Fish sticks are typically made with processed whitefish like cod or pollock that’s breaded and fried. They’re a tasty snack that’s delightfully crispy while being light and tender inside. This easy-to-prepare finger food is a favorite with everyone and a popular option for snacks or for holidays and family dinners.
While fish sticks taste great, they’re not quite filling. You can pair them with some excellent side dishes that will elevate this simple snack to new heights! We’ve compiled a list of side dishes for fish sticks you can try to fill your tummy without compromising on flavors.
1. Baked Beans
Savory beans and bacon in a flavorful BBQ sauce are all you need to wrap up dinner on a good note. The sauce is made with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, molasses, tomato sauce and paste, Worcestershire sauce, and a bunch of spices. It will give the dish a sweet, savory, and tangy taste, which pairs beautifully with fish sticks.
2. Coleslaw
In this recipe, a crisp and refreshing coleslaw mix is elevated with a creamy mayo-based dressing. It allows the natural sweetness of the cabbage to come through and also cuts through the oiliness of fish sticks, making it the perfect accompaniment. To allow the flavors to combine well, let the coleslaw rest in the fridge for a few hours before eating.
3. Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
A bowl of mac and cheese is a perfect accompaniment for any meal! It features a combination of cheeses that give it a creamy richness, so it’ll pair well with the oily fish sticks. You can season this comfort food with your choice of spices to satisfy your palate and use different toppings, such as crispy bacon and Ritz crackers, to give it some crunch.
4. Cucumber Salad
This light cucumber salad will add some freshness to the fish sticks and balance out the greasy snack. The recipe calls for coating thinly sliced cucumbers with a sweet and tangy light sesame salad dressing that packs a big punch of flavor. The salad is wonderfully salty, sweet, and tangy and will pair well with practically any meal.
5. French Fries
French fries are, without a doubt, the best dish to serve with anything, including fish sticks. If you follow this recipe down to the T, your fries will maintain their crispness for a while after they hit the table — which is something of a miracle! The key is to rinse the fries and gently simmer them in vinegar water before shallow-frying them to golden-brown perfection! Enjoy!
6. Fried Green Tomatoes (Oven-Fried!)
Oven-fried green tomatoes are a healthier version of their deep-fried counterparts and are a wonderful side dish for fish sticks. Make them by coating green tomatoes in a mixture of breadcrumbs and seasonings, then baking them until they develop a nice golden crust. This salty and tart side is best served with Caesar or ranch dressing for dunking.
7. Garlic Butter Sauteed Zucchini
This 10-minute recipe is made by cooking zucchini with garlic and butter to give it a nutty flavor. The resulting dish is well-browned on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. Make sure you don’t overcook it, as it can become mushy when left on the stove for longer. If you want to make it vegan, simply substitute butter for olive oil.
8. Garlic Roasted Radishes
Roasting radishes brings out their natural sweetness. And in this recipe, their flavor is further enhanced with the addition of garlic butter, giving them a buttery, savory flavor. You can then serve them drizzled with ranch dressing or a garnish of aromatic herbs with deep-fried fish sticks.
9. Homemade Buffalo Sauce
If you want something spicy and zingy to dip fish sticks in, look no further than this incredible buffalo sauce. All you have to do is combine hot sauce with butter, white vinegar, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce to create a unique flavor profile that will give your taste buds a flavor explosion. Mix in a dash of cayenne pepper to add some heat!
10. Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce
This luscious, creamy, and rich honey mustard sauce can transform simple fish sticks into an irresistible dish! The sweet-tangy sauce uses apple cider vinegar, black pepper, honey, mustard, mayonnaise, and sea salt to create an incredible dip for your fish sticks. You can also prepare it a day in advance and refrigerate it to give it a thicker consistency.
11. Homemade Salsa and Guacamole
Make the refreshing salsa by blending tomatoes with red onion, jalapeño, garlic, lime zest, EVOO, salt, and cilantro. Then, use a generous amount of this salsa along with avocados, lime juice, lime zest, and juice from the salsa to prepare the guacamole. And you’re done! A creamy dip and fresh salsa ready in less than 30 minutes!
12. How to Sauté Cauliflower
Cauliflower has a subtle sweetness and nutty flavor that can complement the fish sticks really well. To make, sauté cauliflower with olive oil and salt to produce a simple and tasty side. You can then take it to the next level by adding capers, chives, cinnamon, maple syrup, garlic, lemon slices, mace, rum, or sage for a flavor boost.
13. Oven Roasted Vegetables
Pair your fish sticks with oven-roasted vegetables to get some nutrition with your fried snack. This side dish is also super easy to make. You just need to season the veggies and then roast them in the oven until they’re caramelized. It will bring out their natural sweetness that will pair well with savory fish sticks.
14. Tartar Sauce
Serving tartar sauce with fish sticks is a game-changer! To make, combine mayonnaise, dill pickles, dill or fresh parsley, lemon juice, sugar, and black pepper in a bowl and stir well. It will produce a rich, tangy, and creamy delicacy that’ll have you drooling! You can also store it in the fridge for a few days.
15. The Best Mashed Potatoes!
Rich, creamy mashed potatoes can beautifully complement the crunchy-tender fish sticks. To make this classic, you’ll need potatoes, butter, milk (or half-and-half for better texture), tangy cream cheese, and salt. Amp things up with garlic, and serve it garnished with chives, green onion, freshly cracked black pepper, or your favorite toppings.
