Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (2024)

Jump to Recipe

If you are looking for some low carb fried fish recipes, try this keto air fryer fish sticks recipe! Tastes so much better than frozen fish you buy at the grocery store plus they are gluten free too! Use pork rinds and other seasonings to make these crunchy fish sticks. Baking them in the air fryer makes them crispy in minutes.

Check out this popular air fryer keto chicken nuggets recipe.

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (1)

I am loving making low carb recipes in my air fryer. Not only does it take less time but it also seems less messy. And best of all you get really crispy fried food. Case in point are these keto air fryer fish sticks. All you need are a few ingredients and you can have these crunchy, gluten free fish sticks in about 15 – 20 minutes.

My family loved these and it was so easy that I will be making them more and more. If you are looking for an easy keto fried fish recipe, this is the one. Let me show you how.

I Bought A New Air Fryer

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (2)

My old air fryer was great. It was very simple to use that even my 15 yo son used it. However I’m not sure they are making that model any more and I wanted to use an air fryer that was easy to get so I could give you accurate temperatures and times.

So I ended buying this new air fryer which is a Chefman 6.3 qt model. One of my favorite things is that it has a window so you can see how your food is cooking and it has two racks which means more food can be cooked. Lastly it has a rotisserie spit that I have yet to use but I’ll let you know how it is.

The Secret To Low Carb, Gluten Free Breading

When frying fish, you want a crunchy tasty breading. My first secret is pork rinds. I discovered pork rind breading awhile back and LOVE it. Even thougt I’m not a fan of pork rinds as a snack, when it comes to breading it’s great.

My second secret to tasty breading is to use mayo before you add the breading. It makes it much more crispier than eggs in my opinion. I also mix the pork rinds with grated parmesan cheese and spices for extra flavor. I have yet to try flavored pork rinds but I bet that would be good too.

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (3)

What kind of fish to use for fish sticks

I used tilapia loins to make this dish. Note these are a little harder to find than the filets which are too thin for fish sticks. Tilapia loins are usually frozen and look like the picture below. You can try cod if you want or any mild white fish that is thick and not flat. But I prefer the taste of tilapia loins personally.

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (4)

My low carb breadingtechnique

First you need to cut the tilapia loins into fish stick sized pieces. I got about 20 fish sticks out of 3 loins or 12 oz of fish. Next you put them in a baggie along with ¼ cup of mayonnaise. Squash the fish around in the bag to get the mayo to fully coat them with no mess to your hands.

Now in a food processor, pulse to grind the pork rinds and then add in the parmesan cheese and seasonings. Pour the breading mix into a shallow bowl.

Take the mayo covered fish sticks out of the baggie and one by bone coat in the pork rind mixture and then lay on a sprayed air fryer basket or tray.

My old air fryer has a basket that is shown in these pictures but my new one has trays. Just make sure you spray them with cooking spray so they don’t stick.

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (5)

How long to air fry fish sticks

I cooked these fish sticks for 15 minutes at 380°F. However it may take you longer or shorter time depending on how big your fish sticks are. So I recommend checking them the last few minutes to make sure they are not getting too brown. If after 15 minutes they don’t look brown enough for you, then you should put them in for a few more minutes.

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (6)

Recipe Notes & Questions

  • What type of fish should I use for fish sticks? You need a thicker mild white fish. I recommend using tilapia loins (not filets) or cod.
  • How do you make gluten free, keto breading? Pork rinds are the answer. Crush them in a food processor. I like to also add parmesan cheese and spices for more flavor.
  • Note: I also like to first coat the fish sticks in mayonnaise instead of a beaten egg because it gives it more flavor and makes it crispier.
  • How long do you cook fish sticks in the air fryer? Since these are not frozen, you will cook them for 15 minutes at 380°F.
Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (7)

Other Low Carb Seafood Recipes

I have lots of keto seafood recipes on this blog with everything like shrimp, salmon, tuna and cod. Fish is great on a low carb or keto diet because most types have no carbs. They also cook quickly.

I like to keep tilapia and shrimp in my freezer for quick recipes and I often buy fresh salmon at Aldi at least once a month. If you are looking to add more seafood to your diet, my two most popular keto seafood recipes are tuna steak with lemon dijon sauce and .

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (8)

Other Low Carb Air Fryer Recipes

I’m also adding more and more keto air fryer recipes to the blog. I’ve made everything from cheesecake to kebabs. Stuffed peppers work great and anything wrapped in bacon is a winner.

Most people think air fryers are just for making fried food but you will find that you can make just about anything in the air fryer that you can in the oven but quicker and in some cases better. It actually is a small convection oven that uses forced air to cook the food.

My husband the engineer gave me this analogy. Imagine standing outside in 10° weather. Then standing there with a 20 mph wind. You will be much more cold in the scenario with the wind. That is the difference between a convection and regular oven. I hope that made sense. 🙂

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (9)

I hope you like these as much as we do. The nutritional information for 1 fish stick based on 20 is:

75 cals / 4.7g fat / 0.1g carbs / 8.2g protein = 0.1g net carbs

Where To Buy Pork Rind Breading

If you don’t want to make your own pork rind crumbs you can always buy thesePork Pankobreading crumbs on Amazon!

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (10)

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Yield: 20

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

If you are looking for some low carb fried fish recipes, try this keto air fryer fish sticks recipe! Tastes so much better than frozen fish you buy and they are gluten free too! Use pork rinds and other seasonings to make these crunchy fish sticks and the air fryer makes it a breeze.

Ingredients

  • 12 oz tilapia loins, cut into fish sticks
  • 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • 3.25 oz bag of pork rinds crushed into crumbs
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Thaw the tilapia loins if the are frozen. Dab dry with a paper towel.
  2. Cut the fish into fish stick sized pieces. This will depend on the size and shape of your tilapia loins but use your judgement. I had 3 pieces and got about 20 pieces.
  3. In a food processor, add the pork rinds and crush to make to crumbs. Add the parmesan cheese and spices and pulse to mix through. Then pour into a shallow bowl.
  4. Add the fish to a ziplock bag with the mayo. Squish the bag to try to get the mayo all over the fish pieces.
  5. Take out the fish, 1 piece at a time and roll in the pork rind mixutre.
  6. Place the coated fish sticks into the air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket first.
  7. Set the temperature to 380°F and cook for 15 minutes until brown and crunchy.

Notes

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 20Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 75Net Carbohydrates: o.1g

Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (17)
Keto Air Fryer Fish Sticks Recipe - for an easy low carb seafood dinner! (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat fish fingers on a low carb diet? ›

For the ultimate low-carb fish finger meal, you could have them in a Lo-Dough wrap for under 10g carbs.

How long does it take to cook fish sticks in an air fryer? ›

You want to leave enough space between them so they cook evenly. Air fry them at 400 degrees F for 9-10 minutes, flipping fish sticks halfway through. They are done when they are crispy and golden. We love to serve them with a slice of lemon and Potato Salad.

Is Gorton's fish stick healthy? ›

100% WHOLE FILLET FISH with: no fillers, no preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, no hydrogenated oils, and no antibiotics. Good source of protein. Natural Omega-3's. In a resealable bag to lock in freshness, so you can enjoy some now, and the rest later.

Can I eat battered fish on a low carb diet? ›

This keto fried fish is amazing and tastes just like restaurant beer-battered fish! A mix of finely ground almond flour and unflavored whey protein powder gives you the perfect light and crispy texture.

What is the best fish to eat on a low carb diet? ›

Additionally, you now know that when it comes to finding the best fish for keto friendly dinner ideas, it's best consider salmon, trout, and tuna. These fish are all high in healthy fats and protein, making them perfect choices for those following a ketogenic lifestyle.

Are seafood sticks low carb? ›

Aldi Seafood Sticks (1 serving) contains 12.7g total carbs, 12g net carbs, 3.3g fat, 9g protein, and 113 calories.

Why are my fish sticks soggy in an air fryer? ›

Preheat – Many times, you don't have to preheat your airfryer, but in this case, preheating is what keeps your fish fingers from getting soggy. If you don't preheat, the fish fingers thaw in the air fryer, causing the breading to get soggy before the temperature gets high enough to cook them.

Is Gorton's fish from China? ›

Most of our seafood products are wild-caught species, caught primarily in the Bering Sea, the Barents Sea, the North Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. We also procure farm-raised aquaculture seafood including tilapia and shrimp, from various countries, including Ecuador, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India.

Is it OK to eat fish sticks everyday? ›

Fish and seafood do contain a variety of essential nutrients. However, many types of fish sticks are breaded, fried, and high in calories and sodium. If you often reach for frozen fish sticks as a snack, make sure to do so in moderation.

Are fish fingers good for weight loss? ›

13. Are fish fingers healthy? Fish fingers are coated and usually fried, so aren't the healthiest way to eat fish. They tend to have amber traffic lights for salt and fat, which means we should eat them in moderation.

What are the healthiest fish fingers? ›

On the lookout for a nutritious fish finger dinner? Then look no further and try the Birds Eye Wholegrain Fish Fingers. Our wholegrain fish fingers are made with 100% fish fillet and are smothered in a wholegrain coating which gives a crunchy, irresistible taste that even the fussiest of eaters won't refuse.

How many fish fingers is a portion? ›

A standard portion of our fish fingers is about 4 for an adult, and 2 or 3 for a child. Every type of fish finger in the Birds Eye range comes in at under 280 calories per adult portion, and that's about the same as most good-quality fish fingers.

Are fish sticks high in carbs? ›

There are 158 calories in a 1 piece (4” x 2” x 1/2”) (57.000g) serving size of Fish, fish sticks, frozen, prepared. The calorie breakdown is 53% fat, 31% carbs, and 16% protein.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5607

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.