What Goes with Fish Sticks?

By Felice Kaufman · Updated: May 6, 2026

Breaded fish sticks are the ultimate comfort food. With their crunchy outside and tender flaky insides, they bring back memories of childhood. Whether you're having homemade fish or frozen fish sticks, these side dishes will elevate your meal to a whole new level.

sides for fish sticks

Easy sides for fish sticks can be pulled straight from the freezer or pantry. Think French fries, corn on the cob, canned corn, coleslaw, potato chips, baked beans, sour pickles, macaroni and cheese, buttered noodles, or mashed potatoes. Just heat or serve!

What Are Fish Sticks?

Also called fish fingers, fish sticks are a popular frozen convenience food made from white fish fillets that bake or fry until golden brown and crispy. They make a great snack or a quick meal for kids and adults.

According to The Tasting Table, commercial fish sticks were developed in the USA in the 1950s by Gorton's, a seafood company in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Modeled after the hot dog, fish sticks were made to be convenient handheld food that just had to be heated in the oven. Try our Fried Mahi Mahi recipe to make homemade fish sticks with fresh Mahi Mahi from Key West.

Best Sauces For Fish Sticks

Fish sticks need a sweet and tangy sauce to get them to a whole other level.

The best sauces for fish sticks include classic tartar sauce, ketchup, or a zesty cocktail sauce. You can also try ranch, honey mustard, or spicy mayo for more flavor.

Our recipe for creamy homemade tartar sauce is a classic. It's easy to make at home and much better than the bottled versions!

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Homemade tartar sauce with dill, capers, pickles, and onion in a ceramic bowl with a wooden spoon.

Make creamy homemade tartar sauce in five minutes with mayonnaise, crunchy pickles, capers, fresh lemon juice, and herbs. This easy, tangy sauce is perfect for fried fish, shrimp, crab cakes, fish sticks, and seafood sandwiches.

Cilantro Lime Crema is a tangy, sour cream-based sauce that adds flavor and freshness to every bite. While traditionally used for fish tacos, this creamy sauce is great on fish sticks too!

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sour cream, cilantro and lime and salt for crema.

Cilantro lime crema is a quick, creamy sauce made with sour cream, lime, and fresh cilantro. Perfect for tacos, chicken, fish, and vegetables.

Make your own seafood cocktail sauce in minutes! This easy recipe is tangy, spicy, and perfect for fish sticks, shrimp, crab, or any seafood platter. Better than store-bought!

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Do it yourself homemade cocktail sauce

This easy homemade cocktail sauce combines ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Ready in just 5 minutes, it's the perfect tangy dip for shrimp cocktail, crab, oysters, and seafood platters.

Spicy mayo is a simple sauce that pairs well with fish sticks. It's creamy with a little heat and takes just a minute to mix together. Drizzle it over the fish or serve it on the side for dipping.

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Shrimp tempura sushi roll dipped in spicy mayo with chopsticks over a wooden board

Japanese spicy mayo is a simple sauce used on sushi rolls and seafood dishes. It's creamy, a little spicy, and takes about a minute to make at home. Use it as a dipping sauce or spoon it over rice bowls.

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chicken nugget dipped in creamy honey mustard sauce with fork on plate

This honey mustard sauce is sweet, tangy, and creamy. It comes together in minutes with simple ingredients and works as a dip, spread, or dressing.

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mayo ketchup sauce with spoon scooping creamy dipping sauce served with fried plantains and lime wedges

This creamy mayo ketchup sauce is an easy dipping sauce for fish sticks, fried seafood, fries, and sandwiches. It's smooth, slightly tangy, and comes together in minutes with simple ingredients.

The Best Sides for Fish Sticks

Pair fish sticks with potatoes for a classic meal. Top choices include crispy hot French fries, potato wedges, or mashed potatoes. The combination of fish and potatoes creates a comforting meal.

Oven-Roasted White Potatoes are a healthier version of French fries.

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roasted russte potatoes with flaky sea salt and parsley and pepper

Perfect seasoned roasted russet potatoes are similar to French Fries but without the frying. These crispy little potatoes are an all-around delicious addition to any meal.

Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes are baked tiny round gold potatoes roasted with olive oil and seasonings.

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overhead shot of Roasted baby Yukon Gold Potatoes

Learn how to roast baby gold potatoes to crispy, golden deliciousness with this easy recipe. Perfect for a side dish or snack!

Sweet Coleslaw is the perfect side for fish sticks! The creamy, tangy crunch pairs beautifully with the crispy fish, making it a classic and delicious combo.

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sweet creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, peppers, and creamy dressing

This sweet coleslaw recipe is super easy and delicious. It combines crunchy cabbage, a little carrot, and coleslaw dressing. Perfect for burgers, BBQ ribs, sliders, chicken, or a summer barbecue, it's a side dish everyone will love!

Roasted Tiny Red Potatoes are ideal for quick weeknight fish dinners. They have a sweet and creamy taste and are ready in 20 minutes.

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Crispy roasted red potatoes in a bowl.

Tiny roasted red potatoes are an easy oven side dish made with small red potatoes, olive oil, garlic, and fresh parsley. Roast them at 400°F until golden on the outside and tender in the middle, then serve with chicken, beef, or fish.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes are little crispy sweet potato chunks that bake in the oven or air fryer.

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roasted sweet potatoes in a bowl with a serving spoon

These baked sweet potato cubes are simple to make and go with just about anything. Just toss them with oil, salt, and pepper, then roast until golden brown. They're a great side dish for weeknight dinners and work great with chicken, steak, or even tossed on top of a salad.

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Air fryer sweet potato cubes with browned edges, finished with salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs on a plate.

Sweet potatoes in the air fryer cook fast and are easy to make. Cook them whole or cut into cubes for soft centers and lightly roasted edges. A simple side that works with just about any meal.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Smooth poached garlic mashed potatoes and crispy fish make the ultimate comfort-food.

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creamy garlic mashed potatoes

Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes are rich, buttery, and smooth. The garlic is slowly simmered until soft and golden, then blended into the potatoes for a mellow, flavorful side dish that pairs perfectly with turkey, chicken, steak, or fish.

Pasta Sides

Macaroni and Cheese is always a home run! Our stovetop version is made in one pot.

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stovetop macaroni and cheese

Our easy cheddar mac and cheese recipe uses melty cheddar for the perfect weeknight dinner or anytime comfort food fix. Kids love it!

Macaroni Salad has a creamy texture and a flavorful mix of ingredients. It's a staple side dish that perfectly complements crispy breaded fish.

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Bowl of macaroni salad with spoon.

Best Vegetables To Go with Fish Sticks

The best vegetable pairings have texture and a hint of sweetness.

Steamed Broccoli and Carrots is a healthy sweet side dish that's easy to make. Ready in just ten minutes from start to finish!

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Steamed broccoli and fresh carrots on a white plate with a lemon slice.

Steamed broccoli and carrots are a quick, healthy side dish ready in just minutes. Lightly cooked until tender-crisp, they're simple, colorful, and perfect with any meal.

Green Beans with Garlic and Parmesan make a flavorful side dish. Cook string beans in a skillet with garlic until tender-crisp, then finish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.

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Bowl of garlic green beans with parmesan cheese and lemon zest

Garlic Parmesan green beans are a quick stovetop side dish made with crisp-tender fresh beans, butter, garlic, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese.

Roasted Broccoli is a simple sheet pan recipe that gets very crispy. It's easy to make and this dish adds a wholesome touch to your meal. Kids love this too!

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how long to roast broccoli at 400

Roasting broccoli at 400°F makes it tender with crispy edges. This brings out its natural flavor. A little olive oil and some salt help make it taste great.

Fish Sticks and Rice

Spanish Rice is my mom's recipe and it's perfect. I've been eating this rice since I could sit up and it goes with almost anything.

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Spanish rice with peas, green bell pepper, and onion served on a white plate with a lime wedge.

Easy Spanish Rice Recipe made with converted rice, tomato sauce, onion, green pepper, garlic, ketchup, and peas. This one-pot side dish cooks in 20 minutes and goes with chicken, beef, pork, fish, or shrimp.

Lemon Asparagus Rice with lemon zest is a very refreshing grown-up rice side.

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Asparagus mixed with Jasmine rice on a plate with a spoon.

Lemon asparagus rice is a simple side dish made with fluffy white rice, tender asparagus, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. It pairs well with fish, chicken, or steak and works for both weeknight dinners and special meals.

Cajun Dirty Rice is a southern staple with rich flavors.

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authentic cajun dirty rice with sausage, liver, and beef.

Make this easy Cajun Dirty Rice recipe with ground meat, spices, and fluffy white rice. It's a bold, one-pan dish inspired by the flavors of Louisiana. Serve it as a side or a budget-friendly main course the whole family will love.

Don't Forget the Lemon!

Not only does lemon look pretty on your plate, but the acidity of lemon juice enhances the flavor of fish.

Fried snapper with panko breadcrumbs and tartar sauce.

Crispy Fish Recipes

fish stix sides

FAQ

What goes well with fish sticks?

Fish sticks pair well with simple sides like French fries, coleslaw, or macaroni and cheese. For a lighter option, serve with a green salad, steamed vegetables, or rice. Tartar sauce, ketchup, or lemon wedges are classic on the side.

What are some easy sides for fish for a busy weeknight dinner?

For a quick weeknight dinner, open a can of corn, steam vegetables, or make white jasmine rice. A simple green salad works too. These sides come together in minutes.

How do you cook frozen fish sticks?

To cook frozen fish sticks, bake them on a sheet pan in a preheated oven at 350°F or 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through until they're golden and crispy.

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