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Panko Crusted Fish Sticks with Lemon Dill Aioli

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Baking sheet or air fryer (you can also shallow fry on stovetop)
  • Three shallow bowls for dredging
  • Whisk and tongs
  • Wire Rack (optional, helps retain crispiness if baking)
  • Food processor (optional, for blending aioli, though whisking by hand works fine)
  • Knife and Cutting Board

Ingredients
  

For the Panko Crusted Fish Sticks

  • 1.5 lbs white fish fillets cod, haddock, or pollock work best
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for drizzling or spraying if baking

For the Lemon Dill Aioli

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prep the Fish

  1. Begin with high-quality fish fillet, preferably skinless and boneless. Cut the fillets into even sticks, around 1 inch wide and 3 inches long. Pat them dry with a paper towel—this helps the coating stick and gives a better crisp when baked or fried.

Step 2: Set Up the Dredging Station

  1. You’ll need three bowls:
  2. Flour – mix with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Egg mixture – whisk together eggs and Dijon mustard until smooth.
  4. Panko coating – combine panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Coat the Fish

  1. Dredge each fish stick in flour, then dip in the egg mixture, and finally press it into the panko mix. Ensure the fish is well-coated for that ultimate crunch factor.

Step 4: Cook the Fish Sticks

  1. You have a few options here:

Oven-Baked:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange fish sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a wire rack. Lightly drizzle or spray with olive oil. Bake for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp. This is one of the best methods if you’re after a baked fish sticks recipe that’s both healthy and flavorful.

Air-Fried:

  1. Set air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10-12 minutes. Don’t overcrowd the basket to ensure even crisping.

Shallow-Fried:

  1. Heat a thin layer of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry fish sticks in batches, 2-3 minutes per side, until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Step 5: Make the Lemon Dill Aioli

  1. While the fish is cooking, whisk together the mayo, lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve. This makes a perfect dipping sauce that cuts through the richness of the fish and adds freshness.