What Goes With Fish Sticks? – 11 Best Sides

Fish sticks are a quick, easy and, not to forget, delicious food that can be enjoyed both as a proper meal or a snack. They are usually bought frozen from the supermarket and are deep-fried to make an accommodating meal.

They can be eaten on their own or turned into a proper lunch or dinner coupled with just as delicious sides.

What goes with fish sticks? The most iconic side dish for fish sticks would be french fries (“fish and chips”); however, alternative sides for fish sticks can include mashed potatoes, pasta, quinoa salad, coleslaw, and fried green tomatoes.

Read on for our top picks for the 11 best sides for fish sticks, what to dip fish sticks in, and how to elevate their flavor even more:

11 Best Sides For Fish Sticks

So, without further ado, let’s begin! Below are 11 great sides to pair with your fish sticks. Let us know in the comments which ones are your favorites!

1. French Fries

Fish and chips, anyone? It’s impossible to talk about fried fish and not mention French fries. After all, it’s a classic combo that everyone loves!

Both are just as easy to prepare since they are deep-fried and are ready within minutes. If you wish to ditch the excess oil, you can bake them in the oven as well.

Make sure to add some shredded parmesan cheese and seasoning for extra flavor.

2. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of the most popular side dishes served with all kinds of foods such as gravy, steaks, grilled chicken, and fried fish.

Add just the right amount of half-and-half and butter to the potatoes for a creamy mash to go perfectly well with the crunchy-on-the-outside and tender-on-the-inside fish sticks.

You can add peas to your mashed potatoes for added texture, or some cream cheese and garlic powder to make them even more flavorful.

3. Coleslaw

Hot fish sticks and some cold coleslaw are one dynamic duo! Coleslaw is a refreshing side that is incredibly easy to make and pairs so well with the deep-fried fish.

Apart from the difference in texture and temperature, coleslaw cuts through the richness and oiliness of the fried fish and works beautifully with it.

Whether you use store-bought coleslaw or make your own at home, just keep in mind that it tastes best when cold, so leave it in the fridge for a few hours before eating.

This will also give it ample time to soak up the flavors and give you an even yummier side dish.

4. Roasted Vegetables

Despite how delicious fish sticks are, we all know they’re a frozen processed food and far from being healthy.

To make up for the lack of nutrition, you can pair them with your favorite roasted vegetables that won’t just add health benefits to your meal but also a nice color contrast to your plate.

You can pick any vegetables that you like, flavor them with your choice of herbs and spices, and pop them in the oven for a couple of minutes. 

Roasted cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, carrots, onions, and brussels sprouts are some of the best complimentary sides for fish sticks.

5. Sweet Potato Wedges

Substituting potatoes with their sweeter cousin adds a different flavor element to an otherwise salty dish and is a healthier alternative to the popular fish and chips combo.

You can make them even healthier by not deep-frying them and cutting them in wedges instead, coating them in your choice of seasoning, and baking in the oven.

For an absolutely delicious flavor, rub the sweet potato wedges with a little bit of olive oil, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin, and thank us later.

6. Rice

Fish sticks by themselves are not very filling. Sure, they can be enjoyed as a snack but if you want something that keeps you satiated for some time, pair them up with a delicious serving of rice for a well-rounded meal.

You can have plain boiled rice or, if you are not a fan of the blandness just as many people aren’t, you can opt for one of the fancier rice dishes such as lemon rice, garlic rice, or even some delicious Chinese-style rice.

7. Fried Green Tomatoes

A popular part of southern food culture, fried green tomatoes are served as a side for many dishes and a topping for burgers and sandwiches.

They are coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried until golden, and taste great with fish sticks that are also deep-fried. You can use the same oil to fry both and enjoy them during lunch, dinner, or a mid-day snack.

8. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing foods and the perfect side for fish sticks to counterbalance their oiliness.

A creamy cucumber salad is not just a healthy side dish option but also a mouth-wateringly delicious and refreshing one, especially for a light lunch on a hot day. 

All you need are some fresh cucumbers, red onions, dill, and oregano. Mix them all together and coat them in some creamy Greek yogurt for a cool and crisp contrast with the fish sticks.

9. Pasta

You can pair your fish sticks with any pasta of your liking and make yourself a filling dinner.

If you’re looking for something hassle-free, whip up a creamy and cheesy serving of mac and cheese, and add richness to your otherwise simple meal.

If you wish to take a healthier route, you may try using cauliflower instead of pasta, which will allow you to eat more for fewer calories.

You may also pair your fish sticks with spaghetti, macaroni, casserole, and pasta salad for variation.

10. Quinoa Salad

Nutrient-rich and power-packed, quinoa is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Quinoa salad is a refreshing, crisp, and delicious side that goes well with fish sticks.

Quinoa salad is made up of quinoa (obviously), fresh cucumber, red onion, red bell pepper, chickpeas, fresh parsley, garlic, olive oil, and lemon dressing.

Paired with some delicious deep-fried fish sticks, quinoa salad makes for a filling lunch or dinner.

11. Fresh Fruit

Another delicious and healthy option; fresh fruit tastes great on its own and also when paired with fish sticks.

For some, this might be a strange combination, but fruit makes for a great side dish for fried fish sticks and adds a refreshing contrast to the dish.

Some of the popular fruit choices include bananas, apples, grapes, mangoes, and pineapples. To enhance the sweetness of the fruit, you may drizzle some honey or maple syrup over them. 

What’s The Best Dip For Fish Sticks?

Fish sticks are one of those easy to make foods that most people always have in their freezers. All you have to do is deep fry them till they’re golden and you’re good to go!

They taste great on their own and can also be eaten with delicious sides such as French fries, rice, and salads. If you’re not looking to pair your fish sticks with a proper side, you can simply enjoy them with a variety of dipping sauces.

Growing up, we’ve all had our fish sticks with tartar sauce or ketchup. But that is not all there is. There are so many other great sauces you can use to dip your fish sticks in. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Tartar sauce
• Ketchup
• Ranch
• BBQ Sauce
• Honey mustard
• Salsa and guacamole
• Marinara sauce
• Buffalo sauce
• Nacho Cheese
• Cocktail Sauce

How Can I Make Fish Sticks Taste Better?

Kids love fish sticks. Quite a few adults do too, but for most of them, they are a go-to food when there is no time to prepare anything else.

What if we told you that there are ways you can elevate the taste of fish sticks and incorporate them in recipes to make something absolutely delicious that both kids and adults would enjoy?

You can make fish sticks more interesting with some flavorful twists such as making fish stick tacos or baking a creamy fish sticks casserole for dinner.

To make amazing fish tacos, all you need to do is wrap some deep-fried fish sticks in warm corn tortillas and fill them up with some shredded green or purple cabbage, cilantro, jalapenos, red onions, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.

You may also bake the fish sticks instead of deep-frying them. 

Another great option is the fish sticks casserole, which is a twist on the classic favorite and an ideal dinner for the whole family to enjoy on a weeknight.

Line the top of the casserole with precooked fish sticks and layer it with a generous amount of cheese. Bake it for 35-40 minutes at 375°F and enjoy it with your family.

You can also make fish stick sliders topped with malt vinegar coleslaw and drizzled with tartar sauce for a fun dinner. To make it a complete meal, you can pair it with some French fries or delicious sweet potato wedges.

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