Name: Baked Fish Sticks
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 teaspoon garlic salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper; 1 large egg; 1 tablespoon milk; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 pound cod fillets, about 1-inch thick; olive oil, for drizzling

Get out of the dinner rut with golden battered, crisp and tender Baked Fish Sticks. They make for a healthy and delicious dinner any night of the week.

A large white serving plate with a pile of golden battered fish sticks surrounding a small glass dish of tartar sauce.

Get out of the Dinner Rut

We were in a dinner rut. So one Thursday when I felt inspired to come up with something totally different.. Something that, hopefully, we would all love and I could add to our weeknight favorites list. And that I did! These Baked Fish Sticks hit the spot!

A white plate with four fish sticks and two slices of lemon.

A Light and Versatile Meal

When the weather warms up, something fresh and light sounds fabulous to me. Something versatile I could throw on a salad for Brandon and myself, as well as serve with some veggies and hummus for the boys. As soon as fish came to my mind, there was no going back. It sounded perfect!

A large white serving plate with a pile of golden battered fish sticks surrounding a small glass dish of tartar sauce. A hand is holding a fish stick over the platter.

Family-Friendly Fresh Fish

I’d never really cooked fresh fish for the boys because I was afraid they wouldn’t eat it and I’d have to resort to making something else to fill their growing tummies before bed. Well, I’m regretting that now because the boys absolutely loved these baked fish sticks and could probably eat them every night of the week.

Cod is a very mild white fish, which makes it perfect for kid-friendly fish sticks. I love it for its texture and flavor and for the fact that there’s no smelly fish odor wafting through the house.

A large white serving plate with a pile of golden battered fish sticks surrounding a small glass dish of tartar sauce. One fish stick is dipped into the tartar sauce.

Crunchy, Moist, Flaky and So Flavorful

These Baked Fish Sticks are crunchy on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside with hints of lemon and garlic to complement the freshness of the fish. So so yummy! Baker called them “fancy chicken” and Bryce & Barrett just shoved them into their mouths with big smiles on their faces as they begged for more.

Dinner in 30 Minutes

Definitely one of the easiest and most delicious dishes I could make on a busy or lazy weeknight. You probably have all of the ingredients, except for the fish, already on hand. Fresh fish is best, so swing by the store on your way home from work, school or play and once you get home you’ll be just about 30 minutes from dinner being done.

A large white serving plate with a pile of golden battered fish sticks surrounding a small glass dish of tartar sauce. There's a small wooden spoon sticking out of the tartar sauce.

What Do I Need to Make Baked Fish Sticks?

(see recipe card for measurements and details)

All-purpose flour
Yellow cornmeal
Sugar
Garlic salt
Ground pepper
Egg
Milk
Fresh lemon juice
Cod fillets
Olive oil
Tartar sauce, for serving, if desired

Ingredients to make baked fish sticks in small glass dishes on a white marble counter.

More Hot Meals in Minutes

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How to make Baked Fish Sticks

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a baking rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. If you don’t have a baking rack to fit your baking sheet, you can just cover the baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, garlic salt and pepper.
In another shallow bowl, whisk together the egg, milk & lemon juice.
Cut the fish crosswise into 3×1-inch strips.

Steps to make homemade baked fish sticks.

One at a time, dredge the fish strips into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl.
Then coat the fish completely with the flour mixture, pressing to adhere. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining fish sticks. Drizzle each fish stick with a little olive oil.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the coating is golden and the fish is cooked through, flipping the fish sticks after 10 minutes of baking time.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or just a wedge of lemon and you’ve got a healthy family dinner that everyone will enjoy and request again and again.

How to Store and Reheat Baked Fish Sticks

Store leftover fish sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

To freeze cooked fish sticks, allow the fish sticks to first cool down completely before placing in a freezer safe baggie for up to three months.

Reheat on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven until heated through.

To freeze before baking, place in a single layer on a large baking sheet and flash freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Then place in a freezer safe baggie for up to three months.

To bake from frozen, place on a cooking rack on a baking sheet in a 400°F oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes of baking time.

A wire cooking rack on a baking sheet with six fish sticks on top.

If you make these Baked Fish Sticks and post a pic to social, be sure to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,