Fish Sticks

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Fish Sticks (Gluten-Free)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound wild caught cod loin* cut into strips about 1/2" x 2"; 3/4 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs if preferred); 2 tablespoons ground flax seed; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley (or 1/2 teaspoon dried); cooking spray; 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (**see note); 1/2 teaspoon minced red onion; 3 round pickles (minced); 1/4 teaspoon capers; salt and pepper to taste

These homemade air fryer fish sticks use wild-caught cod, gluten-free breadcrumbs, and ground flax seed to create a crispy exterior without eggs or flour, served with a quick dijon remoulade.

⚡Air Fryer

🌍American 🥗Gluten-Free 🥗Pescatarian 🏷️Air fried fish sticks 🏷️Air fryer fish stick recipe Air fryer fish sticks

🏷️

🏷️Fish sticks air fryer

🏷️Fish sticks in the air fryer

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Runningtothekitchen

Ingredients

1 pound wild caught cod loin* cut into strips about 1/2" x 2"
3/4 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs if preferred)
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
cooking spray
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (**see note)
1/2 teaspoon minced red onion
3 round pickles (minced)
1/4 teaspoon capers
salt and pepper to taste

12 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
2
Combine the breadcrumbs, ground flax seed, salt, pepper and parsley in a shallow bowl.
3
Spray each strip of cod with cooking spray then place in the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Turn and press down on each side until well coated. Place the fish stick on the air fryer tray or in the basket depending on model. Repeat with remaining fish sticks.
4
Spritz the tops of the prepared fish sticks with more cooking spray then bake for 10 minutes until crispy on the outside.
5
Prepare the remoulade by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl and stirring together.
6
Serve the air fried fish sticks with lemon wedges, fresh parsley and the remoulade sauce.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat the cod strips completely dry before breading—excess moisture prevents the coating from crisping.
Use cooking spray on both sides of the breaded fish sticks to ensure even browning and maximum crispness in the air fryer.
Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket; arrange sticks in a single layer with space between each for air circulation.
The flax seed adds binding and nutrition; ground flax absorbs moisture, so don't skip it as an egg replacement.

Substitutions

ground flax seed → 1 tablespoon aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas) mixed with 1 tablespoon water (binding agent)
fresh parsley → 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or dill (adjusts flavor profile slightly)
wild-caught cod → halibut or haddock (similar texture and cook time)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes to restore crispness.