipe like One Pot Meatballs and Rice, which keeps the washing up to a minimum too.

• Healthier: These air fried fish fingers are healthier because they are not deep fried,  however they still have that deliciously crispy deep fried flavor! This Healthy Crispy Chicken Wrap is great for the same reason.

Here are some other easy recipes and advice on using your Airfryer : How to cook frozen chicken breast in the air fryer, Cooking Frozen Sausages in an Air Fryer and How To Air Fry Bacon.

Ingredients for Fish Fingers in Air Fryer

• Frozen fish fingers: any standard box from the freezer aisle works here, breadcrumb-coated white fish like cod or haddock, cut into fingers. No need to thaw them first, they go straight from the freezer into the air fryer.

Variations/ Adaptations

• Spiced fish fingers: Toss on a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika before air frying the fish sticks for a bit of heat, or use my Homemade Nando’s Seasoning for even more depth.
• Fish nuggets & bites: Same method here, you’ll just want to knock a minute or two off the cook time since they’re smaller. This is also the easiest frozen fish sticks in air fryer to make for kids.
• Different white fish cuts: Cod, haddock, pollock, doesn’t matter which one your fish fingers are made from when you’re cooking fish fingers in air fryer, the timing stays pretty much the same. What actually changes the time is the thickness of the stick, not the fish itself.

How to cook fish fingers in an air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 375℉ (190°C) for 3-4 minutes

1. Place frozen fish fingers into the air fryer basket in one single layer making sure there is space between each piece (Image 1).
2. Cook for 4 minutes (Image 2).

3. After 4 minutes, flip them with a fork ensuring that they are evenly distributed still (Image 3).

4. Continue cooking for 4-5 more minutes at 400℉ (200°C) or until you have achieved desired crispiness (Image 4).

Love fish? Try these recipes :Prawn Rice (Simple & One Pot), Basa Fillet Recipe with Creamy Tuscan Sauce and Creamy Sweetcorn Orzo with Paprika Prawns.

Make crispy air fryer fish sticks every time

I can’t imagine eating soggy fish fingers! Which is why I switched from baked fish sticks to always making fish fingers in the air fryer. You get the crispy breading outside and tender fish inside every time, in under 10 minutes. Here are a few things that will help make sure your fish fingers come out perfect.

• Preheat: Many times, you don’t have to preheat your airfryer, but in this case, preheating is what keeps your fish fingers from getting soggy.  If you don’t preheat, the fish fingers thaw in the air fryer, causing the breading to get soggy before the temperature gets high enough to cook them.
• Size of sticks:  The size of the fish sticks will determine how long you need to air fry them.  Smaller sticks will need to air fry for less time than larger, thicker sticks.  If you under cook them, they may be soggy, so be sure to leave them in long enough to crisp up.
• Check them often: One of the great things about being able to air fry fish fingers is you can check them without messing up how they cook.  So if you like your fish fingers on the way crispy to the burnt side, then just leave them in until they turn the color you want.  And on the other side, if you like them to barely be cooked, then you can manage that too by checking them.
• Don’t stack them: It is so easy to want to just dump the whole box of frozen fish fingers in the air fry.  But trust me, this will make them soggy and not allow for even cooking.
• Flip them halfway: When you air fry frozen fish sticks, flipping them half way through the cooking time (so around 4 minutes) will help ensure they crisp up on both sides.

Serving Suggestions

Fish fingers always pair well with something crispy on the side when you’re craving some snacks, like these Salt and Pepper Chips. But sometimes, I like to add a bun, some lettuce and some tartar sauce to make delicious fish sandwiches.

Fish fingers in air fryer are also good on top of a salad, a Jennifer Aniston Salad holds up well underneath since it’s got enough texture to not go soggy. For something lighter, Rocket Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes or a Simple Tricolore Salad on the side keeps things fresh without fighting the breading.

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: The best thing to do with any kind of fish is to eat it as soon as you have cooked it, so do not refrigerate fish fingers that have already been cooked.

Freezer: To store fish fingers, you will want to make sure to keep them in the freezer until you are ready to cook them. Do not refreeze leftovers.

Reheat: If you make fish fingers in air fryer and have leftovers, do not reheat them once cooled.  

Fish Fingers in Air Fryer FAQs

Want more easy sides to round out the meal? Try Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables and Easiest Creamed Cabbage next.

Explore more easy fish recipes

Pan-Seared Sea Bass Recipe (No-Flip Method!)

Oven Baked Fish (Easy & So Juicy)

Easy Tuna Fishcakes with Potato (and Tinned Tuna!) 

Fish Risotto (Haddock and Leek Risotto)

If you tried this Fish Fingers in Air Fryer recipe, it would mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x