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Air fried fish fingers calories may vary depending on the brand and your portion size. My air fryer fish sticks recipe provides 470 calories per serving (or 270 calories without tartar sauce). The fish fingers in air fryer calories are the same as when they’re cooked in the oven, as long as no oil is added. Learn more about the calories in fish sticks and get my delicious air fryer recipe here!
📋 Air Fried Fish Fingers Calories
One serving of these air fryer fish fingers provides 470 calories, 11.9 grams net carbs, and 29.8 grams protein. This nutrition information includes the fish sticks and homemade tartar sauce, but no side dishes.
Birds Eye Fish Fingers (Air Fryer) Calories
How many calories in fish sticks from Birds Eye? There are 236 calories for 4 Birds Eye cod fish fingers (source). This means there are 59 calories for 1 Birds Eye fish finger.
Van de Kamp Fish Sticks (Air Fryer) Calories
There are 220 calories for 6 Van De Kamp fish sticks. Thus, there are about 37 calories in 1 fish stick.
Gorton’s fish sticks are similar, containing 200 calories per 6 fish sticks, or 33 calories each.
How many calories are in one fish finger?
There are approximately 30-70 calories in one fish finger. Fish finger calories may vary by brand, and large fish fingers may be 150 calories each or more. My homemade fish fingers are about 68 calories each.
How many calories in 3 fish fingers?
There are 90-210 calories in three fish fingers, depending on the brand. For example, 3 Birds Eye fish fingers are 177 calories, Trident fish sticks are 170 calories for 3, and 3 Van De Kamp fish sticks are 110 calories.
⭐ Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need for fish sticks in an air fryer:
- 1 lb cod fillets (454g)
- ¼ cup coarse cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons spelt flour (whole wheat flour or all purpose flour may be substituted)
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/3 cup 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Cooking oil spray
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
White fishes are wonderful for fish sticks, and I am using cod in this air fryer fish sticks recipe. Here are some of my favorite types of fish for making fish sticks:
- Cod
- Tilapia
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Pollock
You can also make air fryer salmon fish sticks for an extra boost of omega-3 fatty acids. If your fish filets are thinner or thicker than mine, keep in mind that it can impact the cooking time.
The kitchen equipment you need to air fry fish sticks includes a good knife, an air fryer, and a meat thermometer. The Ninja Foodi, Cosori, Philips, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Power Air Fryer, etc. can be used. However, air fryers tend to vary a bit in cooking time, so don’t be afraid to adjust the cooking time as needed.
Cutting your fish to a different size than I did may also alter the cooking time.
➕ How to Cook Fish Sticks in Air Fryer
Making fish sticks in air fryer is easier than you might think! This air fryer fish sticks recipe cooks in under 15 minutes, perfect for a fast weeknight dinner.
Store-bought frozen fish sticks often have an ingredient list that is 10 miles long, with additives you may not want. Try these homemade healthy fish sticks in the air fryer instead!
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to air fry fish sticks:
- For frozen fish fingers in air fryer: If you have frozen fish, thaw and pat it dry with paper towels before breading. This may help the breading to stick better.
- Mist the air fryer basket or tray with cooking spray. I only needed one air fryer tray for this recipe.
- Fresh fish fingers in air fryer: Cut the cod fillets into 12 even pieces. I started with 3 fillets and cut them widthwise into 4 strips each. Mix the cornmeal, spelt flour, Parmesan, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Put the milk in a second bowl.
- Bread the fish sticks by dipping them first in the milk and then in the cornmeal breading mixture. Place breaded fish sticks in a (non-touching) single layer on the air fryer tray.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the fish sticks. They’re ready to go in the air fryer!
⏲️ Cooking Time and Temperature
How long to cook fish fingers in air fryer? Air frying fish sticks takes a total of 14 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Put the tray with the fish sticks on the top rack in your air fryer oven. Air fry for 7 minutes at 400F (200C). Then carefully flip the fish sticks, put the baking tray back on the top rack, and air fry for an additional 7 minutes at 400F (200C).
While the fish sticks cook, stir together the 2 parts mayo and 1 part finely chopped pickles for homemade tartar sauce. You can finish up any fish stick side dishes you’re serving as well.
BTW, if you don’t have an air fryer, broil the fish for 5-8 minutes in the oven. The fish sticks are a little less sturdy with the oven method, but tasty either way.
However you cook your fish, use a meat thermometer to check that it reached the minimum safe internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63C). Cook them a few minutes longer if they aren’t at a safe temperature.
Serve your crispy fish sticks with a squeeze of lemon juice and tartar sauce or your favorite dipping sauce. Yum!
How to Elevate Fish Sticks
I like to serve this air fryer recipe with lemon wedges and homemade tartar sauce. The dip adds a little extra flavor to the meal and is worth the tiny bit of additional effort.
Here are some other good dipping sauces for fish sticks:
- Cocktail sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Buffalo sauce
- Ketchup
- Sweet chili sauce
- Sriracha mayo
- Ranch dressing
You could also sprinkle them with some Old Bay seasoning. SO GOOD!
️FAQs
Why are fish fingers so high in calories?
Most store-bought fish sticks have white flour, added sugar, and highly processed oils in the ingredients list. These ingredients add a lot of calories to the low calorie fish. These homemade air fryer fish sticks are healthier because they have no added sugar, use whole grain flour, and are not deep fried.
How to reheat fish sticks in air fryer?
Leftover fish sticks keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. You can reheat refrigerated fish sticks in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 400F. Add additional air frying time as needed until they are warmed and crisped to your liking.
Can you cook frozen fish sticks in air fryer?
Yes, you can air fry frozen fish sticks from the store! Check out this frozen fish in air fryer post to see how it is done. You’ll save time compared to using the oven!
How to make a keto fish sticks air fryer recipe?
Making low carb air fryer fish is easy! Instead of the breading used here, bread your fish fingers with seasoned pork panko breadcrumbs. Try using beaten egg instead of milk to drop the carbohydrates down even further.
How to make a gluten-free fish sticks air fryer recipe?
Make this fish stick recipe gluten free by swapping out the spelt flour for your favorite gluten-free flour. I’d recommend trying fine ground almond flour. Ian’s makes frozen gluten free fish sticks if you’d prefer store-bought.
👩🏻🍳 Other Air Fryer Fish Recipes
Looking for other air fryer recipes using fish? Here some more air fryer fish recipes you may enjoy:
- Air Fryer Frozen Tilapia
- Old Fashioned Salmon Patties (Air Fryer)
- Frozen Cod in Air Fryer
- Trader Joe’s Fish Nuggets
- How to Cook Frozen Crawfish
- Air Fryer Catfish (Breaded fish fillets)
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fried Fish Fingers Calories + Fish Sticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. cod fillets (454 grams; approximately 3 fillets)
- ¼ cup coarse-ground cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons spelt flour
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- black pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup milk, 2%
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- cooking oil spray (non-aerosol)
- lemon wedges (optional)
For the tartar sauce:
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped pickles
Instructions
- Mist an air fryer tray with the cooking spray.
- Cut your cod fillets into 12 even pieces. I started with 3 fillets, and cut them width-wise into 4 pieces each. (Note: if you cut your fish differently than I did, you may need more or less breading than I am providing in this recipe.)
- Mix the cornmeal, spelt flour, Parm, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Put the milk in a second bowl. (Did you check out the recipe video?)
- Bread your fish sticks by dipping them first in the milk and then in the cornmeal breading mixture. Place breaded fish sticks in a single layer on the air fryer tray. You should have just enough breading to completely cover the fish sticks.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the fish sticks.
- Air fryer directions: Put the tray with the fish sticks on the top rack in your air fryer oven. Air fry for 7 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Then carefully flip the fish sticks, put the baking tray back on the top rack, and air fry for an additional 7 minutes at 400°F (200°C). (No air fryer? Use the oven directions below instead!)
- Alternate oven baked directions: Put the fish sticks on a metal cookie sheet that was misted with cooking spray. Broil for 5-8 minutes in the oven.
- Note: However you cook your fish, use a meat thermometer to check that the it reached a minimum safe internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Extend the cooking time if it's not at a safe temperature.
To make the tartar sauce:
- Mix the mayonnaise and chopped pickles together.
To serve:
- Divide the fish sticks, tartar sauce, and any side dishes between three plates. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the fish sticks, if desired.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Are fish fingers okay for weight loss? Technically, you can lose weight eating any food as long as you consistently maintain a calorie deficit over time. That said, breaded foods (like fish sticks) can pack a lot of calories into a small volume from flour and added fat, and may not be an optimal choice for weight loss. You’ll save a lot of calories when you enjoy fish with herbs and a squeeze of citrus versus breading. If lighter recipes are what you’re looking for, may I recommend this steamed fish instead? On the other hand, this fish stick recipe uses whole food ingredients to bread the fish, and they taste great! If you have kids who are seafood-resistant, this recipe might be something to try. Here are a few more benefits of this recipe:- Crispy without deep frying
- Not ultra-processed: Nearly all the frozen fish sticks from the store count as ultra-processed foods. If you are trying to eat more whole foods as part of an overall healthier diet, homemade is the way to go.
- No refined grains: These air fryer fish sticks contain no refined grains. Most of the fish sticks from the store use white flour. (Confusingly, “wheat flour” is almost always another name for white flour, unless it specifically says “whole wheat.”)
- No added sugar
- Easy to make allergy-friendly: When you make your own fish sticks, you can make fish sticks without eggs, wheat, milk, and so on. It can be difficult to find store fish sticks that fit certain types of diet restrictions.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Another winner, Summer. Not only is your creation approachable and wholesome, it’d work with just about any type of firm-fleshed fish that looks good, or that you happen to have on hand at the moment. As you mentioned, perfect for a compressed weekday evening rushing home from work.
Thank you! The easy meal idea is definitely what I’ve been needing lately!
More air fryer magic! Great recipe and it’s fantastic you gave precise measurements for the breading. Thanks for the post!
Thanks, Brian!