If you want to make a creative, out-of-the box meal tonight, I have the answer. Because FLAVOR. And if you follow Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, you now know a new fantastic fish recipe!
Pssst. If you don’t like fish sticks, this is a quick and easy way to make crunchy lemon garlic baked fish. You can put it on a sandwich or anything else you want. Have it with a side of fries. Throw it on a salad!.
You won’t believe this is the second time I’ve written about fish sticks!! I made these crispy fish sticks years ago, and they are still my favorite. I also made this fish sandwich with a potato chip crust, which is still one of my all-time favorite fish recipes.
The funny thing is that I never really ate fish sticks as a kid. My mom didn’t buy them. But they were EVERYWHERE come lent. They were marketed like crazy in grocery stores and ads and all over our school lunches. I can still see the blue box in the advertisement.
The Ultimate Guide to Sauces for Fish Sticks
As a busy mom trying to get dinner on the table fish sticks are a regular go-to in my house. They’re fast kid-approved, and relatively healthy. But let’s be honest – on their own, those frozen fish sticks can be a little boring.
That’s why having some delicious dipping sauces on hand is a must! The right sauce can seriously upgrade your fish sticks from bland to gourmet with just a few extra minutes of prep.
In this guide I’ll share my 15 favorite sauces to serve with fish sticks. From creamy and tangy to spicy and sweet, there’s something for every palate here. Let’s dive in!
The Classics You Can’t Go Wrong With
If you’re looking for tried-and-true pairings you can never fail with these classic sauces for fish sticks
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Tartar Sauce – This tangy, briny sauce punctuated with pickles and capers is pretty much designed for fish. A dollop of homemade tartar sauce makes fish sticks feel special.
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Cocktail Sauce – Horseradish gives this tomato-forward sauce a nasal-clearing kick that works so well with mild fish. Spicy and acidic, it’s an underrated fish pairing.
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Ranch – Cool and creamy ranch is dependable with any hot, crunchy food. Use bottled or whip up your own herby ranch in minutes.
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Marinara Sauce – Savory, garlicky marinara makes fish sticks almost feel Italian. Look for quality jars or make an easy homemade sauce.
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Malt Vinegar – Don’t overlook this simple British favorite. Malt vinegar provides a bright acidity that cuts through fried food grease.
Creamy, Cool Sauces to Balance Crunch
When you want something rich and cooling to contrast hot fish sticks, creamy sauces are your friends:
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Tartar Sauce – In addition to tangy tartar, try smoky bacon tartar or spicy sriracha tartar for fun twists.
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Chipotle Ranch – Adding smoky chipotle peppers gives classic ranch a Southwestern vibe.
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Avocado Crema – Blend avocado, lime juice, cilantro, and sour cream for a quick Mexican-inspired dip.
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Spicy Mayo – Mix sriracha into mayo for an easy sauce with pleasant heat. Adjust spice to taste.
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Honey Mustard – For kids and adults alike, sweet honey mustard is hard to beat with crunchy foods.
Zippy Sauces to Wake Up Your Tastebuds
Sometimes you want your sauce to pack some spicy heat or acidity to keep things interesting. Try these lively options:
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Buffalo Sauce – Yes, fish sticks work with buffalo sauce! The vinegar cuts the fat while the chili peppers add kick.
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Sweet Chili Sauce – With a balance of sweet and heat, chili sauce is addictive with fried foods.
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Cajun Remoulade – Mayonnaise-based Cajun remoulade has bold Creole flavor from spices like paprika, garlic, and cayenne.
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Mango Habanero Sauce – Fruity mango tames habanero’s fiery burn in this vibrant Caribbean-style sauce.
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Jalapeño Tartar – For extra zip, spike tartar sauce with minced pickled jalapeños and serve with lime wedges.
Global Flavor Inspiration
Think outside the box and draw sauce inspiration from around the world. Some great options:
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Thai Sweet Chili Sauce – With notes of garlic, vinegar, and red chilies, this Thai condiment packs sweet and heat.
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Japanese Tonkatsu Sauce – Savory-sweet tonkatsu sauce shines with breaded foods. Look for Bulldog brand.
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Chinese Plum Sauce – Fruity, sticky plum sauce makes a delicious balance for salty, fried food.
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Chimichurri – This lively Argentinian green sauce of parsley, garlic, and olive oil is fantastic with fish.
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Harissa Yogurt – North African harissa chile paste mixed into yogurt is spicy, cooling and full of flavor.
Quick Blender Sauces
Don’t be afraid to throw ingredients in the blender for easy homemade sauces, like:
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Lemon Dill Aioli – Blend mayo, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and fresh dill for a bright dip.
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Avocado Ranch – For creaminess, blend avocado, buttermilk, herbs, garlic, lime, and salt.
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Tomatillo Salsa Verde – Purée tomatillos, green chiles, cilantro, garlic, onion and lime for a zesty Mexican salsa.
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Peanut Sauce – Make a fast Thai-inspired peanut sauce from peanut butter, soy sauce, lime, chili garlic sauce and brown sugar.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to sauces for fish sticks! Don’t settle for boring – give these delicious dips and drizzles a try next time for maximum flavor. Your kids will thank you, I promise. Just have plenty of napkins on hand to wipe those dip-covered fingers!
And the tartar sauce? Well. OMG.
Another thing is that I thought I didn’t like tartar sauce until I found out that it’s really mayo relish. Okay, I can handle that. In fact, I made tartar sauce for this amazing fish sandwich last year, and now I’m hooked. It tricked my tastebuds and changed my life.
This version is OUTSTANDING! You grate fresh jalapeño right into the sauce. It gives it a wonderful fresh jalapeño flavor without the heat. My kind of sauce! And a slightly green color too. It might be the best jalapeño flavored thing I’ve ever tried. Yes yes yes. I love it.
From now on, I’m grating the jalapeño and that’s that.
While this is such a retro throwback type of meal, you can totally make it however you’d like. Serve it with some parmesan roasted broccoli or smashed potatoes. That flavor profile is comforting and classic. Or skip the tartar and do ketchup or BBQ sauce if you must. Add some chili and lime to the breading instead of lemon. Make an open face sandwich with slaw. Cover it in hot sauce! Put it in a taco!.
There are just so many ideas. I can’t take it!
But I just… couldn’t.
However, then I grew up and realized I could when I made them at home.
So here, we have some grown up fish sticks, but ones that kids love too!
Just look at that texture!
The breading is a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and crushed potato chips. SUPER CRUNCHY was the goal and that goal was achieved! Super crisp. Garlic, lemon zest, lemon pepper – all comes together with this breading so the texture is phenomenal. It sticks, it’s crispy, it’s irresistible. It’s flavorful and light and the texture will have you crying tears of delicious joy!.